Temporal, Spatial and Hydrographical Distribution of Copepods at the Western Egyptian Mediterranean Coast.

Abstract

At western Egyptian Mediterranean Coast, four cruises (spring 2008, summer 2008, winter 2009 and winter 2010) were carried out to study the temporal, spatial and hydrographical distribution of copepods. 129 copepod species were identified during the present study, dominated by Oithona nana, Calocalanus pavo and Nannocalanus minor. Spring was the most productive and diversified season. The abundance and diversity of copepods was homogeneous among the same seasons at successive two years. A comparison between the present data and that previously recorded in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters indicated large differences in records to the favor of the present work. Fifty five new recorded species of copepods were found in the Egyptian Mediterranean waters for the first time among them thirty two species seem to be recorded in the whole Mediterranean Sea for the first time.