Jazan province is an arid area, located at the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia along the Red Sea coast. Groundwater is the only resource of drinking water in this area; thus, its suitability for drinking and domestic uses is of public and scientific concern. In this study, groundwater samples were collected from 23 sites in Jazan area during fall 2014; measurements and analysis of water quality parameters including pH, total dissolved solids TDS, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, chloride, iron and fluoride were carried out with references to WHO and Gulf Standardization Organization GSO. TDS values exceeded the permissible limit of 600 mg/l in 30.4% of samples, total hardness values exceeded the permissible limits of 300 mg/l in 34.8% of samples, and nitrate concentration exceeded the permissible limit of 50 mg/l in only one sample. However, the concentrations of investigated parameters in the groundwater samples were within the permissible limits of WHO. Our results showed that the water quality of groundwater in Jazan area is acceptable and could be used safely for drinking and domestic purposes. However, a special attention should be paid to the concentration of TDS and nitrate in groundwater in future studies.

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Few studies were made about zooplankton distribution in Jazan coastal area. The present study dealt with the identification of zooplankton at the sandy shore (AlSalwa coast) and mangrove muddy shore (Turfa peninsula) at the Almarjan coast. Species richness and population density at different seasons were determined for both study areas between May 2016-April 2017. Conductivity, pH, water temperature, and salinity were measured. The relationship between water characters and the seasonal abundance of zooplankton seasons was examined through regression analysis. Ciliates, Rotifers, Nauplius larva, Gammarus sp., Veliger larva, Nematodes, Planaria, Copepods, and Kinorhyncha were recorded for both study areas. The highest species richness and population density were recorded during the summer season for Almarjan sandy shore and Turfa peninsula mangrove. Ciliates were the most abundant zooplankton on the sandy shore, while Kinorhyncha was the least abundant. The zooplankton Nematode was the most abundant at the Turfa Peninsula mangrove, whereas Gnathostomulida was the least abundant. Conductivity, salinity, and water temperature showed a significant regression relationship (P<0.05) with zooplankton abundance. Data was discussed to highlight the role of zooplankton abundance in the mangrove and sandy shore ecosystem.

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