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EUTROPHICATION IN MEX BAY (ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT)
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND STATISTICAL APPROACH
By
W. LABIB*
*Nationallnstitute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alexandria, Egypt.
Key Words: Hydrobiology, Eutrophication, Mex Bay, Alexandria, Egypt.
ABSTRACT
The influence _ of physico-chemical factors on time-space
variability of phytoplankton standing crop, succession and biomass
was assessed during an annual cycle in Mex Bay, west ofAlexandria
(Egypt). The bay is eutrophic dynamic system, subjected to continuous
environmental changes and characterised by distinct structural
properties. The normal symptoms and manifestation ofeutrophication
in the bay included the triggering of heavy algal blooms during
summer-early autumn, associated with water discoloration. The
statistical approach proved the more significant contribution ofthe
physical parameters (water temperature, density and transparency)
affecting chlorophyll a variations, rather than nutrient concentrations.
The strong correlation between measured and modelling results of
chlorophyll a as a function ofthe numerical standing crop could be
explained by the predominance of diatoms most of the year.
Generally, deviation in the model results, occurred at times, is due to
the interfering ofseveralfactors simultaneously.
