Download Full-Text PDF - BioPublisher

International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Research Article
Open Access
Seasonal Variations of Phytoplankton and Nutrients in the Egyptian Harbors of
the Northern Red Sea
Mohamed Z. Nassar , Lamiaa Ismail Mohamedein, Mohamed A. El Sawy
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Suez Branch, B. O. 182, Suez, Egypt
Corresponding author email: [email protected]
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8 doi: 10.5376/ijms.2016.06.0008
Received: 13 Jan., 2016
Accepted: 19 Feb., 2016
Published: 19 Mar., 2016
This is an open access article published under the terms of International Journal of Marine Science, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Nassar M.Z., Mohamedein L.I., and El Sawy M.A., 2016, Seasonal Variations of Phytoplankton and Nutrients in the Egyptian Harbors of the Northern Red Sea,
International Journal of Marine Science, 6(8): 1-17 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2016.06.0008)
Abstract Surface water and phytoplankton samples were seasonally collected from different 18 stations covering about nine harbors
along the Northern Red Sea during 2014-2015. The phytoplankton community was represented by 146 species belonging to 57 genera.
These species are classified as 86 species of diatoms, 39 dinoflagellates, 15 cyanophytes, three of euglenophytes, two species of
chlorophytes and one of silicoflagellates. The diatoms were the leading and most dominated group, forming about 81 % of the total
phytoplankton abundance. The highest occurrence of phytoplankton was observed at the stations and harbors near the northern part of
the Suez Gulf (Suez Bay), due to the partial treated sewage discharged from ABB Company, and low fractions of petroleum
hydrocarbons derived from some petroleum companies. Whereas, other harbors located in the Gulf of Aqaba and eastern coast of Suez
Gulf were the lowest productive sites. The highest abundance of phytoplankton during winter, 2015 was associated with highest values
of dissolved oxygen (3.35-10.39 mgO2/l) and dissolved nitrate (0.170 -1.262 µmole/l). The species diversity of phytoplankton (annual
average of 2.47 nats) showed its minimum during spring at Adabiya inside harbor, which may reflect a relative high pollution state at
this area. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that mainly dissolved nitrate followed by water temperature and pH values
were the most effective variables that controlled the seasonal fluctuations of phytoplankton at the different sites of the study area during
2014-2015. However, the existence of some toxic phytoplankton species in the present study suggests careful consumption of fisheries
resources at the different harbors of the study area and frequent monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) is required.
Keywords phytoplankton; diversity; nutrients; Northern Harbors; Red Sea, Egypt
1. Introduction
The Red Sea is a narrow inland sea separating the Arabian Peninsula, western Asia, from northeastern Africa. It
extends northwest from the strait of Bab El-Mandeb to Suez, Egypt, for a distance of 1900 km. The maximum
depth of the sea is 3040 m, and its maximum width is 350 km. The northern extremity is divided by the Sinai
Peninsula into the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba. The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea and
Bab El-Mandeb connects it with the Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Arabian Sea. (Edwards, 1987). The northern Red
Sea is permanently stratified throughout the year, mixing depth is <100 m, a deep chlorophyll maximum is present
year-round at about 80-100 m depth, and the euphotic depth is well beyond 100 m (Pätzold et al., 2000). The Red
Sea environments receive, either locally or more widely, a variety of stresses as a result of man’s activities.
Considerable industrial and urban development's are currently taking place at many locations both onshore and
offshore around the Egyptian Red Sea coast (El-Tahera and Madkour, 2014).
The quality of water and its capacity to sustain heterotrophic communities, dynamic changes in pH,
concentrations of oxygen and inorganic nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, ammonia) are all closely associated with
fluctuations in phytoplankton composition (Hulyal and Kaliwal, 2009).
Phytoplankton composition and abundance are considered as natural bio-indicators of water quality variations
because of their sensitivity and rapid responses to changes in environmental conditions such as pH, light,
temperature, salinity, turbidity and nutrients (Stanca et al., 2013). Thus, the species compositions, relative
abundance, spatial and temporal distribution of this aquatic biota are an expression of the environmental health or
biological integrity of a particular water body.
1
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Most knowledge on the phytoplankton population of the Red Sea is mainly derived from the review of Halim
(1969) who listed about 209 species (125 dinoflagellates and 84 diatoms) and Skaikh et al. (1986) recorded 283
species (of them, 110 dinoflagellates and 137 diatoms). Dowidar et al. (1978) recorded about 224 species
classified as 111 dinoflagellates and 112 diatoms. Halim (1984) indicated that southern Red Sea is more
productive than the northern area. Nassar (1994, 2000), Nassar and Hamed (2003), Hamed et al. (2003), Shams
El-Din et al. (2005), Deyab et al. (2004), Ismail (2005) and Nassar (2007a) examined the seasonal variations of
phytoplankton at different locations in the Gulf of Suez. Several workers including Gordon et al. (1994), Post et al.
(2002), Al-Najjar et al. (2007) and Nassar (2007b) studied the population density of phytoplankton in the Gulf of
Aqaba,. Also, Dorgham et al. (2012) concluded that the phytoplankton biomass in the Gulf of Aqaba was generally
low in the epipelagic zone, whereas chlorophyll a was less than 0.5 μg/L, except relatively high concentration
(0.7-1.12 μg/L) in deep layers in spring. In the Red Sea Proper, El-Sherif and Abo El-Ezz (2000) examined the
distribution of plankton at the northern Red Sea, recording 41 diatom species, 53 dinoflagellates, 10 cyanophytes
and two chlorophytes. Abel Rahman and Nassar (2005) studied the phytoplankton and zooplankton at the sector
of Halayib-Shalatin, Red Sea. Madkour et al. (2010) reported that the phytoplankton population was fairly
diversified (181 species) and comprised mainly two groups; dinoflagellates (116 species) and diatoms (60 species).
Nassar et al. (2014) recorded 145 species of phytoplankton with clear dominance of Bacillariophyceae, which
formed about 76.4 % of the total phytoplankton counts. Nassar et al. (2015) indicated that the total abundance of
phytoplankton was relatively low in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf, as compared its western coast and the northern
part of the Red Sea. Ismail (2015) conducted a review on the phytoplankton distribution in the whole Red Sea,
recording 389 species and varieties.
Generally, about 207 phytoplankton species that identified and classified by many workers at different areas in the
Egyptian waters of the Red Sea and some surrounding habitats are listed by Nassar and Khairy (2014). A guide
photos for most of these phytoplankton species are represented by Nassar and Khairy (2015).
