New records of the brittle stars Ophiothela venusta and Ophiactis modesta (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from the northern Persian Gulf, with morphological details.

During a faunistic survey on two shipwrecks in the northern Persian Gulf, several species of ophiuroid were collected in 2015 and 2016. Ophiactis modesta is reported for the first time in the Persian Gulf and Ophiothela venusta is re-described, because it has likely been misidentified in the past, possibly confused with Ophiopsammium semperi. Both species were epizoic: Ophiothela venusta was found on octocorals, Ophiactis modesta on sponges.

Applying Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity in a soft bottom ecosystem in North of the Persian Gulf.

In this study, the Chesapeake Bay Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI) was selected in an attempt to describe ecological health of soft bottom channels (Khowr-e Musa) in North of the Persian Gulf. Most of study area was found to be in degraded or severely degraded conditions. B-IBI scores were ranged between 1 and 3.