Meiofaunal occurrence in Sudanese and Eritrean red sea shores

الملخص EN

Similar sandy and muddy shores from Sudanese (near Port Sudan) and Eritrean (near Massawa) coasts were compared with respect to meiofaunal densities and distribution.

Nematodes were the dominant group on all the shores investigated.

The order of occurrence of the other groups was Copepods, Turbellarians and Annelids.

Gastrotriches’, Ostracism, Foraminifera’s and Radiolarians were also present.

Sandy shores supported the richest population density.

However, Eritrean shores showed greater numbers than the Sudanese shores.

Maximum meiofaunal densities occurred at the time of highest temperatures.

Nematodes showed patchy distribution while Copepods were randomly distributed in the upper layers but contagiously distributed in deeper layers.

The ratio of Nematodes: Copepods which was almost 1 : 1 in both muddy shores, changed slightly in favor of Nematodes at the two sandy shores.

The factors possibly affecting the distribution and abundance of these groups were discussed in the light that Nematodes : Copepods ratio might serve as an index of pollution.