Using Macroinvertebrates Metrics in Assessing the Ecological Status of Ismailia Canal, Egypt | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||||
| Article 40, Volume 24, Issue 6, September and October 2020, Page 439-451 PDF (749.9 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2020.313156 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| Marian G. Nassif | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Macroinvertebrate communities from a man-made canal called Ismailia Canal were analyzed seasonally in order to assess changes in their composition and structure over time as well as to study the canal’s ecological status. The performance of the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) indices, in the studied 10 stations, have been calculated and compared with the diversity index (H`) and the Intercalibration Common Metrics Index (ICMi) as well. Annelida, Insecta, Mollusca, and Crustacea composed the main groups of the benthic fauna in Ismailia Canal with an average density of 454 ind./m2. Seasonally, winter exhibited the lowest population density and autumn revealed the highest density. Regarding Shannon Wiener diversity index, stations 1 and 2 represented the highest value (H`= 1.8) while the lowest biodiversity value was in station 5 (H`= 0.11). The BMWP scores revealed the first sector of the canal (stations 1 and 2) in moderate ecological status; however, stations 5 and 10 exhibited the poorest status. The Average Score Per Taxon (ASPT) divided the canal into two sections; the moderate ecological status (stations 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8) and the poor ecological status (stations 5, 6, 9, and 10). Due to the presence and absence of some of the bioindicator groups, values of the STAR_ICM index varied from 0.20 to 1.64. However, the current investigation revealed long-term monitoring of ecology and diversity of macrobenthic assemblages is required for the sake of its conservation. Developing an index that suits the Egyptian hydromorphological status is a crucial issue. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Macroinvertebrates; Ecological status; Ismailia Canal; ICMeasy; BMWP; ASPT; Biodiversity | ||||
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