Abundance, Distribution and Diversity of Intertidal Macro-Algal Associated with Amphipods in the Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

Macro-algal communities play an important role in food, rearing, reproduction, and refuge for most vertebrates and invertebrates-associated fauna in the intertidal zone along the Red Sea coasts. Thus, the present study was designed to study the distribution, diversity, and abundance of amphipod fauna. Samples were collected from five sites along the Egyptian Red Sea coast between late August 2019 and early March 2020, covering the warm and cold seasons. Overall, the collected amphipod species belong to 26 genera and 16 families, associated with 12 macro-algal species. Consequently, 2726 individuals were counted from the study area representing 29 species. Results indicate that 11 amphipod species were recorded on one type of algae species only, and the remaining 18 species were found to share more than one alga. The highest species abundance was recorded (72.04%) during the winter season, while abundance sharply decreased to (27.25%) during the summer season. Data showed that five species (Ampithoe ramondi, Elasmopus seticarpus, Cymadusa filosa, Photis lamellifera, and Stenothoe gallensis) collectively comprised 78.02% of total abundance. On the other hand, red algae Palisada perforata and brown algae Cystoseira crinita were represented by 16 & 14 species, respectively, and collectively comprised 52.38% of the total relative abundance.