Qurm Nature Reserve

The outermost coastal dunes support Halopyrum mucronatum grasses, transitioning to Sphaerocoma hookeri in less saline parts of the inner dunes and Suaeda fruticosa, Cistanche phelypaea, and Suaeda vermiculata in more saline areas. Sheltered hollows among the dunes exhibit communities of Lotus garcinii, Cyperus conglomeratus, and Heliotropium ramosissimum. In the tidal channels, gullies, and other low-lying areas that are flooded at high tide, the grey mangrove (Avicennia marina) forms dense mangrove forests. The moist, sandy, saline soils of the sabkha flats just above high tide feature Suaeda aegyptiaca, S. fruticosa, Cressa cretica, Aeluropus lagopoides, Halopeplis perfoliata, Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Zygophyllum qatarense, and other halophytes.^{[7]: 30, 36–39}

The moderately drained alluvial plain above the sabkha hosts scattered woodland vegetation, featuring Vachellia tortilis, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus spina-christi, and Vachellia flava trees, as well as Lycium shawii and Bassia muricata shrubs.^{[7]: 31–34} The stony hills to the south and northeast feature trees and shrubs similar to the alluvial plain, together with Euphorbia larica, Commiphora myrrha, Grewia tenax, and Ochradenus arabicus trees, shrubs of Cleome brachycarpa, Cometes surattensis, Leucas inflata, Plocama hymenostephana, Seddera latifolia, and Vernonia arabica, and Cenchrus pennisetiformis grasses. The eastern end of the reserve includes an abandoned grove of Phoenix dactylifera date palms that have intermingled with the wild vegetation.^[7]: 34

Aquatic animal species found in the wetland include a variety of crabs, such as Gelasimus vocans, Austrua lactea, and Gelasimus tetragonon in the mangrove swamps; Scylla serrata, Portunus pelagicus, Callinectes sapidens, Thalamita sp., and Grapsus tenuicrustatus in the mangrove channels; and Ashtoret lunaris and Ocypode saratan in the tidal channels and on the beach. Notable mollusc species include hooded oysters growing on the mangroves' aerial roots, and giant mangrove whelks in the mud between the mangroves. Many species of finfish live in the wetland, particularly Arabian toothcarp, tiger perch, goby, and common silver-biddy, while the reserve provides a feeding ground and nursery habitat for other species such as mullet, bigeye snapper, shad, carangids, and seabream, as well as commercially important shrimp species.^{[9]: 46–48} The mangroves' shed leaves feed various marine detritivores.^[7]: 37

One study found nearly two hundred bird species in the reserve, such as Kentish plover, black-headed gull, white-cheeked tern, Caspian gull, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, Socotra cormorant, greater flamingo, little stint, ruddy turnstone, and slender-billed gull. Terrestrial fauna include the Arabian red fox and Balochistan gerbil; sea turtles are thought to have visited the area until recent increases in human development.^{[9]: 47–48}

Qurm Nature Reserve protects one of the largest mangrove forests in the Gulf of Oman ecoregion, a biome that supports a diverse variety of marine, terrestrial, and avian wildlife.^[2] Plankton and detritus from the reserve are transported out to sea by the tides, providing raw material for the marine ecosystems in the adjoining coastal waters. This injection of nutrients increases marine productivity, indirectly supporting the populations of commercially important fish species.^[7]: 39 Oman is part of the Central Asian-Indian Flyway for migratory birds,^[10] and the reserve, like other estuaries, provides a stopover ground where waterbirds can rest and feed during their migrations.^{[7]: 39 [8]} The mangrove forest also contributes to shoreline stabilization in the face of tropical storms, and it improves water quality by retaining and filtering storm run-off.^[2]

Archaeological studies have found evidence of the presence of Stone Age humans in what is now the reserve as long as 6000 years ago, seasonally harvesting oysters and whelks from the mangrove forests.^[7]: 37