DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES IN THE SWA..\'H ZONE ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF PORT-SAID (EGYPT).

DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES IN THE

SWA..\’H ZONE ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST OF

PORT-SAID (EGYPT).

BY
SAWSAN M. ABOUL EZZ
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. Kayet Bey. Alexandria. Egypt.
Key Words: Zooplankton, Mediterranean, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
Quantitative and qualitative estimations (?f zooplankton along the Swash
zone qfthe Mediterranean Coast qfPort-Said were carried 01lt monthly during
the periodfrom .July, 1992 to .June, 1993 with the exception (?f November. The
investigated area receives brackish waterfrom Lake Manzalah.
Results prove that protozoans contributed the highest percentage (36.5 %
(?fthe total zooplankton cOllnt.~) followed by crustaceans qf both marine and
brackish water forms (32.0%). Rot[fel’s and coelenterate larvae appeared
frequent. Coelel1terate,~’ were dominant during summer while, I’ot[fers prevailed
in winter. Insects, po~vchaets, echinoderm larvae, mollusc veligers, nematod~’,
Chaetognaths, and pelagic tunicates were rarely recorded. Ihe annual
average qf the total zooplankton community reached ././3,000 organisms/m3.
Results revealed that the studied region is eutrophic as by sewage discharged
from the neighbouring Port-Said City as well as the brackish water discharged
from Lake Mamalah.