Macroalgae associated with mangroves at Hurghada and Safaga of the Egyptian Red Sea Coast

الملخص EN

The objective of this study is to survey the macroalgae inhabiting two mangrove habitats along the Red Sea coast in the vicinity of Hurghada and Safaga and to illustrate the distribution of macroalgal communities, species composition, relative abundance and average standing crop seasonally.

The results revealed that, 23 species of macroalgae were recorded from the different sites of the two areas during the four seasons (9 species belong to Phaeophyta, 6 species to Rhodophyta and 8 species to Chlorophyta).

The standing crop of macroalgae recorded at the two areas maintained their highest peak during spring and the lowest during winter season.

The highest density of standing crop was recorded at Hurghada area.

The results also show that, no significant differences were detected in the studied environmental factors at both areas except for some fluctuations were randomly noticed.

Mangroves offered habitat that allows the delicate algae to grow at higher level than on sunlit beach.