@article{,

title = {Marine Mammal Records from Iran},

author = {Braulik,G.,Ranjbar,S.,Owfi,F.,Aminrad,T.,Dakhteh,S.M.H.,Kamrani,E.,Mohsenizadeh,F.},

year  = {2010},

date = {2010-01-01},

journal = {Journal of Cetacean Research and Management},

volume = {11},

number = {334},

pages = {49-63},

abstract = {A total of 114 marine mammal records of 14 species were compiled from Iranian coastalwaters of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. Eighty-one were from the Persian Gulf, 23from the Gulf of Oman and 10 were of unknown location. Records of finless porpoise(Neophocaena phocaenoides) (24), Indo-pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) (22)and Indo-pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) (21) were by far the most numerousa probable reflection of their inshore distribution and local abundance. Other speciesrecorded were common dolphin (Delphinus capensis tropicalis), rough-toothed dolphin(Steno bredanensis), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), spinner dolphin (Stenellalongirostris), Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens),sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and dugong (Dugong dugon). Records of 24Mysticetes were compiled, 11 of which were tentatively identified as Bryde's whales(Balaenoptera edeni), three as Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus), three as Humpbackwhales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and the remainder were unidentified. The largest threat tomarine mammals in Iran is likely to be incidental capture in fishing gear. Nine finlessporpoises were recorded as bycatch and this and other coastal species may be declining dueto unsustainable mortality rates. Other threats to the marine environment are discussed andrecommended marine mammal conservation and management small projects are described.},

keywords = {abundance, bottlenose dolphin, Bryde's whale, Common dolphin, conservation, Distribution, dolphin, dugong, fin whale, Finless Porpoise, fishing gear, Gulf of Oman, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, incidental capture, killer whale, location, mammals, management, marine, marine mammal, Marine mammals, mortality, mysticete, mysticetes, Oman, Porpoise, Risso's dolphin, rough-toothed dolphin, Spinner dolphin, whale, whales},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Conservation needs of the dugong Dugong dugon in Cambodia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam},

author = {Hines,E.,Adulyanukosol,K.,Somany,P.,Ath,L.S.,Cox,N.,Boonyanate,P.,Hoa,N.X.},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-01-01},

journal = {Oryx},

volume = {42},

number = {386},

pages = {113-121},

abstract = {This research was conducted to assess the location of population groups and conservation issuesaffecting dugongs Dugong dugon along the eastern Gulf of Thailand off Cambodia and Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam.Interviews in fishing communities in 2002 and 2004 along the Cambodian coast revealed that dugongs aresporadically found in fishing nets and their body parts are sold for a relatively large profit. During 4 days ofaerial surveys in Cambodia in 2004 we saw no dugongs. We interviewed villagers in Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam,in 2002 and learnt that dugongs are regularly found and hunted, again for high profits. In both countrieswe recommend that legislation addressing threatened species be strengthened and enforced. In collaborationwith the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments and NGOs, we propose the exploration of alternative nondestructivefishing methods and the initiation of an education campaign based on conservation of marinewildlife and the nearshore environment. National and transboundary management and community-based conservationare required in conjunction with strategies to address overfishing and poverty.},

keywords = {aerial survey, conservation, dugong, education, location, management, marine, nets, population, survey},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Primary productivity and its regulation in the Arabian Sea during 1995},

author = {Barber,R.T.,Marra,J.,Bidigare,R.C.,Codispoti,L.A.,Halpern,D.,Johnson,Z.,Latasa,M.,Goericke,R.,Smith,S.L.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48},

