PHYTOPlAjVKTON VARIABILITY IN THE EASTERN HARBOUR OF ALEXANDRiA DURING 2000

PHYTOPlAjVKTON VARIABILITY IN THE EASTERN HARBOUR
OF ALEXANDRiA DURING 2000
BY
SANnA K. MIKHAIL *
*Nativnallnstillile ojOceanograph.\.· 1′: Fisheries. kaye( Bey. Alexandria. Egypt.
Key words: Phytoplankton variability, Alexandria
ABSTRACT
Assessment of short-rerm phyroplankton I’Qriability ‘las conducted
at a fixed station in the Eastern Harbour of Alexandria (Egypt) from
Jan/lQl)’ ro November 2000. The persistent variations resulted from
rhe variable intefplay among rhe conlinuous variability of the physical
and chemical habitat propernes. The high fertility obsefTed and the
occurrence of several blooming pulses. caused bJ: less {han a dozen
species. at intef1l1irtent periods in slimmer and fall could be attributed
to anthropogenic elllrophicalion and geographical dispersion from
neighboring areas imo rhe harbollr
The occurrence of di.stinc( increasing diatOm poplIlalion during
mid- wimer afld rhe phytO-jiagellate bloom in early spring contrih/lled
imponantjearw’es oj{he annual phytoplanA.10n ,’aJ7ability GJde
The stlldy documented the rapid change in the phytoplankton
community structure and species composition. Another diffirent
causative species could replace a dense phytoplankton bloom
immediatel,v after its dissipation.
Short-rerm scale sampling (at leasl Mice per ‘reek) prOl’ed /0 be
advisable to describe the actual processes of habilat-ph.vroplanklOn
.ml1ability in SIIch a highly dynamic marine basin.
The applied statistical analyses suggested an impar/ant role for
(he ware,. salinity TO control phytoplankton variabilil):. Yet. ir is