CONTRIBUTION TO THE STUDY OF SEAGRASSES ALONG THE RED-SEA COAST OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Observations on the distribution and ecology of marine phanerogams along a distance of 270 km of the Saudi Red Sea Coast, including Jeddah and Sharm Obhor are recorded. The seagrasses occur in pure patches or in communities with one or more dominant species. Some, like Syringodium isoetifolium (Aschers.) Dandy, thrive well in clear circulating water, while others such as Cymodocea rotundata Ehr. et Hemprich, Thalassia hemprichii (Ehr.) Aschers, and Halodule uninervis (Forsk.) Aschers. can withstand pollution. All nine species of seagrasses previously known in the Red Sea have been collected during the present investigation. The following taxa are new records to the Saudi Coast of the Red Sea: Cymodocea rotundata, Syringodium isoetifolium, Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.) Aschers. and H. ovata Gaudichaud. The latter may be considered as a new addition to the Red Sea flora. © 1979.