Ecological Studies on Macrobenthic Invertebrates, in the Intertidal zone of the Suez Region

Abstract

The Suez Bay represents a shallow marine water habitat with an average depth of 10 meters and a horizontal surface area of about 77.13 km?. The bay opens to the Gulf of Suez through most of its south side and it is connected to the Suez Canal by a 12 meter deep dredged channel. The Suez City and its major industries occupy the Northern coastal line of the bay. The bay is affected by various types of land based discharge which includes sewage effluents of Suez City, the industrial wastes of the petroleum companies and the Fertilizers Factory. The present study deals with the benthic fauna in the Suez region in relation to the prevailing environmental conditions during the period extending from April, 1992 to March, 1993. It aims to establish a data base to contribute to, The best planning for integrated coastal zone management and a sustainable exploitation of the marine resources in the Suez region. In the present investigation six sections were selected to represent different benthic environments. Section I: It is located near El-Zeitia Port. This section was excluded from the biological parameters due to the missing of benthic fauna in it throughout the whole period of investigation, as a result of its heavy pollution by petroleum oil. Section II: This section is located near the Suez City domestic sewage outfall at El• Kapanon. This section was also excluded from the biological parameters due to the total missing of fauna as a result of the heavy sewage pollution