Distribution of podocopid ostracods in mangrove ecosystems along the Egyptian Red Sea coast

Abstract

The distribution of recent shallow marine species of Ostracoda was recorded from 46 bottom samples collected from two mangrove ecosystems along the Egyptian Red Sea coast, i.e., the regions Wadi El Gemal and Abu Ghoson. Four communities of Ostracoda were determined and examined, recorded from recent intertidal, lagoon, swamp, and downstream sediments, respectively. The distribution patterns of the Ostracoda are affected primarily by the conditions of the vegetation and the bottom. Areas with dense vegetation and/or muddy sand bottoms contain the more abundant and more diverse assemblages. Statistical analysis showed three clusters of species at each site. These results coincide with the observed physiographic assemblages, except at Wadi El Gemal where we have three clusters of species and only two communities. This can be explained through the more dense growth of mangroves in the southeastern and southwestern parts, as well as the fact that the substrate there is muddy sand instead of the sandy substrate found in the northern parts.