MARINE PHAEOPHYCEAE OF BENGHAZI COASTS, LIBYA

Benghazi city lies at the eastern north part of Africa at Mediterranean Sea having very rich coasts of marine algae reached about 18 km. The present work was mainly intended to collect and study the marine brown algae of its coasts. A total of 37 species (19 genera), ten species of them (27.03%) were new records, belonging to Phaeophyceae were identified during many semi regular visits to the study area during several seasons and years with clear dominancy of Cystoseira genera (8 species). The comparison with other previous studies of Benghazi coasts marine algae showed the progressive increase of the brown algal flora year after year than those recorded at 1979 and 1992 (just 7 and 25 brown species, respectively). This observation may be due to the sampling programs and the different anthropogenic activities in addition to other environmental factors. Contrarily, the predominance of Cystoseira genera could be considered very good indicators of good environmental quality.