DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOPLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES IN EL-MEX BAY, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT

DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOPLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES IN
EL-MEX BAY, ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
By
M. M. HUSSEIN*
*National Institutes ojOceanography and Fisheries, Kaye! Bay, Alexandria, Egypt
Key Words: Hydrobiology, Zooplankton, Alexandria, Egypt, Mediterranean
ABSTRACT
Quantitative an4 qualitative study of the zooplankton standing
crop was performed bimonthly from nine stations in EI-Mex Bay
(Alexandria, Egypt) from April to October 1996. The average
zooplankton standing crop amounted to 25078 org./m3.
The zooplankton assemblages in EI-Mex waters were represented
mainly by Copepods followed by annelids, rotifers and meroplankton
cirripedes. A total of121 zooplankton species were identified during
the period ofstudy. Many pollutant tolerant zooplankton species were
identified in EI-Mex waters. All zooplankton organisms recorded in
EI-Mex Bay were eurythermal and euryhaline forms. The highest
seasonal abundance of total zooplankton population was observed
during Autumn and the higher density recorded at the nearshore
station (4).
Allochtonous fresh water species were found in El-Mex waters
belonging to protozoans, cladocerans, copepods, nematodes and
rotifers. The number ofzooplankton taxa did not show any significant
correlation with water quality. Shannon’s index showed very little
variations, both seasonally and regionally