In fact, the available literatures on phytoplankton population dynamic at the different harbors of the Red Sea,
Egypt are scarce and information is lacking concerning phytoplankton in this area. The aim of the present study is
to follow up the impact of different activities and effect of nutrients on the spatial and temporal variations of
phytoplankton at some of the Egyptian harbors of the Northern Red Sea.
2. Material and Methods
2.1 Description of sampling stations
Eighteen different stations were selected for investigation in the present study and covering about nine different
harbors (Fig.1). The stations 2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 17 are located inside the harbors, while the stations 1, 4, 6, 8,
11, 13, 16 and 18 are selected outside the ports of the study area. The other two sites; St.7 is selected near Tersana
area of Port-Tawfik Port and St.14 is situated near Al-Tour Maritime area. The chosen harbors could briefly
describe as follows:
1Ataka Fishing Port (St. 1, 2): Fishing port in Ataka 20 km south Suez. It has 2 berths and host
about 150 fishing vessels within its basin.
2Adabiya port (St. 3, 4). The Port is situated on the western coast of Suez Gulf at about 17 km from
Suez City (32º29 E and 29º52 N). The harbour is open to the Suez Bay southern area and extends till the
head of Adabiya region.
3Zyteia Port (Petroleum Dock port) (St. 5, 6). The port is located on the Eastern part of Suez-port on
the northern side of Suez Gulf at the Southern entrance of Suez Canal (32 31.8 E, 29 57.2 N). It has long
basin where the tankers can dock for upload and download the petroleum oil.
4Port Tawfik (St. 7, 8, 9). It is located on the northern part of Suez Gulf on the southern gate of Suez
Canal. It includes the northern coast until Suez Canal entrance (32 34 E, 29 56 N). It has two basins, the
first one for the shipping activity and the other for the maintenance of the ships (El Tersana, St.7).
2
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
5Sukhna Port (St. 10, 11). It is a new commercial port, located on the western coast of Gulf of Suez
and away from Suez city 43 km ( 32 21.4 E, 29 39 N). The port has 3 berths; two of them are working.
6AL-Tour port (St. 12, 13). AL-Tour port is located on the eastern coast of Gulf of Suez with one
berth (about 280 km southwards Suez city) (33 37 E, 28 14 N).
7AL-Tour maritime fishing port (St.14). It is a fishing port Located on the eastern coast of Gulf of
Suez, host from 75 to 80 fishing boat with a berth length of 75 m (33 60 E, 28 23 N).
8Nuweiba port (St.15, 16). This port is located on the western coast of Aqaba Gulf at approximately
168 km North of Sharm El-Sheikh, and about 64 km. south of Taba (34 39 E, 28 57N).
9Sharm El Sheikh Port (St.17, 18). The port is located about 380 km south of Suez Governorate. It is
located on the top of the triangle of Sinai Peninsula, at the confluent of Suez and Aqaba Gulfs in South
Sinai Governorate (34 17 E, 27 51.2 N).
Fig.1 Positions of the sampling stations
2.2 Physico-chemical parameters
Water temperature was measured by using a simple pocket thermometer graduated to 0.1oC. The pH value of
water samples was measured in situ using a pocket pH meter model Orion 210, Dissolved oxygen was fixed in
field and measured according to the modified Winkler’s method according to Strickland and Parson (1972) and the
dissolved inorganic nutrients (NO3, NO2, NH4 and PO4) were determined spectrophotometrically and the results
were expressed in µM according to the methods described by APHA (2005).
2.3 Phytoplankton estimations
Surface water samples were seasonally collected from different 18 stations covering nine harbors along the two
gulfs of the Red Sea during summer and autumn of 2014 and winter and spring of 2015. The community structure
and standing crop of the phytoplankton was determined by sedimentation method (Ütermohl, 1958), and
expressed in cell or unit per liter. The accepted and recent names of the recorded phytoplankton species were
according to the taxonomic database sites, like algaebase.com (ab), World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS),
Canadian Register of Marine Species (CaRMS), Nordic Microalgae and Aquatic Protozoa (NOD) and Integrated
Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
2.4 Statistical analysis
The correlation matrices was applied to total phytoplankton counts and the physico-chemical parameters at p<
0.05 and n=60. Multiple regressions were calculated for phytoplankton, using the program of STATISTICA
3
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Version 5. The species diversity (H′) was calculated according to Shannon-Weaver (1963). This statistical analysis
was carried out for only 15 sampling stations at which the phytoplankton samples were estimated in four seasons.
But the stations 2 (not detected for phytoplankton in summer, 2014), 10 and 11 (not detected in winter, 2015) are
excluded from the analysis.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Physico-chemical conditions
Water temperature is the most important environmental parameter, which affects the organisms and chemical and
biological reactions in water (Salah and El-Moselhy, 2015). In the present study, the highest seawater temperature
27.5 °C was found at St 11 (Sukhna out port) during summer of 2014, while the lowest value of 16.5 °C was
recorded at St.5 (Zyteia in port) during winter of 2015. Generally, the maximum mean value of 26.11 °C was
recorded during summer and the minimum mean value of 19.24 °C was observed in winter. An inverse correlation
(r= - 0.57) was found between the seasonal variations of phytoplankton and water temperature.
pH is one of the vital environmental characteristics for the survival, metabolism, physiology, growth of aquatic
organisms and chemical processes (Ramanathan et al., 2005). It is controlled by the dissolved oxygen, water
temperature, sewage discharge; decomposition of organic matter and photosynthetic activities (Nassar and Hamed,
2003). Low pH values could allow toxic elements to become more available for uptake by aquatic plants and
animals. This can produce conditions that are toxic to aquatic life (Faragallah et al., 2009). In this study the
relatively higher pH values were recorded during summer (8.11-8.27) in which the rise in temperature usually
causing more consumption of carbon dioxide due to the phytoplankton photosynthetic activity. On the other hand,
lower pH values were observed during winter (7.75-8.20) in which there is an increasing in CO2 level because the
increasing of the rate of organic matter decomposition by the microbial respiration.
Dissolved oxygen is an important constituent of water and its concentration in water is an indicator of prevailing
water quality and ability of water body to support a well-balanced aquatic life (George et al., 2012). Measure of
dissolved oxygen refers to the amount of oxygen contained in water, and defines the living conditions for
oxygen-requiring (aerobic) aquatic organisms (Sundarambal et al., 2009). It is also the best parameter to show the
effect of pollution in the aquatic ecosystem unless it contains toxic constituents (Salah and El-Moselhy, 2015).
