Spatial and temporal changes in the population of macro-benthic invertebrates exposed to oil spillage in Suez Bay, Red Sea, Egypt

Abstract

The current study aims to assess the environmental response of macro-benthic invertebrates in the exposed coastal area of Suez Bay to a big fuel oil spill leakage from Ataqa Power Station. This oil spill occurred in the area opposite to the Power Station where the ninth (IX) sampling station was located. Thirteen stations were selected in the studied area and sampling was carried out during spring, 2018 (before the oil spill) and autumn, 2018 (after the oil spill) incident. The results indicated that the density of macro-benthic invertebrates were higher in spring than that in autumn (61,636 and 26,839 ind./m2, respectively). The Northern stations recorded higher densities than the southern ones (16,438 ind. ∕m2 with 34 species and 10,401 ind. ∕m2 with 19 species, respectively). Except for ammonia, the recorded values of dissolved nutrients (nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, and silicate) were higher in autumn than in spring. In addition, it was found that the average concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons in sediments was 431.49 μg/g in autumn. While in spring, it was estimated to be in average of 194.96 μg/g. Keywords: Benthic invertebrates, Petroleum hydrocarbons, Ataqa Power Station, Suez Bay, Red Sea