STUDY OF MACROBENTHIC I1VVERTEBRATES IN THE QATAR! WATERS, ARABL4N GULF

STUDY OF MACROBENTHIC I1VVERTEBRATES

IN THE QATAR! WATERS, ARABL4N GULF

BY

JASSIM, A. AL-KHAYAT* AND FATIMA, A. AL-KHAYAT
*University o.(Qatar. Faculty 0.(Science. P. 0. Box 2713 Doha – Qatar
Kaywords: Invertebrate, composition. diversit)·, Qatar, Arabian Gulf.
ABSTRACT
Nineteen staTions localed in the exclusive economic zone of Qatar
water llere selected and sampled for a macro-invertebrates study
More than 270 species 0.( benthic fQlma 1t’ere recorded from the
Qatari waters in the Arabian Gulf Mollllscs form the main
predominant group (201 species) among the benthic fauna. followed
by Cmstacea 06 species). EchinodemJata (j 7 species). Annelida (14
species). Ascidiacia (6 species) and If.ydrozoa (-I species). The faunal
diversity index showed a small mriaTion bellt’een the stations. Over
all species diversiTy index 1ms greater at 51. 101 /H’=3.683) and
lowest at Sf. 602 (H’=1.669)