Submit Manuscript

Research Journal of Environmental Sciences

Year: 2007 | Volume: 1 | Issue: 5 | Page No.: 200-210
Research Article

Monthly Variations in Abundance and Species Composition of the Epipelagic Zooplankton off Sharm El-Sheikh, Northern Red Sea

Mohsen M. El-Sherbiny
Department of Marine Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Mahmoud H. Hanafy
Department of Marine Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Maher A. Aamer
Department of Marine Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Seasonal changes in zooplankton abundance and species composition were investigated at one station off Sharm El-Sheikh, northern Red Sea, during May 2005 to May 2006. A total of 99 taxa and species were identified. Three main peaks of zooplankton abundance were observed in summer (July-August), in autumn (November) and in late spring (May). However, the different species within the zooplankton community displayed an obvious succession throughout the year. Copepods overwhelmingly dominated both in terms of abundance (mean: 84.7%) and diversity (68 genus and species). Most of the recorded copepod species have world-wide tropical and subtropical distribution. Other abundant groups were mollusc larvae (6.8%) and larvaceans (2.4%) which were particularly numerous during summer period. Adult copepods constituted only 22.3% of total copepods, with Clausocalanus sp., Oithona plumifera, O. nana, Oncaea scottodicarloi, O. mediterranea and Paracalanus sp. Ctenocalanus vanus, Calocalanus styliremis, Microsetella rosa, Corycaeus sp. and C. gibbulus being the most abundant species. Seasonal variations showed that Oithona nana, Corycaeus sp. and C. gibbulus and cladocerans (Evadne tergestina) dominated the summer communities, whereas in winter calanoid copepods Clausocalanus sp. were predominated. While in autumn Oithona plumifera, Microsetella rosae, Oncaea scottodicarloi, O. mediterranea were flourished.
PDF Fulltext XML References

