EFFECTS OF SOME ECOLOGICAL FACTORS AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON SPECIES DIVERSITY OF CORAL REEFS IN PROTECTED AREAS AT GULF OF AQABA, RED SEA, EGYPT | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||||
| Article 26, Volume 3, Issue 4, June 1999, Page 525-537 | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.1999.3464 | ||||
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| Author | ||||
| Magdy KhaIiI | ||||
| Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| In view of the significant contributions of coral reefs to the productivity of the coastal waters at Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the Egyptian government declared three protected areas, during the period 1983-1992 namely Ras Mohammed, Nabq and Abu Galoum. Through a project aiming to study the species biodiversity in these reserves, the structure of coral community has been investigated to determine the effect of human activities and other destructive factors on its diversity. Line transects and Reefwatch methods were used to survey the community structure of corals in 11 sites, inside the three reserves. 71 hermatypic coral species have heen recorded during this study, in the three reserves. Ras Mohammed Park reef has the highest diversity, especially in closed areas, where all forms of fishing, diving or snorkelling were banned since 1992, Abu Galoum comes next, then Nabq reserve.In conclusion, marine reserves can protect biodiversitv and provide areas in a natural balance free from direct human disturbance and provide an insurance policy against communities collapse. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Species diversity; Coral reefs; Protected Areas; Gulf of Aqaba | ||||
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