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The present study has been carried out to evaluate the concentration of copper (Cu) and vanadium (V) elements in the muscle, skin, and gill tissues of Tylosurus crocodilus (Belonidae), an edible fish, in the Bahregan region which is located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf. For this purpose, 18 fish samples in three different length groups (small, medium, and large) were randomly collected in Bahregan region. Tissues were separated and concentration of the heavy metals was determined by atomic absorption. The results showed that mean concentration of Cu and V were 0.2851 ± 0.10036 and 1.1368 ± 0.12405, 0.1117 ± 0.02322 and 2.5091 ± 1.14201 and 0.1803 ± 0.03204 and 3.3133 ± 1.05995 μg g-1 dry weight, in skin, muscle and gill tissues, respectively. Also, the results revealed a significant positive correlation between the standard length and Cu concentration in the muscle and gill tissues (P ≤ 0.05), as well as between the standard length and V concentration in all the tissues (P ≤ 0.05). The results indicated that the concentration of V was higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) standard but the concentration of Cu was lower. It is therefore highly recommended that usage of this carnivore species in the studied area is limited because of the high accumulation of V in its muscle tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral reefs are integral part of tropical ecosystems and obligatory symbiosis with the genus Symbiodinium has a vital role in resistance and survival of the holobiont. Nine different genetic clades (A to I) have been discovered by molecular techniques. Members of Symbiodinium are ecologically and biogeographically diverse and their distribution patterns are determined by temperature, irradiance, depth, season and latitude however stress-tolerant species might be detected within each clade. Samples of four coral species from subtidal region in the north of Hengam Island, Persian Gulf (PG) and its tidal pools were analyzed by internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA and by the aid of Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) to compare the differences in populations of their symbionts. The results showed that some subtidal colonies of one species harbored less tolerant subtypes of Symbiodinium subclade C7. Nonetheless, clade D Symbiodinium was the most dominant symbiotic clade in both tidal pool and subtidal coral colonies. A novel subtype of subclade D1 Symbiodinium was also detected in some coral colonies and was inferred as subclade D1.PG Symbiodinium . The prevalence of clade D Symbiodinium might reflect corals response to extreme environmental stresses of tidal pools and the northern PG itself that coral inhabitants have to cope with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]