Seasonal Diversity Research Articles

Diversity, Species Richness, and Community Composition of Wetland Birds in the Lowlands of Western Nepal.

Wetlands serve as crucial habitats for diverse bird species, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem. Geographical location, climate, hydrology, and vegetation composition of wetlands determine the diversity of birds. This study investigated species richness, seasonal diversity, and composition of wetland birds in three prominent water bodies of western Nepal, namely Ghodaghodi, Rani, and Jokhar lakes, from 2021 to 2022 in summer and winter using the point count method. We observed 59 wetland bird species across three wetlands, where both the richness and diversity were significantly higher in the winter. Paired t-tests revealed significant seasonal differences (p < 0.001) in diversity, species richness, and abundance at both Ghodaghodi and Rani lakes. The highest species richness was observed at Ghodaghodi (n = 58), reflecting its significance as a vital bird habitat. In contrast, diversity was higher in Rani Lake during both seasons (Winter H = 2.98, Summer H = 2.79). NMDS followed by ANISOM test also showed that bird community structure varies across lakes and seasons. Indicator species analysis showed that out of 59 species, 26 species are associated with one or different sites, whereas 18 of them are associated with the summer or winter season. We observed the Anatidae family with the highest relative diversity (RDI = 28.81%) and reported 1 globally vulnerable species and 7 globally near-threatened species. While in Jokhar Lake, the abundance does not vary between the seasons. This study revealed substantial differences in bird species across seasons and lakes showing that each wetland offers a distinct ecological niche for bird species. The findings reinstate the importance of these wetlands as crucial habitats for the diversity of birds and species composition. This research contributes to the conservation and management of these ecosystems, aiding the protection of wetland birds in Nepal.

Metal tolerance of Río Tinto fungi.

Southwest Spain's Río Tinto is a stressful acidic microbial habitat with a noticeably high concentration of toxic heavy metals. Nevertheless, it has an unexpected degree of eukaryotic diversity in its basin, with a high diversity of fungal saprotrophs. Although some studies on the eukaryotic diversity in Rio Tinto have been published, none of them used molecular methodologies to describe the fungal diversity and taxonomic affiliations that emerge along the river in different seasons. The aim of the present study was to isolate and describe the seasonal diversity of the fungal community in the Río Tinto basin and its correlation with the physicochemical parameters existing along the river's course. The taxonomic affiliation of 359 fungal isolates, based on the complete internal transcribed spacer DNA sequences, revealed a high degree of diversity, identifying species belonging primarily to the phylum Ascomycota, but representatives of the Basidiomycota and Mucoromycota phyla were also present. In total, 40 representative isolates along the river were evaluated for their tolerance to toxic heavy metals. Some of the isolates were able to grow in the presence of 1000 mM of Cu2+, 750 mM of As5+ and Cd2+, and 100 mM of Co2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+.

Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste Based on Seasonal Diversity as Energy Potential Materials

Abstract Interrelated problems related to resource availability and population growth rates, such as energy demand and waste generation, have become pressing global concerns. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) poses a significant challenge due to its impact on society and the environment, including the associated hazards and threats. This study was conducted at the Piyungan Integrated Santary Landfill (TPST Piyungan) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from June to November 2022. The annual waste generation in the city is 586,267.37 tons per year in 2021, with a daily per capita waste generation rate of 0.43 kg/person. Two types of MSW samples were collected during the dry and rainy season to assess their composition. The collected samples were sorted, sun-dried, quartered, and reduced to 1mm particles for proximate analysis. The results of MSW characterization revealed that non-organic combustible materials accounted for a higher percentage during the dry season (62.7%) compared to the rainy season (53.1%). Conversely, organic matter constituted a higher proportion during the rainy season (36.7%) compared to the dry season (30.4%). The moisture content ranged from 4 to 11%, volatile matter content varied between 60% and 66%, and fixed carbon content ranged from 19 to 31%. The energy content of MSW during the dry season was measured at 20.67 MJ/kg, while in the rainy season, it yielded 14.99 MJ/kg. These findings indicate that due to the substantial energy content and waste generation rates, waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies can be effectively applied to manage MSW in Yogyakarta, simultaneously reducing waste volumes and recovering energy.

