<P> The Persian Gulf is also home to many migratory and local birds . There is great variation in color, size, and type of the bird species that call the gulf home . One bird in particular, the kalbaensis subspecies of the collared kingfishers is at the brink of extinction due to real state development by cities such as Dubai and countries such as Oman . Estimates from 2006 showed that only three viable nesting sites were available for this ancient bird, one located 80 miles (129 km) from Dubai, and two smaller sites in Oman, all of which are in the process of becoming real estate developments . Such expansion would prove devastating and could cause this species to become extinct . Unfortunately for the kingfisher, a U.N. plan to protect the mangroves as a biological reserve was blatantly ignored by the emirate of Sharjah, which allowed the dredging of a channel that bisects the wetland and construction of an adjacent concrete walkway . Environmental watchdogs in Arabia are few, and those that do advocate the wildlife are often silenced or ignored by developers of real estate, most of whom have royal family connections and huge energy profits to invest . The end result has been sacrifice of a beautiful yet delicate ecology that has been in harmony for hundreds of years, for structures that are erected only a few years, yet will have a lasting detrimental effect . </P> <P> Almost no species in the Persian Gulf is spared from the real estate development of UAE and Oman, including the hawksbill turtle, greater flamingo, and booted warbler, mainly due to destruction of the mangrove habitats to make way for towers, hotels, and luxury resorts . Even dolphins that frequent the gulf in northern waters, around Iran are at serious risk . Recent statistics and observations show that dolphins are at danger of entrapment in purse seine fishing nets and exposure to chemical pollutants; perhaps the most alarming sign is the "mass suicides" committed by dolphins off Iran's Hormozgan province, which are not well understood, but are suspected to be linked with a deteriorating marine environment from water pollution from oil, sewage, and industrial run offs . </P> <P> The Persian Gulf is home to over 700 species of fish, most of which are native . Of these 700 species, more than 80% are reef associated . These reefs are primarily rocky, but there are also a few coral reefs . Compared to the Red Sea, the coral reefs in the Persian Gulf are relatively few and far between . This is primarily connected to the influx of major rivers, especially the Shatt al - Arab (Euphrates and Tigris), which carry large amounts of sediment (most reef - building corals require strong light) and causes relatively large variations in temperature and salinity (corals in general are poorly suited to large variations). Nevertheless, coral reefs have been found along sections of coast of all countries in the Gulf . Corals are vital ecosystems that support multitude of marine species, and whose health directly reflects the health of the gulf . Recent years have seen a drastic decline in the coral population in the gulf, partially owing to global warming but majorly due to irresponsible dumping by Arab states like the UAE and Bahrain . Construction garbage such as tires, cement, and chemical by products have found their way to the Persian Gulf in recent years . Aside from direct damage to the coral, the construction waste creates "traps" for marine life in which they are trapped and die . The end result has been a dwindling population of the coral, and as a result a decrease in number of species that rely on the corals for their survival . </P> <P> A great example of this symbiosis are the mangroves in the gulf, which require tidal flow and a combination of fresh and salt water for growth, and act as nurseries for many crabs, small fish, and insects; these fish and insects are the source of food for many of the marine birds that feed on them . Mangroves are a diverse group of shrubs and trees belonging to the genus Avicennia or Rhizophora that flourish in the salt water shallows of the gulf, and are the most important habitats for small crustaceans that dwell in them . They are as crucial an indicator of biological health on the surface of the water, as the corals are to biological health of the gulf in deeper waters . Mangroves' ability to survive the salt water through intricate molecular mechanisms, their unique reproductive cycle, and their ability to grow in the most oxygen - deprived waters have allowed them extensive growth in hostile areas of the gulf . Unfortunately, however, with the advent of artificial island development, most of their habitat is destroyed, or occupied by man - made structures . This has had a negative impact on the crustaceans that rely on the mangrove, and in turn on the species that feed on them . </P>

What kind of fish are in the persian gulf
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