The data in Table 1 indicated that the highest DO values of 10.39 and 9.61 mgO2/L were found at the stations 1
(Ataka out port) and 4 (Adabiya out port), respectively during winter of 2015. While, the lowest values of 3.35
and 4.13 mgO2/L were detected at the stations 15 (Nuwbia in port) and 2 (Ataka in port), respectively during
summer of 2014. Seasonally, lowest values of DO were recorded during summer (average of 5.9 mgO2/L) in
which the lowest abundance of phytoplankton was observed (average of 2821 unit/L), whereas the highest values
of DO was recorded during winter (average of 8.45 mgO2/L), which was associated with highest flourishing of
phytoplankton (average 8269 unit/L). This high oxygen content in winter indicates a good mixing in the water
column (Girgis, 1980). However, the coastal waters require minimum value of oxygen 4.0 mgO2/L and it will be
better with 5.0 mgO2/L for optimum ecosystem function (UNESCO/WHO, 1973).
Nutrients are considered critical besides water and carbon dioxide that are consumed by plants in the synthesis of
organic materials (Hamed and Said, 2000).The nutrient enrichment of coastal waters is generally the main factor
driving the succession and composition of phytoplankton communities (Leterme et al., 2014).The most important
nitrogen sources for the phytoplankton growth are the nitrate and ammonium salts (Nassar, 2014). Both EU and
OSPAR Organizations defined the eutrophication specifically refers to the compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus
of anthropogenic origin. It is widely accepted that nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for phytoplankton growth in
marine waters and the nitrate-nitrogen is generally deemed to be the principal driver of eutrophication, while the
phosphorus being the limiting nutrient in freshwaters (Thie-Scroodie-Stoo and Yn Reiltys, 2006).
4
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Table 1 Physico-chemical parameters at the different stations during 2014-2015.
Summer 2014
St.1
St.2
St.3
St.4
St.5
St.6
St.7
St.8
St.9
St.10
St.11
St.12
St.13
St.14
St.15
St.16
St.17
St.18
Average
Temp.
25.8
25.6
26.4
26.8
26.3
25.2
26.5
26.5
25.5
27.4
27.5
25.1
26.3
26.1
25.72
26.11
24.82
26.33
26.11
pH
8.27
8.24
8.25
8.26
8.22
8.23
8.14
8.21
8.27
8.25
8.27
8.20
8.23
8.12
8.21
8.21
8.13
8.11
8.21
DO
8.05
4.13
6.70
7.58
7.82
7.89
6.21
7.04
6.34
5.59
5.79
4.31
5.25
5.46
3.35
4.92
4.81
5.03
5.90
PO4
0.111
0.077
0.108
0.139
0.106
0.072
0.062
0.115
0.110
0.028
0.026
0.038
0.034
0.007
0.016
0.013
0.021
0.009
0.061
NO3
0.662
0.514
0.542
0.691
0.518
0.494
0.398
0.672
0.629
0.350
0.340
0.380
0.360
0.170
0.250
0.210
0.320
0.190
0.427
NO2
0.278
0.168
0.254
0.307
0.221
0.149
0.144
0.283
0.268
0.091
0.085
0.139
0.106
0.028
0.071
0.067
0.079
0.035
0.154
NH4
0.744
0.226
0.322
1.248
0.446
0.413
0.408
0.763
0.509
0.269
0.220
0.173
0.120
0.110
0.173
0.163
0.150
0.115
0.365
Autumn 2014
Temp.
22.70
23.11
22.42
22.68
23.45
22.78
23.57
23.10
22.46
24.10
23.10
22.12
22.94
23.50
21.43
22.20
23.25
24.13
22.95
pH
8.20
8.13
8.15
8.09
8.17
8.24
8.18
8.14
8.23
8.19
8.16
8.17
8.18
8.04
8.17
8.15
8.07
8.05
8.15
DO
8.38
5.36
7.82
8.27
7.38
7.93
7.26
7.91
7.15
6.82
6.93
6.15
7.26
6.45
5.59
5.76
5.48
5.71
6.87
PO4
0.202
0.178
0.187
0.245
0.185
0.168
0.144
0.206
0.192
0.069
0.054
0.077
0.072
0.015
0.032
0.021
0.043
0.017
0.117
NO3
1.056
0.912
0.965
1.152
0.912
0.816
0.720
1.066
1.008
0.624
0.624
0.720
0.672
0.528
0.586
0.557
0.614
0.528
0.781
NO2
0.261
0.239
0.256
0.360
0.245
0.168
0.123
0.269
0.258
0.100
0.096
0.121
0.101
0.029
0.053
0.052
0.072
0.048
0.158
NH4
0.518
0.365
0.408
1.090
0.389
0.365
0.360
0.648
0.480
0.264
0.202
0.360
0.288
0.048
0.072
0.072
0.091
0.067
0.338
5
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Winter 2015
Temp.
17.4
17.1
17.1
17.3
16.5
17.3
16.6
17.4
17.00
16.8
18.9
21.2
21.5
21.3
23.7
23.4
23
22.9
19.24
pH
8.05
8.10
8.08
8.19
8.21
8.14
8.08
8.04
8.14
7.98
8.06
7.75
7.95
7.94
8.04
7.92
7.99
8.00
8.04
DO
10.39
7.35
8.94
9.61
9.27
9.39
7.92
9.72
7.60
7.27
8.80
7.89
7.98
7.86
7.37
8.81
7.21
8.68
8.45
PO4
0.322
0.274
0.298
0.413
0.283
0.250
0.235
0.379
0.317
0.189
0.178
0.233
0.192
0.085
0.154
0.091
0.168
0.089
0.230
NO3
1.109
0.912
1.013
1.205
0.960
0.773
0.768
1.114
1.066
0.672
0.672
0.720
0.720
0.586
0.624
0.624
0.653
0.600
0.822
NO2
0.317
0.278
0.312
0.408
0.293
0.216
0.173
0.319
0.315
0.147
0.144
0.168
0.149
0.082
0.106
0.103
0.120
0.096
0.208
NH4
0.566
0.437
0.456
1.080
0.223
0.206
0.408
0.701
0.485
0.312
0.245
0.408
0.341
0.096
0.139
0.125
0.163
0.120
0.362
Spring 2015
Temp.