number = {323},

pages = {1127-1172},

abstract = {The annual cycle of monsoon-driven variability in primary productivity was studied in 1995 during the Arabian Sea Expedition as part of the United States Joint Global Ocean Flux Studies (US JGOFS). This paper describes the seasonal progression of productivity and its regulation on a section which ran from the coast of Oman to about 1000km offshore in the centralArabian Sea at 65§E. During the SW Monsoon (June-mid-September), the coolest water and highest nutrient concentrations were close to the coast, although they extended offshore to about 800 km; during the January NE Monsoon, deep convective mixing provided nutrients to the mixed layer in the region 400 - 1000km o!shore. As expected, the SW Monsoon was the most productive season (123ñ9mmolC m-2d-1) along the southern US JGOFS section from the coast to 1000km offshore, but productivity in the NE Monsoon was surprisingly high (112ñ7mmol C m-2d-1). There was no onshore/offshore gradient in primary productivity from 150 to 1000km o! the Omani coast in 1995, and there was no evidence of light limitation of either primary productivity or photosynthetic performance (PBopt) from deep convective mixing during the NE Monsoon, deep wind mixing during the SW Monsoon or offshore Ekman downwelling during the SW Monsoon. Productivity during the Spring Intermonsoon (86ñ6mmolC m-2d-1) was much higher than in oligotrophic regions such as the tropical Pacific Ocean (29ñ2 mmolC m-2 d-1) or the North Pacific gyre region (32ñ8 mmolC m-2 d-1). The 1995 annual mean productivity (111ñ11mmolC m-2 d-1) along this section from the Omani coast to the central Arabian Sea was about equal to the spring bloom maximum (107ñ23mmolC m-2 d-1) during the 1989 North Atlantic Bloom Experiment (NABE) and the equatorial, 1§N-1§S wave guide maximum (95ñ6mmolC m-2 d-1) in the Pacific Ocean during the 1992 EqPac study. The 1995 SW Monsoon primary productivity was similar to the mean value observed in the same region in 1994 by the Arabesque Expedition (127ñ14mmolC m-2 d-1) and in 1964 by the ANTON BRUUN Expedition (115ñ27 mmol C m-2 d-1). During the 1995 SW Monsoon, strong, narrow and meandering current filaments extended from the region of coastal upwelling to about 700km offshore; these filaments had levels of biomass, primary productivity, chlorophyll-specific productivity and diatom abundance that were elevated relative to other locations during the SW Monsoon. The SW Monsoon was the most productive period, but SW Monsoon primary productivity values were lower than predicted because effcient grazing by mesozooplankton kept diatoms from accumulating the biomass necessary for achieving the high levels of primary productivity characteristic of other coastal upwelling regions. The high rates of chlorophyll-specific productivity (PBopt>10mmolC mg Chl-1 d-1) observed in the 1995 SW Monsoon, together with the observed dust flux and iron concentrations, indicate that the Arabian Sea was more iron replete than the equatorial Pacific Ocean or the Southern Ocean },

keywords = {abundance, Arabian Sea, Atlantic, location, North Atlantic, Oman, Pacific Ocean, performance, productivity, Upwelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Production and respiration rates in the Arabian Sea during the 1995 Northeast and Southwest Monsoons},

author = {Dickson,M-L.,Orchardo,J.,Barber,R.T.,Marra,J.,McCarthy,J.J.,Sambrotto,R.N.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48},

number = {89},

pages = {1199-1230},

abstract = {In this paper we examine the relationships among oxygen, carbon and nitrogen production and respiration rate measurements made in the Arabian Sea during the 1995 Northeast (NEM) and Southwest (SWM) Monsoons. Increased biological production characterized the SWM, with rates 12-53% higher than the NEM. Inmost cases, we found remarkable similarity in production rates during the two monsoons and an absence of strong spatial gradients in production between nearshore and offshore waters, especially during the SWM. Daily 14C and total 15Nproduction underestimated gross C production, and at the majority of stations 14C and total 15N production were either the same as net C production or between gross and net C production. Moreover, new production (15NO3), scaled to carbon, was substantially less than net C production. Approximately 50% of the PO14C was metabolized during the photoperiod, with smaller losses (7-11%) overnight. The simplest explanation for the discrepancy between gross and total 15N production and between net C and new production was the loss of 15N-labeled particulate matter as dissolved organic matter. Partitioning of metabolized gross C production into respiratory and dissolved pools showed distinct onshore-offshore distributions that appeared to be related to the composition of the phytoplankton assemblage and probably reflected the trophodynamics of the ecosystem. The percentage of gross C production released as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was highest in the nearshore waters where diatoms dominated the phytoplankton assemblage, while community respiration was a more important fate for production further offshore where picoplankton prevailed. In general, stations that retained more gross C production as net production (i.e., high net C/gross C ratios) had higher rates of DOC production relative to community respiration. Locations where community respiration exceeded DOC production were characterized by low rates of net C production and had low net C/gross C ratios. In those ecosystems, less net C production was retained because higher metabolic losses reduced gross C production to a greater extent than at the more productive sites.  },

