Habitat preference and seasonal variability of epifaunal assemblages associated with macroalgal beds on the Central Red Sea coast, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Macroalgal communities of coastal ecosystems play a key role in maintaining overall coastal biodiversity. In this study, habitat preference (macroalgal host preference) and temporal changes (season) of epifaunal communities associated to five macroalgal species such as Padina, Sargassum, Ulva, Acanthophora and Gracilaria were observed at seasonal intervals (summer and winter) for 2 years from May 2012 to March 2014 on the Jeddah coastal waters of the Red Sea. Major epifaunal groups observed included polychaetes, amphipods, isopods, gastropods, mussels and crabs. Polychaetes were represented by 10 species followed by amphipods with five species. The abundance of gastropods, polychaetes and mussels showed significant variation between the macroalgae irrespective of morphology. Generally, the abundance of these taxa were high on Padina and low on Sargassum. Significant seasonal changes were observed on the abundance of polychaetes, amphipods and isopods. The abundance of some epifaunal groups showed a significant relationship with environmental parameters such as surface water temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen content.