Diversity and Abundance of Invertebrates Associated with Two Macroalgal Species in the Central Red Sea Coast of Saudi Arabia.

Alamer, Sultan T.; Jamal, Mamdouh T.; Satheesh, Sathianesan

The diversity and abundance of the invertebrates associated with two different abundant macroalgal species (Acanthophora and Padina) north of Jeddah coastal waters on the central Red Sea were studied during summer and winter seasons. Seven major groups belonging to 18 families of invertebrates were observed during this study. The most abundant invertebrate taxa were crustaceans followed by molluscs and polychaetes. The numerical density of communities associated with the two macroalgal species was higher in summer than in winter. Acanthophora hosted higher counts than those associated with Padina during summer and winter. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the abundance of isopods and decapods. Overall, this study indicated that marine macroalgae inhabiting in Jeddah coastal waters are acting as a refugia for marine invertebrates thereby supporting the coastal biodiversity.

SAUDI Arabia; RED Sea; INVERTEBRATES; MARINE invertebrates; COASTAL biodiversity; POLYCHAETA; INVERTEBRATE diversity; TERRITORIAL waters; SUMMER

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Sciences, 2023, Vol 33, Issue 1, p27

1021-1802

Academic Journal

10.4197/Mar.33-1.3