The sandy beach fauna of Egypt

Abstract

Intertidal sand beaches along the Mediterranean and Gulf of Suez Egyptian coast were examined in 1985. Mediterranean beaches were characterized by few species, low density, and no Lessepsian migrants. A total of 78 species were collected from sandy beaches in the Gulf of Suez with species richness increasing with decreasing exposure to wave action. The Gulf of Suez fauna was not as diverse as the Gulf of Elat fauna due to lower species equitability and differences in exposure regime. Oil pollution is suggested as a possible explanation for the lowered density of fauna within the Gulf of Suez as compared to the Gulf of Elat.