Diversity of moth families in Urban Bangalore with trends in weather patterns

This work focuses on moths, which serve as pollinators in an ecosystem. The study area, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 in Jalahalli (Latitude: 13.05527, Longitude: 77.53591), is a biodiverse green space within the bustling city of Bengaluru. The study sheds light on the diversity and characteristics of moths in a natural ecosystem closely surrounded by urban development. Data on various moth species were collected from an iNaturalist project, which had already documented the area’s biodiversity over more than a year. The present study enhanced this dataset with additional observations. Remarkably, over 230 moth species were recorded in just one year, including the first photographic documentation of a moth from the family Palaeosetidae in India. Researchers classified this data to explore the seasonal diversity of different moth families within the study area. As part of the project, a mercury vapor lamp trap was set up to evaluate its effectiveness in attracting moths. Additionally, the flowering plant species in the study area were documented, classified, and compared with existing data. This allowed researchers to relate observed moth families with the plant species they pollinate. Overall, work contributes significantly to our understanding of moth ecology in this unique urban-natural interface.

Seasonal Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in the Mangrove Forests of Bakkhali, Sundarban, India

Seasonal Diversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in the Mangrove Forests of Bakkhali, Sundarban, India

Airborne pollen and spore monitoring for seasonal trends and dynamic interconnection with meteorological parameters in Rawalpindi city, Pakistan

Aerobiological studies are essential to understand the pollen and spore diversity and allergy hazards. Airborne pollen/spore assemblages seasonally and regionally are affected by weather variables. Local vegetation plays an integral role in atmospheric pollen loads. This study identified the pollen taxa families and spore types in conjunction with influencing meteorological parameters e.g. temperature, rainfall, wind speed, relative humidity. Daily airborne pollen and spore were monitored to estimate seasonal diversity and intensity (measured in grains/m3) by using volumetric method throughout the year 2023. Daily weather updates and monthly reports of Pakistan Meteorological Department were assessed to collect meteorological data. Results revealed that pollen and spore concentration were low in the start and end months of the year. First pollen and spore peak were observed on 14 February and 23 April respectively. Maximum pollen concentration was observed in February–April, August–September. Spore concentration was high during March–May, August–October. Total 34 pollen families and 10 spore types were identified on morphological basis with Pinaceae (18%) found abundantly followed by Poaceae (11%) and Betulaceae (8%). Fall season prominent pollen families were Asteraceae and Cannabaceae. Some families with very low concentration were also identified categorized as “others”. Among spores, Alternaria and Aspergillus conidia were found maximum in April and September respectively. Statistical and qualitative investigation of dynamic interrelation between airborne pollen/spore and meteorological parameter explored the significant association with temperature and not-significant with rainfall and relative humidity. Wind speed was highly significant parameter for pollen loads but did not majorly affect the spore counts. It was observed from p-values obtained by single-factor ANOVA test. This study concluded that airborne pollen and spore loads influenced by variations in weather conditions and surrounding flora. Healthcare professionals can utilize findings of such researches for implementation of preventive measures to vulnerable population.

Different diversity patterns of butterfly and moth assemblages between deciduous and evergreen broad-leaf forests

In this study, we compared the diversity and abundance of two groups of Lepidopteran insects—butterflies and moths—across deciduous (DBL) and evergreen broad-leaved (EBL) tree communities in warm temperate forests. Over three years (from 2018 to 2020) at the Wando Arboretum, we used transect and point methods to sample butterflies and light traps to sample moths. Our findings revealed that the total estimated species richness was higher in EBL compared to DBL. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) analysis confirmed distinct moth assemblages between the two tree communities, while butterfly assemblages did not exhibit such separation. The seasonal diversity patterns of butterflies in both forests differed significantly, whereas those of moths exhibited a similar trend with a peak in June. Beta diversity components indicated high turnover rates in moth assemblages across both tree communities and high nestedness in butterfly assemblages within the DBL. Although the diet breadth of butterflies and moths did not significantly differ between the two tree communities, the number of butterfly species per host plant was higher in DBL and that of moths was higher in EBL. Considering the ongoing vegetation transition from DBL to EBL, changes in forest structure—such as canopy openness and tree density—may adversely impact insect communities within DBL.

