Insight into planktonic and benthic assemblages from some Nile islands nearshore ecosystem in north and south Egypt

The effectiveness of benthic and planktonic assemblages as an indicator of water quality in different climatic and geological Nile Islands from the northern and southern regions has not yet been investigated. The spatial variation in benthic and planktonic assemblages and the nutritional value of phytoplankton were investigated on four northern and three southern island shores. Clear variations in all the studied biological and biochemical parameters from north to south were recorded, which reflects the differences in climate and water quality on the shore of these islands. The ordination and TWENSPAN analyses revealed that the phytoplankton, zooplankton and attached diatom assemblages had the potential to indicate water quality in the studied regions.