23.7
24.1
24.5
24.00
24.5
24.00
24.00
23.8
24.5
25.9
25.9
25.7
25.5
25.5
25.59
25.98
27.7
27.6
25.14
pH
8.15
8.20
8.11
8.13
8.14
8.20
8.12
8.09
8.17
8.14
8.09
8.01
8.03
7.98
8.09
7.97
8.02
8.01
8.09
DO
8.94
6.70
7.93
8.38
7.96
8.20
7.82
8.38
7.26
6.92
6.98
7.65
7.82
7.73
7.26
7.46
6.15
6.70
7.57
PO4
0.278
0.252
0.259
0.379
0.254
0.245
0.235
0.307
0.264
0.142
0.139
0.187
0.144
0.069
0.091
0.077
0.137
0.072
0.196
NO3
1.118
0.960
1.013
1.262
1.013
0.797
0.778
1.171
1.018
0.758
0.720
0.768
0.768
0.638
0.672
0.662
0.691
0.653
0.859
NO2
0.350
0.309
0.326
0.293
0.312
0.298
0.264
0.360
0.331
0.213
0.187
0.240
0.216
0.110
0.173
0.125
0.182
0.123
0.245
NH4
0.523
0.360
0.269
1.032
0.514
0.389
0.317
0.763
0.374
0.206
0.192
0.206
0.190
0.090
0.101
0.086
0.192
0.070
0.326
6
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Ammonium is biologically active compound present in most water as normal biological degradation product of
organic nitrogen (Salah and El-Moselhy, 2015). Ammonium (NH4+) represented 80% of Dissolved Inorganic
Nitrogen (DIN) and its highest values were always associated with fresh water inflow (Martin et al., 2008).
Results in Table 1 showed that, highest concentration of ammonium (1.248 µmole/l) was found during summer at
station 4 (Adabiya out Port). This may be due to the effluents of partial treated sewage of ABB Company, and the
impacts of fishing ships and other human activities near this area. While, the lowest value of 0.048 µmole/l was
observed at St. 14 (Al-Tour maritime). Generally, ammonium contents were observed to be high at the relatively
polluted stations 4, 8 and 1, during summer 2014 in which the lowest abundance of phytoplankton was occurred.
The consideration of Nitrite concentrations in seawater is useful due to its intermediate oxidation state between
ammonia and nitrate, but it has the highest toxicological significance of human health, if present in perceptible
concentration in diets (Nassar and Hamed, 2003). Maximum nitrite concentration of (0.408umol/L) was recorded at St.4
(Adabia out of the port) during winter (Table 1) where, water mixing reached its highest rate and nitrite accumulation in
the water column is due to excretion by algal cells which resulted in more phytoplankton growth. Such value is in quite
agreement with the presence of ammonia at the same station and during the same season. The minimum value of nitrite
being (0.028umol/L) occurred at St.14 ( Al-Tour maritime) during summer.
Nitrate is considered as the most stable and predominant inorganic nitrogen form in seawater and it is one of the
main nitrogen sources for phytoplankton (Al-Qutob et al., 2002). In the present study, dissolved nitrate
represented about 57.32% of the total inorganic nitrogen. The maximum nitrate concentration of 1.262 µmole/l
was observed during spring at St.4 (Adabiya out port), this was associated with high flourishing of total
phytoplankton counts, while the minimum value of 0.170 µmole/l was recorded during summer at St.14. (Al-Tour
maritime) as shown in Table 1 and Fig. 2. This result is achieved by a strong direct correlation between dissolved
nitrate and the seasonal variations of phytoplankton (r=0.8).
Phosphorus is an important element for the growth and primary production of phytoplankton in the aquatic
systems. A large amount of it in the waters leads to eutrophication and becomes a potential source of pollution
(Nassar, 2014). As shown in Table 1, the dissolved inorganic phosphate was fluctuated between a maximum of
0.413 µmole/l during winter at the relatively polluted St.4 and a minimum of 0.007 µmole/l during summer at
St.14. High load of sewage and industrial wastes discharged into the Suez Bay may lead to gradual deterioration
of water quality in the Bay. However, it was obvious that the Suez Bay (Stations 1-9) which is affected by partial
treated sewage of ABB Company is considered as eutrophic area as compared with other sites of the study area in
agreement with that of Nassar and Hamed (2003) who stated that the Suez Bay is considered as eutrophic area.
3.2. Phytoplankton
3.2.1. Community composition
The phytoplankton community was represented by 146 species of phytoplankton belonging to 57 genera. These
species are identified as 86 species of diatoms, 39 dinoflagellates, 15 cyanophytes, three of euglenophytes, two
species of chlorophytes and one of silicoflagellates. The diatoms were the leading and most dominated group,
forming about 81 % of the total counts of phytoplankton with total counts of 5353 unit/l, followed by
dinoflagellates that represented about 14.04% of the total abundance with total counts of 928 unit/l. While, other
algal classes were collectively formed about 4.96% of the total counts of phytoplankton (Table 2).
The highest abundance of diatoms (86 species belonging to 33 genera) in the Egyptian harbors of the Red Sea was
associated with the high flourishing of Thalassionema nitzschioides (Grunow) Mereschkowsky that represented
about 26% of the total diatoms and about 19.8% of the total phytoplankton during the period of study with annual
average of 1389 cell/l. Asterionellopsis glacialis (Castracane) Round and Proboscia alata var. gracillima
(Brightwell) Sündstrom were also dominant forming about 19.8 and 17.73% of the total diatoms with average of
1060 and 949 cell/l, respectively. While, Rhizosolenia styliformis Brightwell (average of 215 cell/l),
Pseudo-nitzschia pungens (Grunow ex Cleve) G.R.Hasle (average of 215 cell/l) and Chaetoceros tortissimus Gran
7
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Fig. 2 Seasonal variations of physico-chemical parameters at the different stations during 2014-2015.
8
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Table 2. Seasonal variation of phytoplankton (units/L) and the numbers of species at the different stations during 2014-2015.
Summer
Autumn
2014
Winter
Spring
Average
Freq.%
2015
Diatoms
1016
6306
0257
1206
2525
16
Dinoflagellates
6522
118
111
171
251
68.78
Cyanophytes
512
522
27
851
521
8.26
Chlorophytes
12
61
7.7
1.7
55
7.55
Euglenophytes
8.7
0.7
7.7
68
1.7
7.72
Silicoflagellates
0.7
7.7
7.7
7.7
5.7
7.75
Total counts
5156
0265
1512
0152
1172
677
No. of species
17
17
21
01
(average of 213 cell/L) were frequently distributed at the different sites of the study area. Generally, the diatoms
are usually dominated in the Red Sea, where it constituted about 76.4 % of the total abundance in the
northwestern part of the Red Sea (Nassar et al., 2014) and about and 67.00 % in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf
(Nassar et al., 2015).
The dinoflagellates in the present study (39 species belonging to 11 genera) were observed with moderate
abundance with a relative high occurrence of Ceratium furca (Ehrenberg) Claparède & Lachmann (average of 150
cell/l), Ceratium fusus (Ehrenberg) Dujardin (average of 136 cell/l) and Protoperidinium cerasus (Paulsen)
(average of 122 cell/l). Whereas, the other algal classes include Cyanophyceae (4.51%), Chlorophyceae (0.33%),
Euglenophyceae (0.09%) and Silicoflagellates (0.03%) were found in low counts during 2014-2015 at the most
stations (Table 2 & Fig.3).
