Some Macrobenthic Invertebrates in the Qatari Waters, Arabian Gulf

Abstract

Macro-invertebrates from eleven stations along the Qatar Exclosive Economic Zone (EEZ), Arabian Gulf, were studied during December 1998. A total of 52 species were encountered from all stations. Crustaceans were the most diverse group with 19 species. Polychaetes were represented by 17 species, followed by echinodennes (13 species) and hydrozoans (3 species). The faunal diversity index using Shannon-Wiener method ranged from 1.88 to 3.129. Overall species diversity based on numbers of individuals was maximum at station 305 (H' : 3.129). The bottom characteresitcs ranged between sand and saqdy muddy. The organic matter was between 1.27 - 4.33yo, while the calcium carbonate ransed between 43.19 to 94.91 %o for all stations.