keywords = {Arabian Sea, Distribution, ecosystem, location, nearshore, respiration},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Northern Arabian Sea variability from TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data: an extension of the US JGOFS/ONR shipboard ADCP study},

author = {Kim,H-S,Flagg,C.N.,Howden,S.D.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48},

number = {134},

pages = {1069-1096},

abstract = {Sea-level anomalies (SLA) derived from the TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) altimetry and inferred geostrophic currents within the northern Arabian Sea were examined for the period from March 1993 through November 1996. The primary objective of this study was to confirm and extend our understanding of the upper-ocean mesoscale variability observed in the shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) data collected during the US JGOFS/ONR Arabian Sea Expedition (September 1994-January 1996). The accuracy of the T/P altimetry data (~3 cm rms) results in an uncertainty in the altimeter-derived velocities comparable to the ADCP measurement error. Thus the T/P data provide a reasonable method for extending studies of the mesoscale dynamics for the region. Comparison of the T/P-derived geostrophic velocities with concurrent ADCP data showed good correlation, with an r2 between 0.7 and 0.9 and rms di!erences of 10 cm s-1. The T/P data con"rm both the overall spatial and seasonal current patterns observed by the ADCP. The monsoonally averaged rms sea-level anomalies indicate a high degree of intraseasonal variation due to the generation of squirts, jets and eddies all along the coast, the variability of which increases in both intensity and areal extent during the Southwest Monsoon. The SLA data indicate amuch reduced degree of variability over the shelf. The SLA-derived eddy kinetic energy (EKE) fields are consistent with those derived earlier from the ADCP data in both distribution and magnitude. There is a large increase in EKE to the west and southwest and to a lesser extent to the south and a large area of relatively reduced eddy activity over much of the eastern and northern Arabian Sea. The area of reduced eddy activity coincides with the location of the most intense portions of the oxygen minimum zone found in the northern Arabian Sea. The spatial scales of the eddies responsible for the EKE distribution over the study area range between 200 and 500km in the nearshore region, decreasing to 100-200km o!shore. While there is significant energy variability in annual and semi-annual time scales, a substantial portion of the energy is found between 50 and 120 days, and the relative importance of this frequency band increases offshore. Spectra indicate a distinct break in the frequency content of the eddy field at about 15§N, with little energy at less than annual periods south of this latitude.},

keywords = {acoustic, Arabian Sea, Distribution, location, nearshore, oxygen minimum, south, spatial scale},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Physical forcing of biological productivity in the Northern Arabian Sea during the Northeast Monsoon},

author = {Kumar,S.P.,Ramaiah,N.,Gauns,M.,Sarma,V.V.S.S.,Muraleedharan,P.M.,Raghukumar,S.,Kumar,M.D.,Madhupratap,M.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48 },

number = {139},

pages = {1115-1126},

abstract = {Time-series observations at a nominally fixed location in the northern Arabian Sea (21§N, 64§E) during the Northeast Monsoon (winter, February) of l997 showed the prevalence of cold sea-surface temperatures (SST) and deep mixed layers resulting from winter cooling and convection. The covariation of nitrate concentrations in the surface layers and concentrations of chlorophyll a and primary production in the euphotic zone with mixed-layer depth (MLD) and wind suggests that carbon fixation was controlled primarily by physical forcing. Cooler waters during winter 1997 relative to winter 1995 were associated with deeper MLDs, higher nitrate concentrations, elevated primary productivity, and higher chlorophyll a concentrations, leading to the inference that even a 1§C decrease in SST could lead to significantly higher primary productivity. Satellite data on sea surface temperature (advanced very high-resolution radiometer; AVHRR) and TOPEX/POSEl- DON altimeter data suggest that this interannual variation is of basin-wide spatial scale. After the termination of winter cooling and subsequent warming during the Spring Intermonsoon, the Arabian Sea has low primary production. During the latter period, micro-organisms, i.e. heterotrophic bacteria and microzooplankton)-proliferate, a feeding mode through the microbial loop that appears to be inherent to mesozooplankton for sustaining their biomass throughout the year in this region.},