The stations 4 (Adabiya out harbor) and 8 (Port-Tewfik out Harbor) were the most productive sites with total
abundance of 51769 unit/l and 47283 unit/l, respectively, then followed by the stations 1 (Attaka out Harbor), 9
(Port-Tewfik inside Harbor), and 3 (Adabiya inside harbor) with total counts of 42508, 41103 and 39948 unit/l,
respectively. This was associated with high flourishing of the previous dominant diatoms as well as a relative high
occurrence of Prorocentrum hentschelii Schiller of dinoflagellates at St.4. This result may be due to the partial
treated sewage discharged from ABB Company into the waters of Suez Bay, which increases the eutrophication
state of this area (Nassar and Hamed 2003). Also, the discharge of low fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons derived
mainly from El-Nasr Petroleum Company and Suez Petroleum Company may stimulate the growth and
reproduction of the phytoplankton cells (Nassar, 1994). In this connection, Burford et al. (2012) indicated that the
low amounts of sewage may increase the phytoplankton productivity, and the low fractions of petroleum
hydrocarbons could promote the phytoplankton growth (Nayar et al., 2005).
On the other hand, the stations 16 (Nuwbia out Harbor), 17 (Sharm El-Sheikh inside Harbor) that located in the
Gulf of Aqaba and St.14 (Al-Tour Maritime) that cited in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf were the lowest
productive sites with total counts of 13115, 10589 and 10045 unit/l, respectively. This mainly may be due to low
nutrients as reported by Fahmy (2001, 2003), Abel-Halim et al. (2007) and Dorgham et al. (2012) who stated
that
9
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Summer 2014
5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Autumn 2014
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Winter 2015
20000
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
Spring 2015
18000
Phytoplankton counts
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Station
Diatoms
Dinoflagellates
Cyanophytes
Euglenophytes
chlorophytes
Fig. 3 Seasonal variations of phytoplankton (unit/L) at the different stations during 2014-2015.
10
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
the nitrogen, phosphorus and reactive silicate concentrations were generally low in the Gulf of Aqaba and the
Egyptian Red Sea coastal water, which are classifying as oligotrophic to mesotrophic. In the present study, it was
obvious that most of the high productive sites were observed out of the investigated harbors, may be due to low
human and fishing impacts as well as low charging and discharging processes. However, Ismail (2015) indicated
that the phytoplankton of the Red Sea comprised 389 species and varieties, an increase of 181 species since
Halim’s review in 1969. Both the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba were less diverse than the main Red Sea. There
is a gradual decrease in phytoplankton richness from the southern Red Sea to the Gulf of Suez. Primary
production and chlorophyll biomass increases from north to south, consistent with the distribution of nutrients.
3.2.2. Seasonal variations of phytoplankton
The highest population density of phytoplankton was found during winter of 2015 with average counts of 8269
unit/l, then followed by spring of 2015 (average of 7835 unit/l) and autumn of 2014 (average of 7512 unit/l).
While, a severe drop of phytoplankton abundance was observed in summer of 2014 (average of 2821 unit/l). This
was in accordance with the data of Nassar (2007a, b) in the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba of the Red Sea, where the
winter showed a high-pronounced peak of phytoplankton. While, severe drop of phytoplankton populations was
observed in summer. Also, Halim (1969), Levanon-Spanier et al. (1979) and Skaikh et al. (1986) stated that late
winter-early spring or the period from December-February were characterized by high phytoplankton production
in the Red Sea. On the other hand, Nassar et al. (2014, 2015) reported that the autumn was the most productive
season in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf and the northwestern part of the Red Sea.
The relative high abundance of phytoplankton during winter was associated with high flourishing of the diatoms;
Asterionellopsis glacialis (average of 3720 cell/l), Thalassionema nitzschioides (average of 1404 cell/l),
Chaetoceros tortissimus (average of 714 cell/l), Pseudo-nitzschia pungens (average of 516 cell/l) as well as a
relative high occurrence of Ceratium furca of dinoflagellates (average of 132 cell/l). This highest abundance of
phytoplankton in winter was directly correlated with the high values of DO (average of 8.45 mgO2/l) and nitrate
(average of 0.822 µmole/l). However, Rhizosolenia alata and Pseudosolenia calcar avis appeared with high
densities during winter in the Gulf of Suez, Red Sea (Madkour et al., 2010). In autumn, Proboscia alata var.
gracillima was the leading species forming about 42.5% of the total phytoplankton with maximum density at St.8
(total of 10000 cell/l). In spring, Thalassionema nitzschioides represented about 52% of the total diatoms with
maximum occurrence at St.4 (total of 13333 cell/l). On the other hand, the two dinoflagellates; Protoperidinium
cerasus and Prorocentrum hentschelii showed their maximum abundance during summer (average of 202 and 201
cell/l, respectively), which sustained the lowest abundance of phytoplankton. Around the year, the annual average
counts of phytoplankton was 6609 unit/l and the total number of species were 60, 80, 56 and 76 during summer,
autumn, winter and spring, respectively as shown in Table 3.
In the present study some of the recorded species like, Ceratium sp., Dinophysis sp., Protoperidinium sp.,
Prorocentrum sp., Oscillatoria sp. and Dictyocha fibula are known to produce toxins that affect fish species
(Limbu and Kyewalyanga, 2015). The existence of these toxic phytoplankton species suggests careful
consumption of fisheries resources at the different harbors of the study area and frequent monitoring for Harmful
Algal Blooms (HABs) is required.
3.2.3. Species diversity
Species diversity is the number of different species that are represented in a given community (a dataset). The
effective number of species refers to the number of equally abundant species needed to obtain the same mean
proportional species abundance as that observed in the dataset of interest; where all species may not be equally
abundant (Tuomisto, 2010).
In the present study, the minimum diversity value of 0.84 nats was recorded during spring of 2015 at St.3, in
which only 18 species of phytoplankton were found. This means a relative high pollution state inside Adabiya
Harbor, which allowed the highest flourishing of the diatom, Thalassionema nitzschioides to represent about 87%
11
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Table 3 Species diversity of phytoplankton (nats) at the different stations during 2014-2015.
