Ecology of Avicennia marina mangals along Gulf of Aqaba, South Sinai, Red Sea

Gab-Alla, Ali; Fouda, Moustafa; Morsy, Waleed

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2010.2063

Ecology of Avicennia marina mangals along Gulf of Aqaba, South Sinai, Red Sea

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Um Al-Qura University, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

² 4- Natural Reserve Section, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Cairo, Egypt.

³ Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt

10.21608/ejabf.2010.2063

Abstract

This study was conducted on a naturally growing mangrove population at Ras Mohammed and Nabq protected areas, South Sinai, during the period 2005- 2006. Avicennia marina is the only growing mangrove species in South Sinai. Its
structure, litterfall and seedling distribution were investigated. The total area ofmangrove stands is 99.1 hectares with 42% canopy coverage, average tree height is between 1.7 - 2.6 m, basal area up to 9.2 m2. ha-1. Ras Mohammed represents the densest stand (428 stems ha-1). An annual litterfall of 2036.7 Kg. ha-1. yr-1
was recorded at Rowaiseya with a maximum peak during April. Mangroves at Nabq area have well distribution of seedlings over Abu Zabad site and a localized dense aggregation of seedlings in intertidal areas at Monqataa and
Gharqana sites with a seedling density up to 1848 ha-1.

Keywords