Abstract
The paper describes the structure of macrozoobenthos inhabiting Kuwait’s waters (northwestern Arabian Gulf). Material for the study was collected from 17 stations in December 2004. A total of 270 species of macrozoobenthos and representatives of higher taxonomic groups belonging to 10 phyla were recorded and identified. Species diversity was highest in polychaetes, gastropods, bivalved molluscs and crustaceans (83, 51, 52 and 38 species, respectively). Quantitative estimates of macrozoobenthos was studied in this geographic region for the first time. In the depth of 2–20 m the abundance of macrozoobenthos averaged 795 ind./m2. Polychaetes, gastropods and crustaceans prevailed in the sublittoral zone. In assessing species diversity the ecological indices of Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Pielou and Margaleff were used. The obtained results point out that in Kuwait’s waters the diversity of macrozoobenthos is relatively high while the level of dominance is low. It was also found that in Kuwait Bay macrozoobenthos is less diverse than in other locations of the region.
Highlights
Faunistic investigations in the Arabian Gulf began in the late 19th century; since many researchers have paid tribute to the area
Littoral samples were collected from three sites: station 14 in Kuwait Bay, in the vicinity of the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research in Shuwaikh; station 16 in the littoral zone off the Mariculture and Fisheries Department (MFD) at Ras Salmiyah, and station 15 was located about 75 km to the south of Kuwait city, at Ras-Al-Zor, which is close to the border with Saudi Arabia
Dominance index (λ’) fluctuated from 0.03 to 0.28, the maximum was registered at station 8 (Kuwait Bay), where about half of the total macrozoobenthos abundance was due to the abundance of the small gastropod Tornatina incospicua
Summary
Faunistic investigations in the Arabian Gulf began in the late 19th century; since many researchers have paid tribute to the area. B. Loppenthin had conducted the first large-scale studies of macrozoobenthos in the Arabian Gulf. Loppenthin had conducted the first large-scale studies of macrozoobenthos in the Arabian Gulf Their collections of benthic invertebrates of different groups contributed to a series of important publicatons on the taxonomy and faunistics of these groups (Stephensen 1945; Wesenberg-Lund 1949). These studies did not cover the northwestern waters, off Kuwait’s coast. Knowledge of the distribution of macrozoobenthos in the sublittoral zone of Kuwait’s waters in the northwestern Gulf is needed due to the lack of scientific documentation about the diversity and the quantitative distribution of bottom fauna. Our investigation concentrated on the taxonomic composition, diversity and quantitative estimates of macrozoobenthos during winter in Kuwait’s marine environment
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