MarineWorld: 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Hypanis in the Caspian Sea

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Gastropempha

Family: Cardiidae

Genus: Hypanis

Species: Hypanis spp.

Photographer: M. Sepehr

Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Friday, December 2, 2011

Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Caspian Sea

Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Phalacrocoracidae
Genus: Phalacrocorax
Species: Phalacrocorax carbo

These are Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). They have been found off the coast of Tonekabon, south of Caspian Sea. In Tonekabon the species can be found during of all seasons but they are most often seen in autumn and winter.

Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are one of the most widespread of cormorant species, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Great cormorants are found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and in northeastern coastal North America.

Ecology Behaviour: Throughout its range the species is sedentary or locally dispersive, with northerly populations also making strong migratory movements. The timing of breeding varies geographically, occurring all year roundor coinciding with the rains in the tropics and peaking between April and June in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The species breeds in mixed-species colonies of 10-500 pairs (occasionally up to 1,000 pairs), the size of the colony depending upon the extent of nearby feeding areas. It is usually a solitary feeder but may form large fishing flocks in some areas.

Habitat The species frequents both coastal and inland habitats. In marine environments it occurs in sheltered coastal areas on estuaries, saltpans, coastal lagoons, mangrove swamps, deltas and coastal bays, requiring rocky shores, cliffs and islets for nesting but generally avoiding deep water and rarely extending far offshore. It also inhabits fresh, brackish or saline inland wetlands² including lakes, reservoirs, wide rivers, flood waters, deep marshes with open water, swamps and oxbow lakes, requiring trees, bushes, reedbeds or bare ground for nesting and avoiding overgrown, small, very shallow or very deep waters.

Photographer: M. Sepehr

Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

References

1. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

2. http://www.birdlife.org

Friday, November 11, 2011

Laurencia caspica (Red Seaweed) in the Caspian Sea

These are Red algae (Seaweed) in the south of Caspian Sea. I found in the Tonekabon Township one year ago. This species has not yet been identified. Iranian Researchers said they could not identified. They live on seashores and in the shallow waters of Caspian Sea. They are mainly found on wave-washed rocks (boulders) and underwater on the cobbles. This species is only found in west Tonekabon Township. Now, I posted them to Professor M.D. Guiry of Ireland
http://www.seaweed.ie/guiry/

I'm Hope; they are new species in the south of Caspian Sea

Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Rhodomelaceae
Genus: Laurencia
Species: Laurencia caspica

http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=2610

Photographer: M. Sepehr
Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Egretta garzetta in the Caspian Sea

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Ciconiiformes

Family: Ardeidae

Genus: Egretta

Synonyms: Egretta garzetta

Photographer: M. Sepehr
Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Reference

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

http://www.iucnredlist.org/

Friday, June 10, 2011

Cerastoderma lamarcki in the Caspian Sea

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Veneroida

Family: Cardiidae

Genus: Cerastoderma lamarcki

Synonyms: Cerastoderma lamarcki

Photographer: M. Sepehr

Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Reference

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the biggest enclosed body of water on Earth, having an even larger area than that of the American Great Lakes or that of Lake Victoria in East Africa. It is situated where the South-Eastern Europe meets the Asian continent, between latitudes 47.07’N and 36.33N and longitudes 45.43 E and 54.20E. It is approximately 1,030 km long and its width ranges from 435 km to a minimum of 196 km. It has no connection to the world’s oceans and its surface level at the moment is around –26.5 m below MSL. At this level, its total coastline is some 7,000 km in length and its surface area is 386,400 km2. The water volume of the lake is about 78,700 km3. The water of the Caspian Sea is slightly saline; if we compare the Caspian water with oceanic water, it contains 3 times less salt.

Photographer: M. Sepehr

Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Reference

http://www.caspianenvironment.org

Monday, May 30, 2011

Corbicula fluminalis in the Caspian Sea

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Bivalvia

Order: Veneroida

Family: Corbiculidae

Genus: Corbicula fluminalis

Synonyms: Corbicula fluminalis

Photographer: M. Sepehr
Location: Caspian Sea - Iran -mazandaran - tonekabon

Reference

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html

Saturday, May 28, 2011

What Is Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) Maps?

ESI maps provide a concise summary of coastal resources that are at risk if an oil spill occurs nearby. Examples of at-risk resources include biological resources (such as birds and shellfish beds), sensitive shorelines (such as marshes and tidal flats), and human-use resources (such as public beaches and parks).

When an oil spill occurs, ESI maps can help responders meet one of the main response objectives: reducing the environmental consequences of the spill and the cleanup efforts. Additionally, ESI maps can be used by planners--before a spill happens--to identify vulnerable locations, establish protection priorities, and identify cleanup strategies.