Paper Details

PJB-2024-73

Seasonal dynamics of integrated water column phytoplankton diversity in the coastal waters of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Faisal Althobiani
Abstract

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The study focused on the vertical distribution of phytoplankton in the coastal waters of Jeddah, examining their interactions with various biotic and abiotic factors. The temperature and salinity pattern, notably reflecting the traditional traits of the Red Sea, showcased higher temperatures in summer and increased salinities during autumn. Nutrient distribution, typically restricted, occasionally surged, notably in central stations. During the summer months, the central stations showed notably higher values of phytoplankton biomass. Diatoms emerged as the dominant group in the total phytoplankton abundance, with centric diatoms prevailing in their distribution. The central zone witnessed a notable diatom proliferation during the summer season. In contrast, dinoflagellates contributed less to the overall densities but exhibited dominance over diatoms in terms of species diversity. Cyanophytes displayed lower dominance both in terms of density and diversity. Examining the species diversity, centric diatom genera, specifically Chaetoceros and Rhizosolenia, surpassed other diatoms. Similarly, the dinoflagellate genera Tripos and Protoperidinium dominated over other dinoflagellate genera. The study identified a total of 208 species, providing a comprehensive overview of the phytoplankton diversity in the coastal waters of Jeddah. The current study also noted the presence of harmful algal bloom-inducing diatoms and dinoflagellates, such as Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima and various Alexandrium species.

 

To Cite this article: Althobiani, F. 2026. Seasonal dynamics of integrated water column phytoplankton diversity in the coastal waters of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pak. J. Bot., 58(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-3(8)  
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