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
Station
2014
2015
Average
1
3.14
1.98
1.69
0.86
1.92
2
ND
1.99
2.11
1.18
1.76
3
3.02
1.23
1.6
0.84
1.67
4
3.23
1.44
1.87
1.06
1.90
5
2.98
1.24
1.54
2.09
1.96
6
3.10
1.72
1.69
1.66
2.04
7
3.39
1.80
3.27
2.53
2.74
8
3.15
1.57
2.28
1.76
2.19
9
3.25
3.071
2.53
2.52
2.84
10
3.18
3.15
ND
3.0
3.11
11
3.14
3.11
ND
3.32
3.19
12
3.21
3.20
2.61
3.02
3.01
13
3.11
3.15
2.15
3.00
2.85
14
3.04
3.62
1.65
2.74
2.76
15
2.89
2.05
1.80
2.95
2.42
16
2.7
3.04
1.80
3.54
2.77
17
2.81
3.09
1.75
3.56
2.80
18
2.74
2.88
1.70
3.56
2.72
Average
3.06
2.41
2.00
2.40
2.47
of the total phytoplankton at this area in spring, while other species were fairly distributed with low to moderate
counts. On the other hand, the maximum diversity value of 3.62 nats was detected in autumn of 2014 at St.14
(Al-Tour Maritime) in which about 40 species was observed. Halim (1984) reported that the species diversity of
Red Sea plankton is reduced relative to the Indian Ocean, but much higher than that of the Arabian Gulf.
However, the annual average diversity of 2.47 nats in this study is relatively low as compared with that recorded
in the northwestern part of the Red Sea (3.76 nats; Nassar et al., 2014) and in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf (3.22;
Nassar et al., 2015). However, the analysis of data in Table 4 shows that most of the harbors that located in the
northern part of Suez Gulf (Stations 1 to 9) are characterized by a relatively low values of species diversity as
compared with the other investigated harbors in the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba (Stations 10 to 18 that representing
the Harbors of Ain Sukhna, Al-Tour, Nuweiba and Sharm El-Sheikh). These findings indicate that most of eastern
coast of Suez Gulf and the western coast of Aqaba Gulf are still healthy, relatively unpolluted and have the
oligotrophic to mesotrophic nature, as compared with other northern area of Suez Gulf.
4. Statistical analysis
The correlation analysis indicated that the seasonal variations of phytoplankton was positively correlated with the
dissolved nitrate (r=0.8) and the dissolved oxygen (r=0.55) but it was inversely correlated with water temperature
(r=-0.57) at p< 0.05 and n=60. On the other hand, the stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that mainly
12
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
dissolved nitrate followed by water temperature and pH values were the most effective variables that controlled
the seasonal fluctuations of phytoplankton at the different sites of the study area during 2014-2015. The regression
equation = - 56774.7 + 0.624 (NO3) + 0.165 (pH) + 0.22 (DO) +0.25 (PO4) - 0.25 (Temp.) at p < 0.05 and n=60.
This equation could be concern in the future studies to predict the total counts of phytoplankton in the northern
harbors of the Red Sea.
Conclusion
The results indicated the highest abundance of phytoplankton was observed at the stations near the northern part of
the Suez Gulf, including Adabiya out harbor, Port-Tewfik out Harbor, Attaka out Harbor, Port-Tewfik inside
Harbor and Adabiya inside harbor. This result may be due to the partial treated sewage discharged from ABB
Company, and low fractions of petroleum hydrocarbons derived mainly from El-Nasr Petroleum Company and
Suez Petroleum Company may stimulate the growth and reproduction of the phytoplankton cells. Whereas, Nuwbia
out Harbor, Sharm El-Sheikh inside Harbor that located in the Gulf of Aqaba and Al-Tour Maritime and situated in
the eastern coast of Suez Gulf were the lowest productive sites. This mainly may be due to low nutrients in the Gulf
of Aqaba and the Egyptian Red Sea coastal water, which are classifying as oligotrophic to mesotrophic nature. In the
present study, it was found that most of the high productive sites were observed out of the harbors, may be due to
low human and fishing impacts as well as low charging and discharging processes. The highest abundance of
phytoplankton during winter, 2015 was associated with highest values of DO and nitrate. The species diversity of
phytoplankton (annual average of 2.47 nats) showed its minimum during spring at Adabiya inside harbor, which
may reflect a relative high pollution state at this area. However, the existence of some toxic phytoplankton species in
the present study suggests careful consumption of fisheries resources at the different harbors of the study area and
frequent monitoring for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) is required.
References
Abel Rahman N. S. and Nassar, M. Z., 2005, Preliminary studies on plankton communities associated with the mangrove forest habitats at Halayib-Shalatin
Sector, Red Sea, Egypt. Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, 14(2): 133-144.
Abel-Halim A.M., Aboel-Khair E.M. and Fahmy M. A. 2007, Environmental assessment on the Aqaba Gulf coastal waters; Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic
Research, 33(1): 1-14.
AL-Najjar T., Badran M. I., Richter C., Meyerthofer M. &Sommer U., 2007, Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea.
Hydrobiologia 279: 69-83.
Al-Qutob M., Hase C., Tilzer M. M. and Lazar B., 2002, Phytoplankton drives nitrite dynamics in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea,” Marine Ecology Progress Series,
239, pp. 233–239.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps239233
APHA (American Public Health Association), 2005, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water &Wastewater, twenty first Ed. Washington.
George B. J.I., Kumar N. and. Kumar R.N., 2012, Study on the influence of hydro-chemical parameters on phytoplankton distribution along Tapi estuarine area
of Gulf of Khambhat, India. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 38, 157–170.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2012.12.010
Deyab M. A., Khedr A. A., and EL-Naggar M. A., 2004, Phytoplankton distribution in relation to environmental factor along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea
coast of Egypt. Algological Studies, 112, 123–140.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1127/1864-1318/2004/0112-0123
Dorgham M. M., Abdel-Aziz N. E., El-Deeb K. Z. and Okbah M. A., 2004, Eutrophication problems in the Western Harbour of Alexandria, Egypt. Oceanologia,
46 (1): 25–44.
Dorgham M.M., EL-Sherbiny M.M. and Hanafi M.H., 2012, Environmental properties of the southern Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Egypt. Medit. Mar. Sci., 13/2:
179-186
http://dx.doi.org/10.12681/mms.297
Dowidar N. M., Raheem El-Din S. A. and Aleem A. A., 1978, Phytoplankton population in the region of Obhur (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia). Bull. Fac. Sci., K. A.
Uni., Jeddah, 2: 271-292.
Edwards A.J., 1987, Red Sea, Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp. 45.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-028873-4.50008-6
El-Sherif Z. M. and Abo El-Ezz S., 2000, Checklist of plankton of the northern Red Sea. Pakistan J. Marine Science, 9 (1&2): 61-78.
El-Tahera A. and Madkour H.A., 2014, Environmental and radio-ecological studies on shallow marine sediments from harbor areas along the Red Sea coast of
Egypt for identification of anthropogenic impacts. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 50(1): 120–133,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2013.826211
13
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Table 4 List of the dominant and frequent phytoplankton species at the different stations during 2014-2015.
