ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON CORAL REEF DAMSELFISHES (FAMILY : POMACENTRIDAE) IN THE NORTHERN RED SEA

Abstract

The present study aims to investigate the distribution of coral reef damselfishes along the Egyptian coasts of the Gulf of Suez and the northern Red Sea proper and to identify the correlates of their distribution. A second aim of this study is to investigate the effects of reef degradation ( due to human activities ) on reef structure and damselfish community structure and on the ecology of one herbivorous species, the whitebar damselfish P/ectroglyphidodon /eucozona, in the Hurghada area.