الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Species composition, distribution of benthic organisms (meioand macrobenthic) in lake Baradwil were studied during 2006-2007. Seasonal samples were collected from 12 stations representing different habitats of the lake. The average standing crop of meiofauna in whole invested area of was 1820 Org/10cm2. Ostracoda was the dominant group contributing about 42.8 % of total population density followed by Foraminifera 32.7% and Nematoda (14.1 %). Winter was the most productive season. Macrobenthic community consists of 51 species belonging to phyla; Coelentrata, Nemertina Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Echinodermata. The abundance of benthic invertebrate species were closely correlated with nature of bottom sediments, organic matter, salinity and anthropogenic activities (intensive fish trawling and artificial inlets). The standing crop of benthos was decreased during the last two decades from one year to another due to changes in fish community structure. In the present study a remarkable increase in the population density of Mollusca was noticed because of the declining of the fish, Sparus aurata which is mainly a bottom feeder depends on Molluscan animals in its diets. |