Vol. 17 Issue 2
Gheith, A. M
Textural characteristics, gross mineralogy and diagenetic history of coastal sabkha sequences were studied in the tidal flats of two coastal lagoons; Shuaiba south of Jeddah and Sharm Al Kharrar northwest of Rabigh. The diagnostic features and mode of formation have also been deduced.
A comparison of the gross mineralogy of the two types of sabkhas showed considerable variation in the mineral proportions and the diagenetic alteration of the metastable minerals. The vertical variation of carbonate mineral components through sabkha sequence indicates dolomitization of the aragonitic sediments.
Shuaiba sabkha is characterized by carbonate-dominated sediments with high potential dolomitization and evaporate association, while Sharm Al Kharrar sabkha is marked by the abundance of land-derived material affecting the sedimentation regime and transition of it into siliciclastic sabkha. Attapulgite, kaolinite and swelling chlorite are the common clay minerals formed under humid subtropical conditions.
W. E. El-Saadawi and Hanaa M. Shabbara
An association between the discomycete fungus Byssonectria tetraspora (Berk.) Rogerson and Korf and the moss Bryum argenteum Hedw. is reported. described and illustrated. This is the first report of such an association from Egypt. Associations between mosses and fungi are briefly discussed.
Any work, however preliminary, on the association between different organisms owes much to earlier works on the subject, particularly those of Schwendener (1860), De Bary (1879) and Schimper (1883). Schwendener (1860) was able to give an accurate account of the internal dual structure of several lichens. De Bary (1879) was the first to propose the term "Symbiosis" to describe the intimate relationship between different species. His collective term included parasitic. mutualistic and all other states of interrelationships. Concepts pertaining to the separate origin and development of the parts (mitochondria. plastids... ) of eukaryotic cells and their association to form the whole have been dealt with in detail by Margulis (1981) who mentioned that this particular story of the eukaryotic cell evolution had been dubbed the " Serial Endosymbiotic Theory" by Taylor (1974) and that perhaps the earliest scientific idea that cell organelles came from hereditary symbiotic associations was that published in 1883 by Schimper. Literature on symbiosis is, at present. enormous and the foregoing hint would suffice for the present paper which pertains to a moss-fungus association.
Mosses form associations with several organisms belonging to all kingdoms (Monera, Protoctista, Fungi. Plantae and Animalia). Examples of such associations have been described by El-Saadawi and Abou-El- Kheir (1973), Richardson (1981) and Abou-El-Kheir et al. (1986).
Fungi, on the other hand, form associations with an enormous number of organisms, again covering all kingdoms including their own. Lichens, endomycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae are among the most familiar examples of such associations.
The focus here is on fungal-moss association. In this connection Dennis (1968) listed over 25 species of fungi that grow in association with mosses, of which he named 15 genera. More recently. Ellis and Ellis (1988) listed some 70 species of fungi that grow on or with bryophytes. Among these. they identified about 40 species, belonging to 35 genera.
In this communication an association between a fungus and a moss is reported for the first time from Egypt.
Abdel Rahman A. FaragalI and K.M. AI-Ghamdi
A field study was conducted during 1995 and 1996 to obtain information on the major predatory complexes of Insecta and Araneida on local field and sweet corn varieties at Hada AJ-Sham locality, western Saudi Arabia. Results obtained showed the presence of a rich fauna of predatory complex, especially after the whorl stage of plant growth. The major group of this predator complex were coccinellids, which comprised 48% and 68% during the years 1995 and 1996 respectively. There were no significant differences in numbers of the predatory species during 1995 and 1996. Arboreal spiders were represented by six dominant families: Agelenidae, Araneidae, Clubionidae, Salticidae, Thieridiidae and Thomicidae
Khalid M. AI-Ghamdi and Abdellrahman A. Faragalla
The seasonal occurrence of soil and foliage dwelling salticid spiders was studied in an alfalfa agroecosystem in western Saudi Arabia in 1990-1991. Six of the collected species were new to the scientific world and were described and identified. Six other salticids are reported for the first time existing in alfalfa agroecosystems in western Saudi Arabia. The salticid spiders dwelled on foliage more than in the soil. Three peaks were observed throughout the season during October, January, and August, with a pronounced peak during August. The aestivation period occurred during December. Based on their numbers, continued presence and veracious feeding behavior in the alfalfa agroecosystem, they show great potential as promising candidates for controlling major pests and thus to be included in an integrated pest management (IPM) program.
