The Ostracoda community in hypersaline channels in Al-Khiran, Arabian Gulf

Abstract. A community of ten ostracod species characterizes the hypersaline channels of Khor Al-Mufateh and Khor Al-Mamlaha. The dominant species in Khor Al-Mufateh are Loxoconcha (Loxoconcha) indica Jain, 1978; Gibboborchella venosa Gumey, 1979; Gibboborchella alata Gurney, 1979; and Hemicytheridea paiki Jain, 1978. L.(L.) indica, along with Neomonoceratina sp., dominate Khor Al-Mamlaha. Other species ranging from common to rare, include Carinocythereis (Carinocythereis) batei Jain, 1978; Callistocythere cf. flavidofusca intricatoides (Ruggieri), 1953; Loxoconcha (Loxoconcha) multiornata Bate & Gurney, 1981; Tanella cf. gracilis Kingma, 1948; and Xestoleberis rotunda Hartmann, 1964.

Khor Al-Mufateh and Al-Mamlaha are divided into zones according to the distribution of ostracod species, which are dependant upon the richness and distribution of algae and the type of sediment. The ten ostracod species are salinity-tolerant and occur in the upper third of Khor Al-Mufateh and the lower half of Khor Al-Mamlaha with salinity ranging between 55–70‰ and 45–70‰, respectively. These zones are rich in algal growth with sediments varying from muddy carbonate sands to sandy mud. Most ostracod species are found in abundance during the summer exhibiting a rich diversity of algae genera and species.