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Abstract
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The present study deals with systematic paleontology, Ecology, biogeography and environmental impacts of the bryofauna collected from Recent coral reefs and sediments of the Southern Safaga bay, Red Sea coast, Egypt. The collected samples range in depth from shoreline to 37 m.
Systematic Desciption:
Twenty-eight bryozoan species have been identified for the first time from the Recent coral reefs and sediments of Southern Safaga bay, Red Sea coast, Egypt. Among the identified taxa, twenty-six species belong to order Chielostomata and the rest to order Cyclostomata. Smittina avicularis, S. regularis, Schizosmittina safagaensis and Celleporina abbassi are believed to be new.
Ecology and Biogeography:
Ecology:
The present study on Southern Safaga bay is based on:
1. The study of the ecological parameters of the studied taxa.
2. The study of the relationship between zoarial growth forms and environmental conditions.
3. The study of habits and habitats of the species.
Zoarial growth forms:
The studied bryozoan species are classified according to their zoarial growth forms into encrusting and erect forms.
1. Encrusting zoarial growth-form
Sixteen of the identified bryofauna are encrusting. They represent 57% of the whole bryozoans. The encrusting growth-form is subdivided into membraniporiform (11 species) and celleporiform (5 species).
The membraniporiform species are: Membranibora savartii, Membranipora nobilis, Hippopodina feegensis, Schizoporella violacea, Microporella ciliata, Schizosmittina safagaensis n. sp, Smittina trispinosa, Smittina avicularis n. sp., Smittina regularis n. sp, Parasmittina delicatula and watersipora subtorquata.
The celleporiform species are: Holoporella polythele, Holoporella avicularis, Celleporaria sp., Celleporina tubulata and Celleporina abbassi n. sp
2. Erect zoarial growth-form
Twelve species are erect. They represent 43% of the total bryofauna, they are subdivided into vinculariiform (7 species), Cellariiform (3 species) and catenicelliform (2 species).
The vinculariiform species are Filisparsa rugosa, Scrupocellaria elliptica, Tricellaria monotrypa, Tricellaria occidentalis, Canda archnoides, Canda pecten scutata. and Iodictyum rubeschi.
The cellariiform species are Crisia hornesi, Nellia tenella and Margaretta cereoides.
The catenicelliform species are Synnotum aegyptiacum and Savignyella lafontii.
Biogeography:
Nearly all the identified bryozoans are of Indo-Pacific affinity, and very rare elements are recorded also from the Atlantic-Mediterranean realm. Eight of the identified species are previously recorded from occurrences in Egypt.
Environmental Impact:
Southern Safaga bay is polluted with many pollutants, especially of solid nature as tires, steel bars, rubbish, and plastic materials. These pollutants are transformed to the bay by winds and human activities. To estimate the rate of pollution in the bay the chemical analysis of fourteen samples for trace elements Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Co were carried. The increase in the mentioned elements is attributed mostly to the anthropogenic inputs.