El Komi, M., Emara, A. (2007). Benthos monitoring in Red Sea, Egypt A- The western coast of the Suez Gulf. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 11(4), 57-79. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2007.1960
Mohamed El Komi; Ahmed Emara. "Benthos monitoring in Red Sea, Egypt A- The western coast of the Suez Gulf". Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 11, 4, 2007, 57-79. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2007.1960
El Komi, M., Emara, A. (2007). 'Benthos monitoring in Red Sea, Egypt A- The western coast of the Suez Gulf', Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 11(4), pp. 57-79. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2007.1960
El Komi, M., Emara, A. Benthos monitoring in Red Sea, Egypt A- The western coast of the Suez Gulf. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 2007; 11(4): 57-79. doi: 10.21608/ejabf.2007.1960
Benthos monitoring in Red Sea, Egypt A- The western coast of the Suez Gulf
1National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt
2National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Red Sea and Suez & Gulfs Branch, Suez, Egypt
Abstract
Fourteen macrobenthic groups of identified taxa were involved will. ive main higher taxonomic levels on 15 monitoring sites at the western cu^si of the Gulf of Suez during one year (2000) with an average of 125 ind./m2. These levels included Polychaeta (81.0%), Crustacea (5.7%) (Decapoda, Ciumteea, Amphipoda and Anisopoda), Mollusca (7.01%) (Scaphopoda, Gastropoda and Bivalvia), Echinodermata (0.60%) (Echinoidea and Ophiuroidea) and the other minor groups 5.8% (Nematoda, Hydroids, Bryozoa, and Cephalochordata). The density and diversity of marine benthos were higher on hard and cobble bottoms compared to muddy sand substrates. The changes in benthic fauna structures in the sandy area depend not only on the state of poUution, but also on the type of substrate. The benthic fauna assemblages were dominated by polychaetes, which showed the highest density, reaching'81,0% of total density. Polychaete species were more frequent at nearly all sites. The dominant family was Capitellidae, being recorded at 4 sites among benthic fauna of total density, Bivalves were iess abundant (6.53%) though TellineUa staurella had the maximum occurrence at 4 sites, yielding a total of 70ind/m2. (52%) followed by Nematoda, Anisopoda and Amphipoda reached 3.75, 2.30 and 1.80%, while Decapoda and Bryozoa were represented 1.23% &.L23% of the total density respectively. The percentage of abundance of benthic groups at higher taxonomic levels in the sampling sites along the western coast of Suez Gulf can be arranged in the following sequence: polychaetes (81.0%) > molluscs (7.01%) > other groups (5.8%) > crustaceans (5.7) > echinoderms (0.60%). The composition of benthos in the study area is affected by a complex interaction of environmental parameters, which can be grouped into physical and biological parameters as well as pollution.
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