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The Red Sea encompasses a wide range of tropical marine habitats that are stressed due to anthropogenic activities. The main anthropogenic activities are hydrocarbon exploration and important trading harbors. This work aims to assess the influence of the Red Sea coastal heavy metal contamination on the marine meiofauna along three sites (Ras Gharib, Safaga, and Quseir). Eight heavy metal (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cr, Co, Ni, and Mn) contents are considered in four benthic foraminiferal species (Elphidium striatopunctatum, Amphistegina lobifera, Amphisorus hemprichii, and Ammonia beccarii). Quseir Harbor showed the highest level of pollution followed by Safaga and Ras Gharib sites. The analyzed benthic foraminiferal tests displayed noteworthy high concentrations of Cd, Zn, and Pb in Quseir Harbor which could be attributed to the anthropogenic activities in the nearshore areas. Some foraminiferal tests exhibited abnormalities in their apertures, coiling, and shape of chambers. A comparison between normal and deformed foraminiferal tests revealed that the deformed ones are highly contaminated with elevated heavy metal contents such as Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cd. Statistics in addition to geo-accumulation and pollution load indices reveal a whistling alarm for the Quseir harbor. The present data are necessary to improve conservation and management of the Red Sea ecosystem in the near future.

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The distribution of recent shallow marine species of Ostracoda was recorded from 46 bottom samples collected from two mangrove ecosystems along the Egyptian Red Sea coa,st, i,e,, the regions Wadi El Genial and Abu Ghoson, Four communities of Ostracoda were determined and examined, recorded from recent intertidal, lagoon, swamp, and downstream sediments, respectively. The distribution patterns of the Ostracoda are affected primarily by the conditions of the vegetation and the bottom. Areas with dense vegetation and/or muddy sand bottoms contain the more abundant and more diverse assemblages. Statistical analysis showed three clusters of species at each site. These results coincide with the observed physiographic assemblages, except at Wadi El Gemal where we have three clusters of species and only two communities. This can be explained through the more dense growth of mangroves in the southeastern and southwestern parts, as well as the fact that the substrate there is muddy sand instead of the sandy substrate found in the northern parts. RÉSUMÉLa répartition des espèces marines récentes d'Ostracodes d'eaux peu profondes a été étudiée à partir de 46 échantillons du fond collectés dans deux écosystèmes de mangrove de la côte égyptienne de la mer Rouge, Wadi El Gemal et Abu Ghoson, Quatre communautés d'Ostracodes ont été déterminées et examinées, en provenance d'intertidal actuel, de lagune, de marais et de sédiments aval, respectivement. Les modèles de distribution d'Ostracodes sont affectés principalement par la végétation et le type de fond. Les zones à végétation dense et/ou à fond de sable vaseux contiennent les assemblages les plus abondants et les plus diversifiés. L'analyse statistique a montré trois groupes d'espèces à chaque site. Ces résultats coïncident avec les assemblages physiographiques observés, sauf à Wadi El Gemal oi:i nous avons trois groupes d'espèces et seulement deux assemblages. Ceci peut s'expliquer par la croissance plus dense des mangroves dans les parties sud-est et sud ouest, ainsi que par le fait que le substrat est du sable vaseux alors qu'il est sableux dans les régions septentrionales.)

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