Karan Island in the Arabian Gulf

A Biogeographic Study

Abstract

The current study deals with the vegetation cover in Karan Island and the most important wild and amphibious animals which live permanently or temporarily there. The research describes the natural environment of the island, the most important natural factors affecting its biological components, and the plant and animal species in the island and their geographical distribution.

It has been found that Karan Island contains only one plant community which is the Suaeda Vermiculata, accompanied by Salsola baryosma and Chenopodium murale. The number of plant species registered in the island is (27) plant species belonging to (22) genuses and (17) families, including (13) annual species and (14) Perennial plants, most of which are marine plants. It is also found that the most important animal species that live the period of their life on the island and breed there are four species of Sterna spp. The birds are Thalasseus bergii, Thalasseus bengalensis, the Sterna repressa, and the Onychoprion anaethetus. The island is also a habitat for two types of sea turtles: Chelonia mydas and the Eretmochelys imbricate.

Fishing nets represent the most important human activities that negatively affect the living biota, especially the animal ones. The dumping of garbage and residue at sea and on shore, the oil and gas extraction in the Arabian Gulf, and the tourist visits of the island also negatively affect the biota on Karan Island.