Biodiversity of mangrove macrofauna in different sites of Aqaba Gulf, Red Sea

Mangrove forests support a wide diversity of habitats for numerous macrofauna species that are crucial to the health of mangrove ecosystems, as well as a vast variety of macroinvertebrate species. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically update our knowledge of the diversity of macrofaunal communities found throughout the mangrove forests of the Aqaba Gulf. This study seeks to examine biodiversity and identify macroinvertebrate fauna in various mangrove-associated habitats, i.e., genuine mangrove forests and neighboring coastal mangrove zones with varying levels of ecological heterogeneity. The belt transects and quadrate approach were used to collect samples from five distinct locations along the Aqaba Gulf mangrove. Overall, 8186 organisms belong to 118 species. Eighty-four molluscan species, 23 crustacean species, and 11 echinoderm species were recorded throughout the present investigation. The diversity of species was estimated for each site. Rowaisseia station showed significantly greater numbers for taxonomic richness, and the lowest number was present in Gharqana station. The statistical assessment of the various environmental factors and sediment characteristics in terms of abundance and variety of species of macroinvertebrate fauna revealed that the composition of bed sediment has a strong influence on the distribution and variation of macrofaunal communities. The current study's findings will aid in the conservation of mangrove forests by providing a better understanding of the ecological patterns and functions of benthic macrofaunal communities, which will be useful in future studies for habitat management and monitoring programs in the Gulf of Aqaba mangrove forests.