Studies concerning octocoral species from the Persian Gulf coral reefs are few. This study documents the diversity and abundance of octocoral communities from three islands in the north Persian Gulf, namely, Larak Island, Hengam Island and Qeshm Island. Belt transects were used to survey the octocoral communities at these islands. We used a rapid ecological assessment technique (REA) to assess the status and abundance of octocorals. Also, K Independent sample analysis was conducted on abundance and Shannon Diversity index data to determine if octocoral abundance and species diversity varied between islands. A total of 22 morphospecies, belonging to seven alcyonacean families, including Plexauridae, Ellisellidae, Alcyoniidae, Nephtheidae, Briareidae, Acanthogorgiidae and Subergorgiidae, were identified in this study. Statistical analysis indicated octocoral abundance and diversity at Larak Island reefs were higher than those around Hengam and Qeshm islands. The primary data presented in this study could serve as the baseline data for long-term biomonitoring programmes to estimate the status of octocorals in the Persian Gulf.

中文翻译：

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波斯湾北部紫檀目（Octocorallia）的物种组成和分布

关于波斯湾珊瑚礁八角珊瑚物种的研究很少。本研究记录了波斯湾北部三个岛屿（即拉拉克岛、亨甘岛和格什姆岛）的八角珊瑚群落的多样性和丰富度。带样带被用来调查这些岛屿的八角珊瑚群落。我们使用快速生态评估技术 (REA) 来评估八角珊瑚的状况和丰度。此外，对丰度和香农多样性指数数据进行了 K 独立样本分析，以确定八角珊瑚丰度和物种多样性在岛屿之间是否存在差异。本研究共鉴定出22个形态种，隶属于7个猢狲科，包括松鼠科、Ellisellidae、Alcyoniidae、Nephtheidae、Briareidae、Acanthoorgiidae和Suberorgiidae。统计分析表明，Larak 岛珊瑚礁的八角珊瑚丰度和多样性高于 Hengam 和 Qeshm 岛周围的珊瑚。本研究中提供的主要数据可以作为长期生物监测计划的基线数据，以估计波斯湾八角珊瑚的状况。