DISTRIBUTION OF MACRO BENTHOS ASSEMBL4GES IN THE NORTH COAST OF EGYPT.

DISTRIBUTION OF MACRO BENTHOS ASSEMBL4GES
IN THE NORTH COAST OF EGYPT.
By
M. M. EL-KOMI*, AND A.1. BELTAGY
*National Institute ofOceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria. Egypt
Key words: Macro benthos, regional distribution, Egypt, Mediterranean.
ABSTRACT
The regional distribution and temporal changes in the species
composition and abundance of macro benthic assemblages were
studies in the northern coastal Mediterranean waters of Egypt. A
total of 76 species of botrom invertebrate ammals and 19 species of
macro benthic algae were found during October 1994 and April 1995.
Dominant macro benthic species included polychaetes (Nereis.
Glycera and Paraninoe), bivalves (Donax, Corbula and Macoma),
and echinoderm (Ophiura). Bottom fauna andflora were, in general,
more dense in Abu Qir, Borollus and Damiatta sectors. The densities
of bottom fauna ranged between 13 and 167 ind./mJ at the western
region and 115 to 260 ind./nl at the eastern region during the fall and
spring respectively. The corresponding biomassfluctuatedfrom 3.2
to 8.5 g/mJ at the western region andfrom 4.5 to 16.2g/m2
Q[ the
eastern one. The density was high in the neritic zones at depths of10
to 100 meters and was low in the oceanic zones of more than 100
meters depth. The western region is less productive in macro benthic
communities than in the eastern one due to type ofsediments. lack of
continental input and to the steep slope in continental shelf