Seasonal diversity and abundance distribution of butterflies in Dihing Patkai national park, North East India

Seasonal diversity and abundance distribution of butterflies in Dihing Patkai national park, North East India

Seasonal Diversity in Mosquito Larval Ecology and Its Public Health Implications in Urban Slums of Lagos, Nigeria.

Mosquito-borne diseases (MBDs) are major public health burdens in tropical nations, including Nigeria. This study assessed mosquito larval species composition, abundance, and abiotic factors influencing mosquito breeding in slum communities of Lagos with the goal of informing MBD control measures. Three slum communities-Bariga, Makoko, and Ajegunle-were selected along with the nonslum community of Ikeja, which served as a control site. Larval sampling was done using the standard dipping technique between December 2021 and July 2022 across the dry and wet seasons. Mosquito larvae were raised to adults and identified using morphological keys and molecular assays. A total of 57,753 immature mosquitoes were collected from all study sites, with a significantly (P < 0.05) greater abundance in the dry season than the wet season. The majority (98.1%) of the mosquitoes collected belonged to Culex pipiens s.l., the only species found during the dry season in almost all locations. In the wet season, species identified from all sites combined were Anopheles gambiae ss., Anopheles arabiensis, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Cx. pipiens s.l., and Lutzia tigripes, with Ajegunle having the greatest species diversity (H = 0.593). Among physicochemical parameters measured, only water temperature had a significant positive correlation (r = 0.934, P = 0.020) with larval densities in Ajegunle only. Permanent mosquito-breeding habitats had significantly greater larval densities than temporary habitats within the slum communities. These findings could inform the development of integrated vector control strategies that address the different species of mosquitoes in the fight against MBDs in urban slums.

Seasonal Dynamics Of Ant Communities In Forest Ecosystems: Statistical Analysis And Ecological Insights

A seasonal diversity was conducted in the forest of Bagepalli range of Chikkaballapur forest of Karnataka, India from August 2022 to August 2023. 21 species of ants were observed in this range belonging to 15 genera by following three methods such as pitfall traps, handpicking and bush beating. The abundant subfamily was Formicinae with 5 genera and under Myrmicinae, two genera were observed under the subfamily Ponerinae and one genus each from Subfamilies Pseudomyrmicinae and Dolichoderinae. The most abundant species were found to be Camponotus compressus followed by Oecophylla smaragdina. From the collection of ants few invasive species were also observed such as Anoplolepis gracilipes and Plagiolepis sp.. Two mathematical indices were followed and those were Shannon-Weaver Index and Simpson Index to study the diversity and compare the species richness from the three seasons – summer, monsoon and winter, and a statistical data was formed, the abundance in species were also observed to study which species were dominant and during which season. The maximum diversity was observed during the monsoon season followed by the summer and the least diversity was during the winter. The ants usually prefer a moist environment. The study assumes that the ant diversity can predict the environment.

The influence of climatic and environmental variables on sunflower planting season suitability in Tanzania

Crop survival and growth requires identification of correlations between appropriate suitable planting season and relevant climatic and environmental characteristics. Climatic and environmental conditions may cause water and heat stress at critical stages of crop development and thus affecting planting suitability. Consequently, this may affect crop yield and productivity. This study assesses the influence of climate and environmental variables on rain-fed sunflower planting season suitability in Tanzania. Data on rainfall, temperature, slope, elevation, soil and land use/or cover were accessed from publicly available sources using Google Earth Engine. This is a cloud-based geospatial computing platform for remote sensed datasets. Tanzania sunflower production calendar of 2022 was adopted to mark the start and end limits of planting across the country. The default climate and environmental parameters from FAO database were used. In addition, Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the relationship between rainfall, temperature over Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from 2000 to 2020 at five-year interval for January-April and June–September, for high and poor suitability season. The results showed that planting suitability of sunflower in Tanzania is driven more by rainfall than temperature. It was revealed that intra-annual planting suitability increases gradually from short to long- rain season and diminishes towards dry season of the year. January-April planting season window showing highest suitability (41.65%), whereas June–September indicating lowest suitability (0.05%). Though, not statistically significant, rainfall and NDVI were positively correlated with r = 0.65 and 0.75 whereas negative correlation existed between temperature and NDVI with r = -− 0.6 and − 0.77. We recommend sunflower subsector interventions that consider appropriate intra-regional and seasonal diversity as an important adaptive mechanism to ensure high sunflower yields.

