ECOLOGICAL STUDIES ON BENTHIC INVERTEBRATES OF NILE RIVER AT NORTH CAIRO REGION

Abstract

Nile River is one of the largest rivers in the world with a total length of about 6825 km and its area is 2.9X10 km2 • The Nile is subjected to severals kinds of pollution including industrial, • domestic wastes, agriculture, sewage and thermal pollution the area of study are considered as the most important one situated on the River Nile opposite to Shoubra El-Kheima Electric station. The waste of the station include recooling water discharge in

the River Nile.

The present study started from January 1998 till December

1998. The aim ofthe present study include the monthly, regional variations of the macroinvertebrates and some physical parameters include temperature, water transparency, Hydrogen ion concentration (pH), water depth, mechanical and organic matter analysis of sediment. Samples were collected from four transverse sections across the River Nile. At every section, three stations were sampled, one in the main channel and two in the littoral sides.