Mahmoud M. Kardousha
Metacestodes of 14 different trypanorhynch larvae were found infesting Arabian Gulf economically important fish along the coasts of the United Arab Emirates. Except for Gri//olia and Plerobolhrium, all other larvae were recorded and described for the first time. The metacestodes were identified as : Callitetrarhynchus gracilis, C. speciosus, Grillolia sp., Nybelini 'a bisulcala, N. indica, N. lingualis. N. sp., Otobothrium dipsacum, O. sp., Progrillolia sp., Pseudogrillotia spratti, Pterobolhrium heleracanlhum, Pterobolhrioides sp. and Tentacularia coryphaenae. Two of them, Callitetrarhynchus gracillis and Pterobolhriuni heteracanthum were very common and have a conspicuously high prevalence rate. The potentiality to invade flesh of fishes was only recorded in two larvae. Pseudogrillolia sprolli and Pterobothrium heterocanthum. All fish hosts are new records.
Influence of Age on Some Serum Constituents in Racing Arabian Camels, (Camelus dromedarius L)
Normal serum values were estimated for 15 clinically important biochemical variables and enzymes in the sera of healthy male and female adult racing Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius L.) and also in the sera of healthy male and female young Arabian camels, raised as potential racing camels. The results have indicated no significant differences in all analyses between male and female young Arabian camels. Similar results were also obtained from the corresponding adult camels except for small (12-17%), but statistically significant. variations in the activities of ALT, AST, CK and ALP, being higher in females than in males in the case of the three former enzymes, and the opposite for ALP activity. Moreover, age had a significant effect on some serum enzyme activities. ALT, AST, CK, LD and ALP activities were higher in young male and female camels compared to those of adults of the corresponding gender. However, the opposite was found with GGT.
Hussein E. Osman and Atallah Abo Hassan
Two trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of annual grazing (pruning) and seasonal grazing (four times a year) on total green foliage weight (TGFW), total dry foliage weight (TOFW), culm dry weight (COW), leaf dry weight (LOW), total leaf area (TLA), specific leaf area (SLA) and N-content (protein) of both culms and leaves. Three grazing intensities (pruning 25 , 50 and 75% of vegetative growth) were evaluated in each trial. Oata taken at the end of each of eight consecutive seasons (from 21/6/94 until 21/3/96) revealed differences (P< 0.05) among seasons for all of the traits studied in the annual grazing trial (both years, for SLA) and for TGFW, SLA and N-content of leaves and culms in the first year and for TLA in both years in the seasonal grazing trial. The interaction of season and pruning intensity in the annual grazing trial significantly affected TGFW, TOFW, COW and LOW in the first year of the study. Ory matter accumulation. under all grazing intensities, progressively increased with plant age under annual grazing but progressively decreased with plant age under seasonal (repeated) grazing practices. Estimates of N-content over the grazing intensities ranged from 2.61 % to 3.00% for leaves and from 1.70% to 2.14% for culms over the grazing trials. Thus, rotational annual grazing of jojoba will ensure the availability of high yields of high quality forage throughout the year.
Sohair M. El-Tayeb and Kauther F. Abed
The effects of incrementally adding one or more of the nutritional materials on the bio degrading activity of the Sporosarcina ureae were investigated. The materials used and their rates were: Peptone (0.7%), Yeast (0.7%), Ureae (0.14%), Casein (0.7%), Fat Free Milk Powder (0.7%), Fish Extract (0.7%), Acidic Potassium Phosphate (0.14%), Sea Algal Extract (1.0%) and Sea Algal Powder (1 .0%). Among these, Peptone was the most efficient: it increased the bacterial bio degrading activity of the oil Polluted Gulf water to 92.0%. It was also revealed that, in comparison with the control treatment, the addition of a mixture of algal powder, phosphate, fish Extract and fat-free milk powder to the Gulf water-containing oil, caused a tremendous increased in oil biodegradation. Oil biodegradation in presence of the bacteria reached 88.5%, and in the absence of the bacteria reached 80.4%.
Hosam M. Moghazi and Ahmed A. Al-Shooshan
El-Gassim is the most important agricultural region in Saudi Arabia due to its huge storage of groundwater. The main aquifer, which supplies most wells in the EIGassim region is of Saq sandstone. Due to the serious increase of water salinity, most landowners abandoned these wells and re-drilled new wells, at considerable cost. Moreover the seepage of saline water from the abandoned wells continues to contaminate the main aquifer in the region. This study has been carried outla evaluate and investigate the reasons of increased salinity in El-Gassim water wells. A random survey has located 310 deep wells in 137 farms. It showed that the average ratio of abandoned wells to the total number of wells is 22 % and has reached 44 % in some locations. An analysis of 150 water samples showed that the total dissolved salts TDS reached 2200 mg/l in 29 % of the farms. The values of TDS reached 7000 - 10000 mg/l in some locations although the Saq aquifer has a low value of TDS (500 - 1000 mg/l).