Seasonal diversity &amp; spaciotemporal distribution of fungal endophytes associated with the medicinal plant Coleus forskohlii Briq.

Fungi that colonize the healthy tissues of the plants without showing any disease symptoms in the host plants are termed as fungal endophytes. The presence of fungal endophytes provides a positive effect on the host’s growth &amp; development and also triggers the production of some essential bioactive compounds in the host. This study was undertaken to isolate, identify and understand the spaciotemporal distribution and seasonal diversity of fungal endophytes associated with the leaf, stem &amp; root of Coleus forskohlii, an important and endangered medicinal plant. Sampling was done for a period of 12 months between May 2020–April 2021. A total of 950 fungal endophytes were isolated from a total of 1680 tissues of the leaf, stem &amp; root of C. forskohlii. The fungi were identified based on their morphological features and some of them were identified by molecular identification by 18S rRNA sequencing. The endophytic isolates belonged to 10 different orders belonging to 3 different classes-Sordariomycetes (Hypocreales, Xylariales, Microascales, Trichosphaeriales, Glomerellales &amp; Sordariales), Dothiomycetes (Pleosporales, Capnodiales, Botryosphaeriales) &amp; Eurotiomyctes (Eurotiales). About 81.26% of the isolates belonged to Ascomycota &amp; 2.63% of the isolates belonged to Mucoromycota. Chaetomium globosum, Collariella bostrychodes, C. robusta, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Sterile hyaline mycelia, Aspergillus niger, Xylaria curta, X. grammica, Mucor circinelloides &amp; Trichoderma harizianum were the frequently isolated species of fungi. C. globosum, C. bostrychodes, C. gloeosporioides, sterile hyaline mycelia &amp; X. curta were found distributed in all the tissues of the plant. C. forskohlii has thus revealed a rich diversity of fungal endophytes that could be isolated &amp; cultured to yield some pharmacologically important bioactive compounds.

Seasonality, diversity, and forest type associations of macro moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Heterocera) in the Shiwalik landscape of northern India and its conservation implications

A study was carried out to evaluate the seasonal diversity of macro moths across different forest sub-types occurring in theShiwalik landscape of northern India, mainly Uttarakhand and adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Fortythree field surveys of 59 days were carried out from July 2020 to October 2022 using stratified random sampling in each of the 19 selected study sites. Sampling surveys revealed 321 species of moths belonging to 19 families and 49 sub-families. These new range extensions from central Himalaya and northeastern India indicate the affinity of moths found in the northern Indian Shiwaliks with that of the Oriental region. Seasonal trend of species richness showed two annual peaks, with the first peak occurring in August followed by a smaller peak in October, while the seasonal abundance of moth species was maximum in July followed by a smaller peak in September. One-hundredand-forty species occurred only during the ‘monsoon’ season indicating their seasonality, univoltine habit and short flight periods in these tropical forests. Species richness of moths correlated positively with relative humidity (r2 = 0.100; p = 0.0142; n = 59). The most dominant family was Erebidae (95 species) followed by Geometriidae (61), Crambidae (72), and Noctuidae (28), respectively. Maximum number of moth species were sampled in forest sub-type (i) 3C/C2a Moist Shiwalik Sal Forest, followed by (ii) 5B/C2 Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest, (iii) 3C/C2c Moist Tarai Sal Forest, iv) 5B/C1a Dry Shiwalik Sal Forest, respectively. The study also revealed changing moth communities along with the vegetation structure in the Shiwaliks from east (Nandhaur Willife Sanctaury in Uttarakhand bordering Nepal) to west (Simbalbara National Park in Himachal Pradesh,India) across the landscape. The moth communities of (i) 3C/C2a Moist Shiwalik Sal Forest &amp; (ii) 3C/C2c Moist Tarai Sal Forest being different from that of (iii) 5B/C2 Northern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest, and (iv) 5B/C1a Dry Shiwalik Sal Forest. Besides, six new range extensions into Shiwaliks of northern India from central Nepal and northeastern India, namely: Chlorozancla falcatus (Butler, 1889) (Geometridae); Cynaeda dichroalis (Hampson, 1903), Dichocrocis pyrrhalis (Walker, 1859) &amp; Glyphodes canthusalis Walker, 1859 (Crambidae); and Acropteris iphiata (Guenée, 1857) (Uranidae) were recorded.

