Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO AIN ZAYANAH LAGOON, BANGHAZI, LIBYA

Fatma F. El-Toumi, Saleh Baiu, Mohamed Adrawi and G. Achuthan Nair

Abstract

Studies were undertaken on the physico-chemical and biological characters of Ain Zayanah lagoon, located 12 Km NE of Benghazi, Libya. The lagoon was estuarine, alkaline and was rich in nutrients. The eastern part of the lagoon was polluted due to the input of sewage. Two species of hydrophytes (Potainogeton pectinatus and Ruppia mar-Uinta) and a genus of algae (Cladophora sp.) formed the dominant group of vegetation. The animal population included different species of fishes, amphipods, isopods, cladocerans, copepods and molluscs. The bacteriological studies revealed heavy growths of Escherichia coli and Sphaerotilus sp. Apart from them, bacteria belonging to the genera Azotobacter, AcinetObacter and Pseudomonas were also isolated. Suggestions were given to develop the lagoon as an aquaculture.farm.