Field studies on the protozoan distribution in Damietta and Rosetta branches of the River Nile, Egypt

Abstract

This study was carried out during a period extending between February 2016 and January 2017 in both Damietta and Rosetta branches of the Nile. Water samples were collected at eight sampling sites; four at Damietta and the others at Rosetta branch so as to detect the variability of the protozoan organisms and evaluate some physico-chemical parameters. It was proved that the protozoan genera of Rosetta branch showed more diverse as compared with those of Damietta one ( 46 and 35 genera respectively). These organisms were belonging to three main phyla ; Sarcodina, Mastigophora and Ciliophora where the latter predominated the preceding two phyla at the various sampling sites in both river branches. Simultaneously, organic matter, ammonia and nitrates exhibited higher levels in Rosetta than Damietta, while phosphates, dissolved oxygen and p H behaved in an antagonistic manner at the different seasons. The abundance of the sewage protozoan organisms was higher in Rosetta branch relative to those of Damietta which could be attributed mostly to the illegal runoff of the sewage wastes from certain villages on Rosetta branch that consequently affect oxygen and organic matter contents at these stations. These unicellular organisms were influenced and proved to be statistically significant to a certain limit with water temperature, phosphate salts, ammonia and organic matter.Field studies on the protozoan distribution in Damietta and Rosetta branches of the River Nile, Egypt Table (1a) Different protozoan genera at Damietta and Rosetta branches of the Nile. Rosetta branch at El-Menofeyia Province (46 genera) Damietta branch at Kalubeyia and Dakhleyia Provinces (35 genera) Sarcodina Amoeba sp. and Actinophora spp. Mastigophora Euglena, Phacus, Volvox, Gonium, Chlamydomonas and Ceratium spp.

Protozoan communities serve as a strong indicator of water quality in the Nile River

“…The free-living planktonic Protozoa community in this freshwater study area was represented by 54 species (Table 4 ), a value well within the range found in most lotic environments of 20–200 species 14 . The species identified belonged to 45 genera that were more diversified than reported for other regions along the Damietta branch (e.g., Qalyubia and Daqahlia, 35 genera recorded) but similar to that of the Menofia region on the Nile's Rosetta branch with 45 genera 20 . The Damietta protozoan community consisted of six main phyla: Amoebozoa (10 species), Choanozoa (4 species), Heliozoa (4 species), Cercozoa (5 species), Myzozoa (1 species), and Ciliophora (30 species).…”

“…Therefore, accurately identifying the Protozoa species associated with the environmental factors is necessary to conduct a meaningful ecological study. Although many studies have examined planktonic Protozoa community's distribution, composition, and dynamics and their role as biological indicators in lotic systems, few have been conducted within the Nile River 18 , 20 , 21 . No studies have been conducted specifically on planktonic Protozoa in the Damietta region.…”

The record of Vannella species (Vannellidae, Discosea, Amoebozoa) from freshwater sources in Dakahlyia Governorate, Egypt

“…Galal and Nabet ( 2017 ) studied the protozoan fauna in 3 aquatic freshwater sources in El-Menoufeyia Province and recorded sarcodines belonging to the genera Amoeba , Arcella , and Nuclearia . Despite extensive studies made by Galal ( 2018 ) on the protozoan fauna of surface water from Rosetta and Damietta branches of the River Nile, Vannella species were not detected in these localities. Fishar et al ( 2019 ) studied the community composition of zooplankton in El-Rayah El-Behery, Egypt, and recorded nine protozoans with no names except Vorticella .…”

Ecological Evaluation on Zooplankton particularly the protozoan organisms at Lake Manzala, Egypt

“…Comparing the present data with those of Damietta branch of the Nile ( Galal, 1999), it was proved that pH, DO, NO 3 , PO 4 values are mostly higher in the latter branch except those of the summer season in case of the first two parameters (pH and DO), while those of NH 3 and OM showed an antagonistic behavior. The physicochemical parameters of Rosetta branch of the Nile (Galal et al, 2008;Galal, 2018)) are more or less higher than those of Damietta (Galal, 2009), but still less than those of Lake Manzala. This comparison indicated that the pollution level belonging to these three water bodies are different; those of the Nile branches were less polluted than Lake Manzala which could be referred to extensive illegal discharges of the various pollutants from more than five provinces as mentioned earlier in the latter water body (Lake Manzala).…”