Free-living nematodes in some mangrove sites on the southern Egyptian Red Sea coast with emphasis on their horizontal distribution.

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The generic composition, abundance, and distribution of free-living nematodes along three mangrove sites in the southern Egyptian Red Sea coast were studied. Sediment samples were collected in April 2022 at three different tidal levels in each site. Densities of free-living nematodes varied among sites and tidal levels. The mangrove of El-Readaa site had the most abundant and diversified nematofauna and the mid-tidal level attained the highest densities and number of recorded genera. Nematofauna was represented by 25 genera belonging to 13 families, of them; Xyalidae, Desmodoridae and Linhomoeidae were the most abundant. Terschellingia and Daptonema were the common genera in fine sediment areas and their abundance increased from high water level towards the mangrove trees at the low tidal level. Genus Spirinia was common in the coarser sediments and showed an opposite distribution pattern. A strong correlation occurred between nematodes' abundance, feeding types and sediment characteristics. The abundance of the different nematodes was studied in relation to their feeding habits.

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