Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton in the northern part of Suez Gulf, Egypt.

This study was conducted to evaluate the seasonal variability of phytoplankton in the northern part of the Gulf of Suez (Suez Bay), considering the contribution of physicochemical parameters of bay water in shaping the dynamics, and eutrophication assessment. Water and phytoplankton samples were collected seasonally at nine stations in the Suez Bay during the period from the winter to autumn of 2012. A total of 423 phytoplankton species were identified, comprised mainly of 224 diatoms, 127 dinoflagellates, 33 cyanophytes, 20 chlorophytes, and 9 euglenophytes; the rest of the species (10 species) belong to other six groups. Of these, 28 species were potentially harmful. The total phytoplankton abundance exhibits a significant seasonal variation, with the autumn being the most fertile season, followed by the winter due to the proliferation of diatom species Thalassionema nitzschioides and Proboscia alata f. gracillima, respectively. While the seasonal species richness indicates that the winter attained the highest number of species, followed by summer. Generally, the major diatom genera were Chaetoceros (16 species), Navicula (15 species), Nitzschia (15 species), and Amphora (14 species), while dinoflagellates were principally composed of the genera Protoperidinium (34 species), and Tripos (26 species). Water temperature, pH, salinity, nitrate, and nitrite were the most important explanatory parameters in regard to phytoplankton abundance and chlorophyll a concentration. In addition, the phytoplankton stability exhibited a significant positive relationship with the mean values of dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand and the variability of salinity and phosphate, while a negative relationship was observed with ammonia and nitrite and the variability of nitrate. Based on the trophic index (TRIX), the bay water was classified as mesotrophic (moderately polluted) for almost the entire year except in the autumn as it turned eutrophic. The results explored the potential importance of the environmental heterogeneity in the bay as a key structuring mechanism of phytoplankton abundance and biomass, influenced by anthropogenic activities.

Molecular identification, biomass, and biochemical composition of the marine chlorophyte Chlorella sp. MF1 isolated from Suez Bay.

BACKGROUND: An Egyptian indigenous unicellular green microalga was isolated from the coastal water of Suez Bay (N 29.92°, E 32.473°), Red Sea, Egypt. The molecular analysis based on 18S rRNA sequence showed that the gene sequence for this strain was highly similar (100% identity and 98% query cover) to different Chlorella strains isolated from different habitats. RESULTS: The observed morphological characters together with the molecular phylogeny assigned the isolated microalga as Chlorella sp. MF1 with accession number KX228798. This isolated strain was cultivated for estimation of its growth and biochemical composition. The mean specific growth rate (µ) was 0.273 day-1. Both the biomass productivity and the cellular lipid content increased by increasing salinity of the growth medium, recording a maximum of 6.53 gDW l-1 and 20.17%, respectively, at salinity 40.4. Fourteen fatty acids were identified. The total saturated fatty acid percentage was 54.73% with stearic (C18:0), arachidic (C20:0), and palmitic acids (C16:0) as major components, while the total unsaturated fatty acid percentage was 45.27% with linoleic acid (C18:2c) and oleic acid (C18:1) as majors. CONCLUSION: This algal strain proved to be a potential newly introduced microalga as one of the most proper options available for microalgae-based biodiesel production. The proximate analysis showed the protein content at 39.85% and carbohydrate at 23.7%, indicating its accessibility to various purposes.