Summer 2014
St
St
St
St
St
St
1
2
3
4
5
6
100
ND
150
200
233
Algal spp
St
St
St
St
St
St
St
St
St
St
St
7
8
9
10
St
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
167
178
178
300
233
333
378
278
150
167
67
200
167
204
Average
Diatoms
Proboscia alata var.gracillima
(Brightwell) Sündstrom (ab)
ND
Dinoflagellates
Prorocentrum
hentschelii
300
ND
200
400
100
200
300
100
200
250
278
266
100
233
178
133
100
78
201
150
ND
200
250
178
233
250
200
178
200
278
266
200
100
200
150
167
233
202
Schiller
Protoperidinium
cerasus
(Paulsen) Balech (ab)
Autumn 2014
Diatoms
Asterionellopsis
glacialis
(F.
1800
666
466
1600
300
150
666
1300
666
333
200
100
0
0
666
450
0
0
520
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3000
333
200
100
78
67
100
0
0
0
215
5000
3000
6000
8000
6000
2500
3300
10000
2500
1000
1300
666
400
100
5000
2000
200
500
3192
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2000
378
666
200
333
278
300
150
0
0
239
378
133
0
0
200
67
78
200
550
200
278
266
400
200
150
100
100
133
191
Castracane) F.E. Round (ab)
Chaetoceros
decipiens
Cleve
(ab)
Proboscia alata var.gracillima*
(Brightwell) Sündstrom (ab)
Pseudo-nitzschia
pungens
(Grunow ex Cleve) G.R.Hasle
(ab)
Rhizosolenia imbricata (Cleve)
Schröder WoRMS)
14
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Winter 2015
Diatoms
Asterionellopsis
glacialis
(F.
10000
3400
8666
9400
7000
3000
1666
8000
4000
ND
ND
1000
800
666
550
500
400
478
3720
3300
1666
666
1000
666
333
278
1000
500
ND
ND
300
378
500
200
300
133
200
714
1366
378
1366
1400
800
278
378
1000
600
ND
ND
100
178
67
67
78
67
133
516
2500
1300
2666
3100
2000
1300
1278
2800
1900
ND
ND
800
600
500
600
450
278
400
1404
Castracane) F.E. Round (ab)
Chaetoceros
tortissimus
Gran
(ab)
Pseudo-nitzschia
pungens
(Grunow ex Cleve) G.R.Hasle
(ab)
Thalassionema
nitzschioides
(Grunow)
Mereschkowsky (ab)
Spring 2015
Diatoms
Proboscia alata var.gracillima
0
0
178
300
366
366
233
378
666
750
500
278
400
67
100
150
100
78
273
133
200
133
200
500
366
278
378
550
378
278
200
333
67
50
200
150
200
255
150
233
133
278
178
250
133
200
278
1600
700
178
278
67
50
78
67
133
277
8000
10000
12000
13333
4800
9000
2000
8000
3000
1300
800
200
378
133
67
100
50
133
4072
100
200
133
300
278
400
150
200
333
800
666
133
200
67
67
100
78
150
242
178
233
178
233
250
200
200
300
333
400
366
150
233
67
0
78
67
133
200
(Brightwell) Sündstrom (ab)
Rhizosolenia
styliformis
Brightwell (ab)
Synedra
ulna
(Nitzsch)
Ehrenberg (ab)
Thalassionema
nitzschioides
(Grunow)
Mereschkowsky (ab)
Thalassiothrix
frauenfeldii(Grunow)
Grunow (WoRMS)
Dinoflagellates
Ceratium
furca
(Ehrenberg)
Claparède
& Lachmann (WoRMS)
15
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Fahmy M. A., 2001, Preliminary study on the hydrochemistry of the Egyptian coastal water of Aqaba Gulf, as a unique ecosystem during year 2000. Bull. Nat.
Inst. Oceanogr. & Fish., ARE, 27: 95-112.
Fahmy M.A., 2003, Water quality in the Red Sea coastal waters (Egypt): Analysis of spatial and temporal variability. Chemistry and Ecology. 19(1): 67-77.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0275754031000087074
Faragallah H. M., Askar A. I., Okbah M. A. and Moustafa H. M., 2009, Physico-chemical characteristics of the open Mediterranean Sea water for about 60 Km
from Damietta harbor, Egypt. Journal of Ecology and the Natural Environment, 1(5): 106-119.
Girgis A., 1980, Investigation of level and effects of pollutants on saline lakes and littoral marine environments. Part II: Hydrography of Lake Qarun. Scientific
Report, p. 166.
Gordon N., Angel D. L., Neori A., Kress N. and Kimor B., 1994, Heterotrophic dinoflagellates with symbiotic Cyanobacteria and nitrogen limitation in the Gulf
of Aqaba. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 107: 83-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps107083
Halim Y., 1969, Plankton of the Red Sea. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev., 7: 231-275
Halim Y, 1984, Plankton of the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers, 31(6–8): 969–982.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0198-0149(84)90051-7
Hamed M. A., and Said T. O., 2000, Effect of pollution on the water quality of the Gulf of Suez. Egypt J. Aquat. Biol. and Fish., 4 (1):161-178.
Hamed M. A., Said T. O., and Nassar M. Z., 2003, Effect of heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons on phytoplankton biomass as represented by
chlorophyll-a in the northern part of the Suez Gulf, Egypt”. Journal of Egyptian Academic Society for Environmental Development (D-Environmental
studies), 4 (1): 67-85.
Hase C., Stamber N., and Al-Qutob M., 2000, Primary production and its control by the light and nutrient regimes: a comparative study between the Gulf of
Aqaba and the northern Red Sea. 44 (22), p. 1999.
Hulyal, S.B., Kaliwal, B.B., 2009. Dynamics of phytoplankton in relation to physico-chemical factors of Almatti reservoir of Bijapur District, Karnataka State.
Environ. Monit. Assess. 153, 45–59.
Ismael A. A., 2015, Phytoplankton of the Red Sea. Chapter in book: The Red Sea. pp 567-583. DOI 10.1007/978-3-662-45201-1_32
Leterme S. C., Jendyk J. G., Ellis A. V., Brownb M. H., and Kildea T., 2014, Annual phytoplankton dynamics in the gulf saint Vincent, South Australia, in 2011.
