POLYCHAETE FAUNA OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE SUEZ CANAL (PORT-SAID – TOUSSOUM)

POLYCHAETE FAUNA OF THE NORTHERN PART OF THE
SUEZ CANAL (PORT-SAID – TOUSSOUM)
SAMIA ABD EL-HALIM SELIM
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries
El-Anfoushy-Alexandria, Egypt.
[email protected]
Key words: Suez Canal, Lessepsian migrant, Biogeographic groups, Cosmopolitan,
Circumtropical
ABSTACT
The opening of the Suez Canal has led to the introduction of hundreds of Lessepsian
migrants in both directions (Mediterranean and Red Seas), especially in the Levant Basin.
As a result, many of the Red Sea-Indo-Pacific species has been detected in this area.
Therefore, Studying the Suez Canal biota is strongly needed. The present study was
focused on polychaete fauna inhabiting the Canal. Sediment samples and fouling
aggregations were collected from the northern part of the Suez Canal in April, 2007.
Analysis of 3459 of polychaete individuals embraced 79 species belonging to 23 families.
Forty new records were reported from the studied area. Generally, bottom samples harbored
lower number of both species and individuals. The best represented families were: Syllidae,
Nereididae, Serpulidae, Sabellidae, Spionidae and Cirratulidae. The leader species was
Hydroides elegans. Analysis of the biogeographic distribution of the recorded species had
been emerged 14 groups. The main groups were: Cosmopolitan (19 species),
Circumtropical (15 species), Atlantic-Mediterranean (10 species), Atlantic-MediterraneanRed Sea and Disjunct (5 species).