DISTRIBUTION OF CHLOROPHYCEAE IN LAKE BUROLWS, EGYPT.

DISTRIBUTION OF CHLOROPHYCEAE IN LAKE BUROLWS, EGYPT.

AMIN A. SAMAAN, ZEINAB M. El-SHERIF AND EISHA Y. El-AYOUTY·

National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria

• Botany Dept., FaCUlty of Science, Cairo University.
ABSTRACT
The standing crop of phytoplankton in take Burollus was
estimated monthly dJring the years 197a and 1979. The
community was rich both In density and number of species
and it consisted mainly of Chlorophyceae and
Bacillariophyceae was less frequent.
The chlorophytes constituted about 53 1 of the total
phytoplankton counts. They were represented by 36 species
Included in 6 orders. The order Chlorococcales contributed
about 96 1 of the total chlorophyte., being doIItfnated by
Icelledes.. and DictyosphaeriWi and to a less extent by
PediastlUl Ankistrode • and Crucigenia. Members of the
orders ‘Tetrasporales, Volvocales, Ulotrichales,
Zygnematales and Oedogoniales were Infrequently or rarely
recorded.
The highest density of chlorophytes appeared about the
middle of the lake. Their numbers were subjected to seasonal
as well as annual variations. Their maximum persistence was
in general dJrlng the winter and spring beside a small
increase in autlAlll’l. The average annual standing crop of
chlorophytes In lake Burollus amounted to 1,321,600 u/l in
1978, increased to 2,019,700 u/l dJring 1979. Most of the
species recorded are Oligohalobous halophilous forms.