keywords = {Arabian Sea, chlorophyll, depth, feeding, lead, location, productivity, spatial scale, surface temperature, temperature},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Arabian Sea phytoplankton during Southwest and Northeast Monsoons 1995: composition, size structure and biomass from individual cell properties measured by flow cytometry},

author = {Shalapyonok,A.,Olson,R.J.,Shalapyonok,L.S.},

year  = {2001},

date = {2001-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {48 },

number = {221},

pages = {1231-1261},

abstract = {As part of the US JGOFS Arabian Sea Process Study, we determined the abundance, size distributions and carbon biomass of autotrophic phytoplankton in the Arabian Sea during summer Southwest and fall Northeast Monsoon seasons of 1995 (R/V Thomas G. Thompson cruises TN 049 and TN 053). Flowcytometry of 60-ml samples was used to enumerate and determine scattering and fluorescence properties of Prochlorococcus sp., Synechococcus sp., and eukaryotic phytoplankton with cell equivalent spherical diameter up to 40 æm. Cellular forward light scattering was calibrated against Coulter size using 22 phytoplankton cultures spanning the size range 0.8-40 æm, grown exponentially in natural sunlight. The phytoplankton community structure was strongly linked to water-mass characteristics, and was affected by both intense monsoon-related environmental forcing and widespread and dynamic mesoscale structures; the magnitude of spatial variability was similar to that between seasons for all three phytoplankton groups. Prochlorococcus was numerically dominant in the more oligotrophic, stratified areas with surface nitrate concentrations below 0.1 æM and surface temperatures above 27§C. Its abundance was significantly greater during the NE Monsoon and was inversely correlated with the abundance of the two other groups. Synechococcus and eukaryotic phytoplankton cell concentrations covaried at most locations, were highest in areas of intense, monsoon-related mixing, and changed less between seasons than Prochlorococcus. The bulk of biomass of all three groups was located within the mixed layer. Only eukaryotes formed notable subsurface maxima at several offshore locations where Prochlorococcus dominated the mixed layer. Dramatically elevated eukaryotic phytoplankton concentrations in the nutrient-rich upwelling areas were due to the blooming of smaller (<3 æm) cells. Surprisingly, stratified, offshore, nutrient-depleted areas had concentrations of 10-40 æm phytoplankton cells similar to or even higher than upwelling areas. Thus, the mean eukaryotic cell size and the relative contribution of large nanoeukaryotes to the phytoplankton biomass were highest in offshore waters. Eukaryotes accounted for most of the phytoplankton carbon biomass - from about 50 to 80% on average during both seasons. Both Prochlorococcus and large (10 æm) nanoeukaryotes reached their greatest biomass contributions - up to 40% each - in the offshore oligotrophic locations. For the SW and NE Monsoon cruises, flow cytometrically-measured phytoplankton was estimated at 1.1 and 2.2 gCm-2 on average and comprised 33 and 38% of POC, respectively. Diel variability in cellular carbon content accounted for 52% of the observed variability in cellular carbon content for Prochlorococcus, 26% for Synechococcus, and 14% for eukaryotic phytoplankton cells at the surface.},

keywords = {abundance, Arabian Sea, diel, Distribution, location, surface temperature, temperature, Upwelling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {The oxygen minimum zone in the Arabian Sea during 1995},

author = {Morrison,J.M.,Codispoti,L.A.,Smith,S.L.,Wishner,K.,Flagg,C.,Gardner,W.D.,Gaurin,S.,Naqvi,S.W.A.,Manghnani,V.,Prosperie,L.,Gundersen,J.S.},