Seasonal Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) and Collection Methods in Barpeta District, Assam, India

Barpeta district, Assam, India covers an area of 2754 square kilometers. The Spider specimens were collected by visual search method and the collection methods adopted were Aerial hand collection, Ground hand collection and Beat sheet method. 70 spider species from the different habitats of Barpeta District were documented. The study shows the difference in quantity and quality of spider fauna concerning the seasons and collection method. The spider species were more active in the post-monsoon season and some were inactive during winter. Almost 75% of spider species were collected by the beat sheet method which shows that it is more significant than all other trapping techniques. The spider species richness and spider abundance were significantly affected by seasons, studied by Simpson’s diversity index and Shannon – Weiner’s diversity index. However, further study needs to be carried out for the effective conservation of these species.

Collections of small urban parks consistently support higher species richness but not higher phylogenetic or functional diversity.

When prioritizing regions for conservation protection, decisions are often based on the principle that a single large reserve should support more species than several small reserves of the same total area (SLOSS). This principle remains a central paradigm in conservation planning despite conflicting empirical evidence and methodological concerns. In urban areas where small parks tend to dominate and policies to promote biodiversity are becoming increasingly popular, determining the most appropriate prioritization method is critical. Here, we document the role of SLOSS in defining the seasonal diversity of birds in 475 parks in 21 US cities. Collections of small parks were consistently associated with higher species richness, spatial turnover and rarity. Collections of both small and large parks were associated with higher phylogenetic and functional diversity whose patterns varied across seasons and cities. Thus, collections of small parks are a reliable source of species richness driven by higher spatial turnover and rarity, whereas collections of both small and large parks contain the potential to support higher phylogenetic and functional diversity. The presence of strong intra-annual and geographical variation emphasizes the need for regional prioritization strategies, where multiple diversity metrics are examined across parks and seasons.

Seasonal diversity and distribution of decomposing macrofungi in three forest communities: why do they differ?

The diversity of macrofungal species, especially those that are not edible, receives less attention because people do not realize the importance of their ecological role. This study aimed to reveal the inter-seasonal diversity of macrofungal species in three forest communities in South Sulawesi: Karst forest, Lowland forest, and Pine forest. Field surveys were carried out twice (i.e. in the wet and dry seasons) in 25 units plots measuring 10 m x 10 m which were systematically spread in an area of approximately 1 ha in each forest community. The macrofungi found in each plot were recorded by the species name, photo, and the area of cover that measured using Crown Diameter Method to analyse the area of cover. In total there were found 130 species of macrofungi from 38 families across forest communities both in wet and dry seasons. The highest number of macrofungi species was found in the Lowland Forest (67 species), followed by Karst Forest (65 species), and the lowest was in Pine forest (42 species). Some species are specialists in specific forest communities. Given that most species of macrofungi are monophagous that specialist to an only litter of one tree species, the difference in the diversity of macrofungi among forest communities is likely related to the difference in tree species diversity among forest communities. In addition, microhabitat conditions were found in line with the diversity of macrofungal species inter-seasons and inter-forests.

Seasonal Diversity and Morphometric Variations of Rotifers in Relation to Selected Environmental Variables from a Tropical High-Altitude Lake in Mexico

We studied the species diversity and morphometric variations of rotifers from a high-altitude water body, the Llano reservoir, in central Mexico during September 2021 to August 2022. Samples were collected from four stations in the reservoir every month. During the study period we were able to identify 54 monogonont rotifer species of which Polyarthra vulgaris, Lecane closterocerca, Trichocerca porcellus, Lepadella patella and Keratella cochlearis were numerically the most abundant. Depending on the season, the total rotifer density varied from 250 to 2450 ind L−1. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the species of Trichocerca similis, Keratella cochlearis, Mytilina ventralis and Scaridium longicaudum were directly related to temperature. Using rotifer species richness and abundance data, we derived the Shannon diversity index, saprobic index and rotifer trophic state index. Data on the geometric morphometrics showed that Keratella cochlearis was found in two of the three climatic periods of the year (dry and winter), while Lecane closterocerca and Trichocerca porcellus occurred during the three climatic seasons (dry, winter and rainy) and formed three distinct clusters in relation to body size.