Oceanologia, 56(4): 757–778.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5697/oc.56-4.757
Levanon-Spanier J., Padan E. and Reiss Z., 1979, Primary production in adesert-enclosed sea - the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. Deep-Sea Res., 26:673-685.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0198-0149(79)90040-2
Limbu S. M. and Kyewalyanga M. S., 2015, Spatial and temporal variations in environmental variables in relation to phytoplankton composition and biomass in
coral reef areas around Unguja, Zanzibar, Tanzania. SpringerPlus, 4:646. doi. 10.1186/s40064-015-1439-z
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40064-015-1439-z
Madkour F. F., El-Sherbiny M. M. and Amer M. A., 2010, Phytoplankton population along certain Egyptian coastal regions of the Red Sea. Egyptian Journal of
Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, 14(2): 95–109.
Martin G.D., Vijay J.G., Laluraj C.M., Madhu N.V., Joseph T., Nair M., Gupta G.V.M., and Balachandran K.K., 2008, Fresh water influence on nutrient
stoichiometry in a tropical estuary, South west coast of India. Appl. Ecol. Environ. Res. 6, 57–64.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/0601_057064
Nassar M. Z., 1994, Effect of oil pollution on the quantity and quality of phytoplankton in Suez Bay of the Red Sea. Master’s Thesis, Faculty of Science, Tanta
University.
Nassar M. Z., 2000, Ecophysiological studies on phytoplankton along the western coast of Suez Gulf. Philosophy Doctor Thesis, Faculty of Science, Tanta
University.
Nassar M. Z., 2007a, Species composition and distribution of phytoplankton in the western coast of Suez Gulf, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research,
33(2):113–132.
Nassar M. Z., 2007b, Nutrients and phytoplankton distribution in the coastal waters of Aqaba Gulf, Red Sea, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research,
33(2):133–151.
Nassar M. Z., 2014, Phytoplankton community structure in relation to some water characteristics in Temsah Lake, Suez Canal, Egypt. International Journal of
Oceans and Oceanography, 8(2): 113-126.
Nassar M. Z., and Hamed M. A., 2003, Phytoplankton standing crop and species diversity in relation to some water characteristic of Suez Bay (Red Sea), Egypt.
Egypt.J.Aquat. Biol., Fish, 7(3):25-48.
Nassar M. Z., and Khairy H. M., 2014, Checklist of phytoplankton species in the Egyptian waters of the Red Sea and some surrounding habitats (1990-2010).
Journal of Annual Research & Review in Biology. 4(23): 3566-3585.
http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/ARRB/2014/10866
Nassar M. Z., Hamdy R. M., Khairy H. M., and Rashedy S. H., 2014, Seasonal fluctuations of phytoplankton community and physico-chemical parameters of
the north western part of the Red Sea, Egypt. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research, 40(4): 395–403.
Nassar M. Z., and Khairy H.M., 2015, Guide Photos of Major Phytoplankton Species in the Egyptian Waters of the Red Sea. World Science and Research
Publishing. ISBN: 978-600-94857-1-0
16
International Journal of Marine Science 2016, Vol.6, No.8, 1-17
http://ijms.biopublisher.ca
Nassar M. Z., Shams El-Din N. G. and Gharib S. M., 2015, Phytoplankton variability in relation to some environmental factors in the eastern coast of Suez Gulf,
Egypt. Environ Monit Assess, 187(10): 1-18. Doi: 10.1007/s10661-015-4874-y
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-015-4874-y
Panda S. S., Dhal N. and Panda C., 2012, Phytoplankton diversity in response to abiotic factors along Orissa coast, Bay of Bengal. Int J Environ Sci., 2:3–8
Pätzold J., Halbach P. E., Hempel G. and Weikert H., 2000, "Meteor-Berichte: Ostliches Mittelmeer-Nor dliches Rotes Meer 1999 Cruise No. 44. 00-3". Leitstelle
METEOR: Institut fur Meereskunde der Universitat Hamburg, Hamburg
Post A. F., Dedej Z., Gottli R., Li H., Thomas, D. N., El-Naggar A., El-Gharabawi M. and Sommer U., 2002, Spatial and temporal distribution of
Trichodesmium spp., in the stratified Gulf of Aqaba. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 239: 241-250.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps239241
Ramanathan N., Padmavathy, P., Francis T., Athithian, S. and Selvaranjitham, N., 2005, Manual on polyculture of tiger shrimp and carps in freshwater,” Tamil
Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Thothukudi, pp 1–161.
Redfield A. C., Katchum B. H. and Richards, S. A., 1963, The influence of organism on the composition of seawater, In the sea, vol. 2 M. N. Hill (Ed.), John Wiley
and Sons, New York, pp. 26-77.
Salah, A. A. and El-Moselhy, K. M., 2015, Seasonal Variations of the Physical and Chemical Properties of Seawater at the Northern Red Sea, Egypt. Open Journal of
Ocean and Coastal Sciences, 2(1): pp 1-17.
Doi: 10.15764/OCS.2015.01001.
Shaikh, E.A.; Roff, J. C. and Dowidar, N. M., 1986, Phytoplankton ecology and production in the Red Sea off Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mari Biol., 92: 405- 416.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00392681
Shams El-Din, N. G., Nassar, M. Z. and Abd El Rahman, N. S., 2005, Surveillance studies on plankton in the northern part of the Red Sea during winter and
summer, 2002. Journal of Egyptian German Society of Zoology. Vol. (48D): Invertebrate Zoology & Parasitology: 49-77.
Shannon, C.E. & Weaver, W., 1963, The mathematical theory of communications, Univ. Illinois, Urbana, 117 pp.
Strickland, J.D.H. & Parsons, T.R., 1972, A Practical Handbook of Seawater Analysis. Bulletin. Vol. 167, Ottawa, Canada: Fisheries Research Board of Canada,
p. 310.
Sundarambal, P.; Shi-Yui, L.; Pavel, T. and Jegathambal, P., 2009, Development of a neural network model for dissolved oxygen in seawater. Indian Journal of
Marine Sciences, 38(2): 151-159.
Thie-Scroodie-Stoo and Yn Reiltys, 2006, Environmental monitoring in Manx coastal waters: the Isle of Man time series. Governmental Report, Ballakermeen Road,
Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 4BR Website:www.gov.im/dlge/enviro/govlabs.
Tuomisto, H., 2010, A diversity of beta diversities: straightening up a concept gone awry. Part 1. Defining beta diversity as a function of alpha and gamma
diversity. Ecography, 33, 2-22. Doi:10.1111/j.1600-0587.2009.05880.x
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0587.2009.05880.x
UNESCO/WHO, 1973, Water quality surveys. A guide for the collection and interpretation of water quality data. Vol. 23, p. 350.
Utermöhl, H., 1958, Zur Vervollko¨mmung der quantitative Phytoplankton-Methodik. Mitteilungen Internationale Vereinigung fu¨ rtheoretische und
angewandte Limnologie, 9, 1–38.
17