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Article Trend

Total views 3737

References

  1. Aamer, M.A., M.M. El-Sherbiny, A.A. Gab-Alla and M.M. Kotb, 2006. Ecological studies on zooplankton standing crop of Sharm El-Maiya Bay, Sharm El-Sheikh, northern Red Sea. Catrina, 1: 73-80.
  2. Abdel-Rahman, N.S., 1997. Suez canal as a link in the migration of zooplankton between the mediterranean and red seas. Ph.D. Thesis, Zool. Depart., Fac. Sci., Suez Canal University, Egypt, pp: 402.
  3. Prado-Por, M.S.A., 1983. Diversity and dynamics of Copepoda Calanoida in the Northern Gulf of` Aqaba, Red Sea. Oceanol. Acta, 6: 139-145.
  4. Prado-Por, M.S.A., 1985. Distribution of the calanoid Copepoda along the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Medit., 29: 249-252.
  5. Prado-Por, M.S.A., 1990. A diel cycle of vertical distribution of the Calanoida (Crustacea: Copepoda) in the Northern Gulf of Aqaba. Bull. Nat. Inst. Oceanogr. Monaco, 7: 109-116.
  6. Beckmann, W., 1984. Mesozooplankton distribution on a transect from the Gulf of Aden to the central Red Sea during the winter monsoon. Oceanol. Acta, 7: 87-102.
  7. Bottger, R., 1987. The vertical distribution of micro- and small mesozooplankton in the central Red Sea. Biol. Oceanogr., 4: 383-402.
  8. Bottger-Schnack, R., D. Schnack and H. Weikert, 1989. Biological observations on small cyclopoid copepods in the Red Sea. J. Plankton Res., 11: 1089-1101.
  9. Bottger-Schnack, R., 1990. Community structure and vertical distribution of cyclopoid copepods in the Red Sea. I. Central Red Sea, autumn 1980. Mar. Biol., 106: 473-485.
  10. Bottger-Schnack, R., 1990. Community structure and vertical distribution of cyclopoid copepods in the Red Sea. II. Aspects of seasonal and regional differences. Mar. Biol., 106: 487-501.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  11. Calbet, A., S. Garrido, E. Saiz, M. Alcaraz and C. Duarte, 2001. Annual zooplankton succession in coastal NW Mediterranean waters: The importance of the smaller size fractions. J. Plankton. Res., 23: 319-331.
    Direct Link
  12. Cornils, C., S.B. Schnack-Schiel, W. Hagen, M. Dowidar, N. Stambler, O. Plahn and C. Richter, 2005. Spatial and temporal distribution of mesozooplankton in the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea in February/March 1999. J. Plankton Res., 27: 505-518.
    Direct Link
  13. Delalo, E.P., 1966. Distribution of the zooplankton biomass in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, winter 1961-1962 (in Russ.). Okeanologicheskiya Issled., 15: 131-139.
  14. Echelman, T. and L. Fishelson, 1990. Surface zooplankton dynamics and community structure in the northern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Mar. Biol., 107: 179-190.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  15. El-Rashedi, M.E.M., 1992. Ecological studies on the molluscs in Sharm El-Sheikh area. M.Sc. Thesis, Mari. Sci. Depart., Fac. Sci., Suez Canal Univ. Egypt, pp: 82.
  16. El-Sherbiny, M., 1997. Some ecological studies on zooplankton in Sharm El-Sheikh area (Red Sea). M.Sc. Thesis. Suez Canal University, Egypt pp: 151.
  17. Fenaux, R., 1960. Appendicularians of the Red Sea. Bull. Mus. Nat. Hist. Paris, 38: 784-785.
  18. Fernandez de Puelles, M.L. and J.G. Braun, 1996. Micro and Mesozooplankton in Canarian Waters (28E 30 N, 16E 6 W). In: Oceanography and Marine Resources in the Eastern Central Atlantic, Llinas, O., J.A. Gonzalez and M.J. Rueda (Eds.), Gobierno de Canarias. Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Canaria, pp: 69-90.
  19. Fernandez de Puelles, M.L., D. Gras and S. Hernandez-Leon, 2003. Annual cycle of zooplankton biomass, abundance and species composition in the neritic area of the Balearic Sea, Western Mediterranean. Mari. Ecol., 24: 123-139.
    Direct Link
  20. Furnestin, M.L., 1958. Some samples of zooplankton from Gulf of Aqaba. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn. Haifa, 16: 6-15.
  21. GLOBEC, 1977. Global ocean ecosystem dynamic science plan. IGBR Report 40. GLOBEC Report, 9: 82-82.
  22. Godeaux, J., 1960. Pelagic tunicates of Eilat. Bull. Sea Fish. Res. Stn. Haifa, 29: 9-15.
  23. Godeaux, J., 1978. Population of Thaliacea in the Gulf of Aqaba. Bull. Soc. R. Sci. Liege, 47: 376-389.
  24. Halim, Y., 1969. Plankton of the Red Sea. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol., 7: 231-275.
  25. Hanafy, M.H., M.M. Dorgham and M.M. El-Sherbiny, 1998. Zooplankton community in the Mangal ecosystem in Sharm El-Sheikh Coast, Red Sea. Egypt. J. Aquat. Biol. Fish, 2: 465-482.
  26. Hernandez-Leon, S., 1998. Annual cycle of epiplanktonic copepods in Canary Island waters. Fish. Oceangr., 7: 252-257.
  27. Khalil, M.T. and N.S. Abdel-Rahman, 1997. Abundance and diversity of surface zooplankton in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt. J. Plank. Res., 19: 927-936.
    Direct Link
  28. Kimor, B. and B. Golandsky, 1977. Microplankton of the Gulf of Aqaba: Aspects of seasonal and bathymetric distribution. Mar. Biol., 41: 55-67.
  29. Klinker, J., C. Reiss, I. Kropach, H. Levanon, S. Harpez and Y. Shaprio, 1978. Nutrients and biomass distribution in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Mar. Biol., 45: 53-64.
  30. Komarovsky, B., 1956. The plankton of the Israel coastal waters. Characteristic features. Fish. Bull., 9: 1-6.
  31. Kouwenberg, J.H.M., 1994. Copepod distribution in relation to seasonal hydrographics and spatial structure in the North-Western Mediterranean (Gulf of Lion). Estua. Coast. Shelf Sci., 38: 69-90.
    Direct Link
  32. Levanon-Spanier, I., E. Padan and Z. Reiss, 1979. Primary production in a desert-enclosed sea-the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Deep Sea Res., 26: 673-685.
  33. Malt, S.J., S. Lakkis and R. Ziedane, 1989. The copepod genus Oncaea (Poecilostomatoidea) from the Lebanon: Taxonomic and ecological observations. J. Plankt. Res., 11: 949-969.
  34. Morcos, S.A., 1970. Physical and chemical oceanography of the Red Sea. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol., 8: 73-202.
  35. Nishida, S., 1985. Taxonomy and distribution of the family Oithonidae (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) in the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Bull. Ocean Res. Inst. Univ. Tokyo, 20: 1-167.
  36. Pielou, E.C., 1966. The measurement of diversity in different types of biological collections. J. Theor. Biol., 13: 131-144.
    CrossRefDirect Link
  37. Ponomarova, L.A., 1968. Euphausiids of the Red Sea collected in summer 1966 by Academician, R.V. and S. Vavilov. Mar. Biol., 1: 263-265.
  38. Raymont, J.E., 1983. Plankton and Productivity in the Oceans. Pergamon Press, London.
  39. Sander, F. and E. Moor, 1978. A comparative study of inshore and offshore copepod populations at Barbados, West Indies. Crusta, 35: 225-240.
  40. Schmidt, H.E., 1973. The vertical distribution and diurnal migration of some zooplankton in the Bay of Aqaba (Red Sea). Helgolar. Wiss. Schaf. Merres. Uuchun., 24: 333-340.
  41. Sewell, R.B.S., 1948. The littoral and semi-parasitic cyclopoida, the monstrilloida and notodelphyoida. Scientific reports of the john murray expedition. Publ. British Museum (Natural History), 9: 17-199.
  42. Veissiere, R. and G. Seguin, 1982. Preliminary study of the zooplankton from the coral reef and the open-sea areas of Jordan in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea). Vie Marine, 4: 1-6.
  43. Vaissiere, R. and G. Seguin, 1984. Initial observations of the zooplankton micro distribution on the fringing coral reef at Aqaba (Jordan). Mar. Biol., 83: 1-11.
  44. Weikert, H., 1980. On the plankton of the central Red Sea. A first synopsis of results obtained from the cruises MESEDA I and MESEDA II. Proceedings of the Symposium on Coastal and marine Environment of the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Tropical western Indian Ocean, January 9-15, 1980, The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environmental program, Jeddah, pp: 235.
  45. Weikert, H., 1987. Plankton and the Pelagic Environment. In: Key Environments, Edwards, A.J. and S.M. Head (Eds.). Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp: 90-111.

Keywords