Study of Ecology and Pollution Effect on The Protozoa with Particular Reference to Selected Regions on Suez Canal

Abstract

The extremely wide distribution of Protozoa in nature is promoted by their minute size, which facilitates their dispersion, by various agents, as well as by their ability to multiply rapidly. Therefore, they represent organisms that live in vast munbers in a great variety of habitats (Dogiel, 1965; Fenchel, 1987). Protozoa occur in almost any body of water, salt or fresh, pennanent or temporary. As well as, it occur in damp soil, damp moss, snow and within the bodies of other animals and plants (Sleigh, 1973). These habitats provide conditions within the range of ecological tolerance of Protozoa. The more stringent habitats requmng more particular specialisation of the Protozoan inhabitants. The ecological limiting factors of particular importance in the life of various Protozoa are; water, sedimentation, light, temperature, Oxygen, pH and salinity (Sleigh, 1973; Farmer, 1980; Muller& Geller, 1993). Ifthese factors are within favOLrrable limits for species of Protozoan, then its occurrence and abtmdance will depend upon the availability of suitable food or nutrient, phytoplankton availability and abundance as well as the extent of predation (Kuuppo-Leinikki, 1990; Stocker & Capuzzo, 1990; Ferrier-Pages & Rassoulzadegan, 1994).

Thus in general, several biotic and abiotic factors can interact to change the plankton standing stocks. In the euphotic zone of oligotrophic oceans, one of the most important factors for primary producers is nutrient availability. Nutrients are often recycled in situ by zooplankton excretion. Protozoa are probably the