Comparative Analysis of Mollusc Abundance and Diversity in Breakwaters and Sandy-Muddy Flats, Al-Faw City, Iraq

Abstract

The abundance, diversity, and community composition of molluscs were assessed in two diferent habitats, breakwaters and mud-sandy fats, along the Iraqi coast in Al-Faw City, Persian-Arabian Gulf. Twenty-four species belonging to 19 families were recorded. Higher species richness was estimated at the breakwaters (17 species), than at the mud-sandy fats (10 species). Due to its structurally complex habitat, the breakwaters showed high Shannon–Wiener Diversity (H'= 2.63) and Pielou’s Evenness Index (J'= 0.83); on the contrary, mud-sandy fats exhibited lower diversity (H'= 1.86; J'= 0.59). Signifcant compositional diference between habitats (Bray–Curtis dissimilarity: 0.76) was linked with species such as Cerithium scabridum and Assiminea mesopotamica. The current study reveals the importance of artifcial structures to enhance the biodiversity of molluscs on the Iraqi coast.