Catch composition and species diversity during dredging operations of Mediterranean coastal lagoon, Lake Manzala, Egypt

Lake Manzala, the largest Egyptian coastal lake, is one of the most valuable fish sources in Egypt, which contributes about 14% to the total annual Egyptian fisheries production. However, given that Lake Manzala suffers from major environmental and fisheries problems, an ambitious national project for the dredging, purification, and development of this lake was established in 2017. Hence, this study was conducted to assess seasonal diversity and to provide an inventory of fish species at Lake Manzala during dredging operations. Five seasonal surveys were conducted during the period from 2019 to 2021. By using different fishing gears and methods operating in the lake, a total of 7774 fish and crustaceans—belonging to 29 fish species and three crustacean species that clump into 21 families—were collected from Lake Manzala. During the study period, the family Cichlidae showed the highest occurrence of about 70%. The marine-brackish species recorded the highest aquatic environment (milieu) diversity with 34.4% of the collected species, but only 12.5% of the freshwater species. Six of the collected fish species were recorded of Indo-pacific origin, as Lissepsian migrant species. In this study, the diversity index (H) was calculated, ranging between 1.13 and 1.77. As indicated by the seasonal variation of the diversity index, the highest diversity index of Lake Manzala was evident in autumn 2019 and spring 2021 at 1.700 and 1.365, respectively. The governmental dredging and cleaning operations in the lake have a relative impact on the species composition in this area. Further studies are recommended after the completion of these operations to confirm the impact of dredging on species composition alteration.

Seasonal diversity and dynamics of entomofauna associated with the decomposition of pig (Sus scrofa domesticus L.) carcasses in a Peri-urban area of Central Burkina Faso, West Africa.

This study aimed to determine the effects of seasons on the diversity and dynamics of insects associated with pig carrion in Gampela, Plateau Central Region, Burkina Faso, West Africa. Pig carcasses (Sus scrofa domesticus L.) were exposed in an open area to monitor their decomposition process and their colonization by insects during a warm and dry period (March-April 2015), a warm and wet period (August-September 2015) and a cool and dry period (December 2015-January 2016). Monitoring and entomological data collection occurred for 60days for each study period. The decomposition process always included five stages (fresh, bloating, putrefaction, postputrefaction, and skeletal), which varied in duration depending on the study period. In sum, 118,761 insects belonging to 4 orders, 12 families, 17 genera, and 21 species were collected during the three study periods, with approximately 61% of the individuals collected during the warm and wet period. The dynamics of insect populations associated with the pig carcasses included two peaks at each study period. Formicidae was the most abundant insect family in each study period, but Musca domestica was the most abundant species. The listed species were found to belong to four trophic groups with a predominance of predators/carnivores followed by necrophagous insects. The orders, families, and trophic groups reported in this study were significantly more abundant during the warm and wet period. The results show prospects for the use of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, and Dermestidae in criminal investigations, depending on seasonal variations in Sudano-Sahelian areas.

Seasonal variations in cyanophage communities in the coastal waters of Kuwait

Cyanobacteria and the viruses that infect them (cyanophages) are crucial to the marine ecosystem, but little is known regarding the genetic diversity of natural cyanophages and their variation over space and time in Kuwait waters. In this study, we explored the seasonal diversity of cyanophages specifically the cyanomyophages in the coastal waters of Kuwait using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and cloning sequencing by targeting the portal protein-encoding gene g20. Surface- and deep-water samples were collected bimonthly from three coastal sites over a period of 14 months.The DGGE bands for both the surface- and deep-water samples revealed a dramatic seasonal variation in cyanomyophages across all sites but with no spatial variations. The bands exhibited a similar pattern in the warmer season (June to October), with very intense bands observed specifically for the samples collected in August and October compared to those collected in winter-spring (January to April). Furthermore, g20 clone libraries prepared from single-month samples provided evidence of depth-related differences in cyanomyophage communities. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the most abundant g20 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) clustered with the ubiquitous culture-containing cyanomyophage marine cluster II. In addition, the obtained OTUs were closely related to cyanophages infecting Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus hosts. This study demonstrated the seasonal diversity of cyanophages in the coastal waters of Kuwait, and the diversity appeared to be greater in deep water. This highlights the need for further studies to determine whether these temporal changes in cyanophage community abundance and diversity reflect recurring annual patterns.