Macrobenthos abundance and community structure in relation to some environmental variables in El- Kanater Eikhairia fish farm, Egypt [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The community structure of macrobenthic invertebrates in relation to some physicochemical variables were investigated in El Kanatair Fish Farm (NIOF). Some physico-chemical conditions (Water temperature. pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Electrical conductivity. Ammonia, Ortho-Phosphate and Sediment type) were estimated. A total of 21 macrobenthic species belong to Arthropoda (11 species), Annelida (6 species), and Mollusca (4 species) were identified. Annelida dominated the other macrobenthic groups at ponds, drain & feeder channel contributing about 45.7, 62.8 & 72.8% of total macrobenthos density. Limnodrilus huffmeisteri and Branchiura sowerbyi were the most dominant annelid. Eleven arthropod species dominated mainly by Chironomid larvae were identified. The participation of Mollusca in macrobenthos of the fish ponds density was small. (03%), while it formed a considerable portion in its biomasses (31.8£-70). Shannon diversity index reached maximum of 1.4 at the feeder channel, while the lowest, 0.79 was recorded at Pond 1 Cluster analysis of macrobenthos diversity measures indicate two groups, fish ponds and the drain & feeder channel. The highest similarity (73%) was recorded within the 2 nd group, (drain & feeder channel).

Summary in Arabic.

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