The spatial distribution of macro-and meiobenthic assemblages in organogeneous and terrigeneous sandy bottoms of the Jordanian coast of the Gulf of Aqaba was studied by SCUBA-diving. Transects were sampled along the shore in various types of bays and fringing coral reefs from beaches to the depth of 35 meters. Variations of densities as well as the main taxonomic groups are analysed according to sedimentary environments. In the embayed bottoms, macrobenthic densities show large fluctuations related to the types of biotopes (15,000-450 ind m-2). They are homogeneous in sandy patches situated along the reef slopes. Polychaetes are largely predominant followed by sipunculids and bivalves. Meiobenthic densities vary between 0.3 to 5.4 .10 15 ind m-2 showing a decrease according to depth. Nematodes are dominant followed by copepods, nauplii, rnicropolychaetes, and other taxa like Kinorhynchs, Tardigrades, Gastrotrichs. Variations of macro/meiobenthos ratio are analysed according to ecological data. Comparisons with avaliable data in similar biotopes of the tropical indopacific area are developed.

The coastal zone management and development plans which include tourism development necessitate among many other management practices, the extension of the available area of the present natural but narrow, limited and widely eroded beaches by implementing some type of nourishment practices. The present work is providing information on selected sites as possible sources of suitable sand, chemical and granulometric characteristics of their sand, and the potential direct and long-term environmental effects and consequences of its use in any future nourishment practices. Seven sites located within the up-lifted terraces area along the Jordanian portion of the Gulf of Aqaba, were selected as potential sources or borrow sites for sand that may be used in any future nourishment projects. Two sites were selected at the northeastern side of Aqaba region to represent sand dunes. Sand material from these sites were analyzed for their physical characteristics (grain size) as well as their content of heavy metals, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, and calcium carbonate. Standard methodological techniques were used during analysis of all constituents. The results were compared with those obtained from the analysis of sand deposits of six beaches along the Jordanian coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba. Results indicate that sand of the selected borrow sites has grain size fractions that are suitable for use in beach nourishment. Results of the measured pollution indicators indicate that their levels in the sand of the potential borrow sites are within or lower than their levels in the marine and coastal sediments of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. These properties, in addition to the wide occurrence and availability of such sources along the coasts of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, suggest that it will be a cheep source of sand for beach extension and restoration and their use in large amounts in beach nourishment project will not pose major hazards on the quality of seawater of the Gulf of Aqaba area

This study was conducted to evaluate the water quality of King Talal Dam (KTD) in Jordan and its suitability for irrigation purposes based on the measurements of several physicochemical parameters and water quality indices. Surface water was sampled from seven different locations in the dam. The values of electrical conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) indicate that KTD surface water is relatively saline but still falls within the permissible category for irrigation. The dam's water is suitable for irrigation based on the sodium adsorption ratio-(SAR) and magnesium hazard-(MH) data. It lies between permissible to doubtful categories with respect to the results of sodium percentage (Na%) and lies within the marginal category for irrigation based on Kelly's ratio-(KR) values. Therefore, crops that are not sensitive to sodium and soils with light textures and good permeability are recommended. The data of irrigation water quality index (IWQI) showed that KTD water distributed between moderate to high restrictions for irrigation uses, which indicates that the dam's water can be used to irrigate plants with moderate to high salt tolerance and in soils with moderate to high permeability and good leaching of salts. KTD water requires special measures to reduce salinity and sodium hazards.