DISTRIBUTION OF SEAGRASS SPECIES ALONG THE EGYPTIAN RED SEA COAST

DISTRIBUTION OF SEAGRASS SPECIES ALONG THE
EGYPTIAN RED SEA COAST
YASSER ALI HASSAN GENEID
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY AND FISHERIES,
ATTAQA,
P.O BOX: 182,
SUEZ,
EGYPT.
FAX: +2062/3360016
[email protected]
Keywords: Seagrasses- Red Sea- Distribution- Egypt.

ABSTRACT
The distribution of the different seagrass species along the Egyptian coasts of the Red
Sea was investigated. The seagrass species in the Red Sea form vast meadows from the
tidal zone down to depths of 70 m. These coastal marine habitats are highly productive and
support complex ecosystems; however, seagrasses of the Red Sea have not been adequately
mapped leading to lack of systematic information on this valuable marine ecosystem.
Approximately 1300 km of coastal and offshore (i.e. island) lines along the Egyptian Red
Sea were surveyed, examined and an analysis of data on the distribution and abundance of
seagrass species was done. The study area was from Ain Sukhna (40 km south of Suez city)
to Abu Ramad in the south (20 km. North the Egyptian –Sudanese boarder), and from Ras
Burkha (35 km south the Egyptian Israeli boarder) to Sharm El Sheikh City at the southern
end of the Gulf of Aqaba. A total of six species belonging to five genera of seagrasses were
identified during this study (Halodule uninervis, Halophila stipulacea, Halophila ovalis,
Thalassia hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum and Syringodium isoetifolium). The Gulf
of Aqaba had the greatest number of seagrass species along the study area. Two sites (Ras
Mohamed and Abu Galum) had the highest diversity (five species), from a single sampling
site, while only three species were found along the Gulf of Suez. The Red Sea Proper had
five seagrass species. The environmental factors controlling the presence and development
of the seagrass species in the Red Sea have been related to temperature, sediment
composition, water motion and salinity.