Community structure of echinoderms in littoral zone of the Red Sea Coast of Egypt

Abstract

The present work aimed to investigate Echinoderm communities in the Red Sea Coast of Egypt. A survey on Echinoderms done during the period between February 2016 to August 2017. Fourteen sites (42 locations) were selected to represent all Egyptian Red Sea habitats (Seagrass, mangrove, coral reef, rocky, sandy and muddy shore). A total of 33 species of echinoderms belonging to 5 classes, 12 orders and 18 families were recorded. The study revealed that the Eudominant species in this survey were: Ophiocoma scolopendrina, Diadema setosum, Echinometra mathaei and Holothuria atra while the Dominant species included Linckia multifora, Ophiolepis cincta and Tripneustes gratilla. Echinoderms community showed different class and species composition in the investigated sites. Class Echinoidea recorded the highest percentage of species composition. Species richness of echinoderms ranged between three species in site 4 and twenty four species in site 1. Species diversity showed changes in different sites. The Shannon diversity (H’) ranged from 0.06 to 2.24. Suez Gulf sites (sites 4, 5, 6 and 7) recorded the lowest values of diversity, while the highest value was recorded at Ras Mohamed site (site 3). The abundance and distribution differences in echinoderm communities were discussed.