Categories
vol-19PBYTOPWlTOI PRODOCTIOI, DIVERSIn AID CHLOROPHYLL-A
11 TBE SOEZ CARAL, EGYPT.
By
ZEIIAB M. EL-SRERIF· AID ARMED, M. IBRAHIM
• lational Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Alelandria, Egypt.
ler Words: Phytoplankton, Diversitr, Biomass, Productivity, Suez
Canal.
ABSTRACT
Qualitative and quantitative estimations of phytoplankton and its
diversity, beside determination of chlorophyll-a , phytoplankton
biomass, gross primary production and dissolved olygen of the Suez
Canal were carried out during the four seasons of 1991. The samples
were taken from 15 stations along the Canal and they were further
grouped into three regions, namely; Port-Said, Ismailia and El-Suez.
A total of 139 species and varieties were identified from the
different samples, of them, 94 species and varieties representing 40
genera belong to diatoms and 36 species within 11 genera belong to
dinoflagellates. The highest number of species (100) were recorded
from El-Suez region, followed by Port-Said and Ismailia respectively
(97 & 90 species). Most species and varieties were vide spread through
the canal elcept of 13, 8 and 15 species which were confined to PortSaid, Ismilia and El-Suez respectively, where these species were
recorded in Mediterranean, Red Sea and Lake Manzalah. It was found
that at least 13 species of Red Sea origin have crossed the canal
northward to Port-Said, while many species have immigrated south to
El-Suez.
Quantitatively, the standing crop was numerically much higher at
Ismailia region (average 25,380 units L-l) than Port-Said and
El-Suez regions (18,883 and 4,767 units L-l respectivelr).The highest
counts of phrtoplankton were recorded at St.6 (39 1 10′ Units L-l) and
it decreased towards both the south and north elcept of a remarkable
increase noticed at St.l. The minimal value was recorded at St 13
(2.8 1la’ units L-l). The annual average of the total phytoplankton
counts amounted to 16,342 units L-l. Also, the standing crop attained
its highest 4ensity during winter (average 41,658 units L-l) in all
regions, with its malimum at Ismailia (59,584 units L-l) and Port-Said
