Spatio-temporal variations of zooplankton community in the hypersaline lagoon of Bardawil, North Sinai, Egypt

Abstract

Bardawil Lagoon is a shallow oligotrophic hypersaline lake, located at the northern periphery of Sinai peninsula-Egypt, connected to SE Mediterranean Sea through two main openings known as Boughazes. Distribution of zooplankton in Bardawil Lagoon during 2004 was studied, not only in space and time but also with reference to species assemblages and environmental factors. Copepoda, Protozoa, and Mollusca were dominating the lagoon zooplankton community during the period of study with 58 identified forma. Zooplankton stock peaked during August and October with severe depletion in spring. Spatially, the maximum density occurred near the sea opening I. The lowest density and species richness were noticed at stations with high salinity. The community composition was highly changed with time series. Twenty new taxa were recorded during the study, whereas thirty three taxa disappeared from the lagoon along twenty years.