year  = {1999},

date = {1999-01-01},

journal = {Deep-Sea Research Part II},

volume = {46},

number = {174},

pages = {1903-1931},

abstract = {This paper focuses on the characteristics of the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) as observed in the Arabian Sea over the complete monsoon cycle of 1995. Dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate and density values are used to delineate the OMZ, as well as identify regions where denitrification is observed. The suboxic conditions within the northern Arabian Sea are documented, as well as biological and chemical consequences of this phenomenon. Overall, the conditions found in the suboxic portion of the water column in the Arabian Sea were not greatly different from what has been reported in the literature with respect to oxygen, nitrate and nitrite distributions. Within the main thermocline, portions of the OMZ were found that were suboxic (oxygen less than ~4.5 æM) and contained secondary nitrite maxima with concentrations that sometimes exceeded 6.0 æM, suggesting active nitrate reduction and denitrification. Although there may have been a reduction in the degree of suboxia during the Southwest monsoon, a dramatic seasonality was not observed, as has been suggested by some previous work. In particular, there was not much evidence for the occurrence of secondary nitrite maxima in waters with oxygen concentrations greater than 4.5 æM. Waters in the northern Arabian Sea appear to accumulate larger nitrate deficits due to longer residence times even though the denitrification rate might be lower, as evident in the reduced nitrite concentrations in the northern part of the basin. Organism distributions showed string relationships to the oxygen profiles, especially in locations where the OMZ was pronounced, but the biological responses to the OMZ varied with type of organism. The regional extent of intermediate nepheloid layers in our data corresponds well with the region of the secondary nitrite maximum. This is a region of denitrification, and the presence and activities of bacteria are assumed to cause the increase in particles. ADCP acoustic backscatter measurements show diel vertical migration of plankton or nekton and movement into the OMZ. Daytime acoustic returns from depth were strong, and the dawn sinking and dusk rise of the fauna were obvious. However, at night the biomass remaining in the suboxic zone was so low that no ADCP signal was detectable at these depths. There are at least two groups of organisms, one that stays in the upper mixed layer and another that makes daily excursions. A subsurface zooplankton peak in the lower OMZ (near the lower 4.5 æM oxycline) was also typically present; these animals occurred day and night and did not vertically migrate.},

keywords = {acoustic, Arabian Sea, density, depth, diel, Distribution, location, migrate, migration, occurrence, oxygen minimum, plankton, thermocline, zooplankton},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{,

title = {Cetacean observations from the Somali Democratic Republic, September 1985 through May 1987},

author = {Small,J.A..,Small,G.J.},

year  = {1991},

date = {1991-01-01},

journal = {CEtaceans and Cetacean Research in the Indian Ocean Sanctuary: UNEP - Marine Mammal Technical Report No.3},

number = {476},

pages = {179-210},

abstract = {Two vessels operated along the Gulf of Aden and northern Indian Ocean coasts of Somalia from Aug. 1985 through May 1987.  Their fishing activities carried them on a routine basis from Djibouti to the Horn of Africa and, on many cruises, into the Indian Ocean as far south as 8øN.  The frequent and regular presence of these vessels afforded a unique opportunity for research since few previous surveys along the Somalian coast were transitory and/or of short duration.  There were 398 sightings of cetaceans representing at least 14 species: blue whale, Bryde's whale, sperm whale, melon-headed whale, false killer whale, killer whale, short-finned pilot whale, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, Risso's dolphin, spotted dolphin, striped dolphin and spinner dolphin (NO humpback whales!!).  Sightings locations and related environmental data are discussed. Some trends between years were seen in the occurrence and location of blue, killer and short-finned pilot whales.},

keywords = {Antarctic, Blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, Bryde's whale, cetacean, cetaceans, Common dolphin, dolphin, false killer whale, Gulf of Aden, Humpback Whale, humpback whales, Indian Ocean, killer whale, location, marine, megaptera novaeangliae, melon-headed whale, migration, occurrence, Oman, Pacific Ocean, Risso's dolphin, sanctuaries, Southern Hemisphere, sperm whale, Spinner dolphin, spotted dolphin, stocks, Striped dolphin, survey, trend, Upwelling, whale, whales, whaling},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}