The present paper reports mass occurrence of two algal species Ulva grandis Saifullah and Nizamuddin and Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus) Link in a protected coastal area in Jeddah, heavily polluted with domestic sewage. They seem to prefer low salinity eutrophic waters for their maximum growth

Nizamuddin, M.

Saifullah, S.M.

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Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.l(l), 23-28, 1992 
TIVO 1\tfOST ABUNDANT SPECIES OF ULVAAND ENTb'RO-
MORPHA FROM COAST OF JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA 
S.M.Saifullah and Mohammad Nizamuddin 
Department of Botany, University of Karachi, 
KarC\chi-75270, Pakistan. 
ABSTRACT: The present paper reports mass occurrence of two algal species Ulva grandis Saif\1l!ah and 
Nizll'nntddin and Ei1tcromorpha intestillaiis (Linnacus) Link in a protected coastal area iil Jedd<th, heavily 
polluted with domestic sewage. They seem to prefer low salinity eutrophk' waters for their maximum 
growth. 
J{EY WORDS: Ulvu [;l(Wdis- Ent1·omwpha intestiJJalis • taxonomy- Saudi Arabio. 
INTRODUCTION 
The. coast of J eddah, Saudi Arabia, is characterized by coral reefs which make it 
shallow over a considerable distance. These reefs make the near shore water partially 
isolated from rdatively deeper waters and may create stagnating conuitions in some 
low lying areas. The South Corniche of Jeddah happens to be such a place. It is 
situated on the southern part of Jcddah and is also a site of discharge of city's major 
sewage disposal unit. This makes the area even more stagnant and isolated from the 
open sea waters as low salinity waters of sewage do not mix freely with them. Saiful-
lah et al. (1.988) have already described the area in detail and recorded very low salini-
ty values there. 
During frequent visits to the site it was noted that a number of algae including 
phytoplankton and seaweeds formed dense green blooms on different occal:iions and 
the water appeared dark-green in colo·ur instead of normal'blue as a result. Saifullah 
et al. (1988) have already recorded a bloon:1 of unicellular alga, Platymonas in the 
area. On other occasions large seaweeds were also found occuring massively likewise, 
and these are reported as under. 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
SpecimeiJS were fixed in 5% formalin-seawater for anatomical work and some 
mounted on herbarium sheets which are .stor'ed in herbaria of Department of Botany, 
University of Karachi, Faculty of Marine Science, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah 
and Botanjsches Garten und Botanisches Museum, Berlin-Dahlem. 
24 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences~ Vol.l(l), 1992 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIES 
Ulva grandis Saifullah and Nizamuddin, 1977 
(Fig.l, Plate 1A) 
Ulva grandis Saifullah and Nizamuddin, 1977:p.526, pl.I, figs.l-2, pl.IIA. 
Thallus extensively expanded, more than a metre long and broad, dark green, at-
tached but often free-floating being detached from the substratum, leathery in texture, 
not adhering to the paper on drying, membrane 55-65 pm thick, central space lacking; 
cells not isodiametric and irregularly arranged insurface view; in T.S. cells vary from 
broader than long to longer than broad, 20-30 p.m long and 12-15 jfm broad; chloro-
plasts cup-shaped, parietal, with more than 5 pyrenoids. 
The description of the J eddahian specimens strongly conforms to that of Ulva gran-
dis from Karachi coast but differs in thickness of the thallus and in cells not being 
always broader than long (Saifu11ah and Nizamuddin, 1977). There is also some 
external morphological resemblance with U. sorensenii (Chapman, 1956) and U. 
expansa (Abbott and Hollenerg, 1976), however, it greatly differs with them in thick-
ness, absence of central space and in unlobed fronds. This species occurred massively 
forming a characteristic dense green bloom in stagnant waters protected by coral 
reefs on South Corniche of Jeddah on 1st May 1985. The area was very shallow and 
highly polluted with sewage, as the point of disposal of city's sewage discharge was 
very close to the site and consequently salinity values were very low (Saifullah et al., 
1988). The area has already been described in detail and is also a place of frequent 
phytoplankton blooms (Saifullah, et al., 1988). The thalli grew as attached forms 
submerged underwater but later became free-floating after being detached. One 
could see a huge dense green mass of floating specimens which later shifted to the 
adjacent seashore and piled up there with time creating a characteristic odour as they 
decompose. The alga has an economic potential if harvested and exploited economi-
cally. 
It is most probable that the large species of Ulva reported elsewhere occuring in 
similar habitat (North et al., 1972) may also be U. grandis. It is speculated that further 
work on Ulva from polluted environment in other parts of the world will certainly 
increase its range of distribution which is presently limited. 
LOCALITY: 
South Corniche, Jeddah (Leg. Saifullah, No.ll. 1.5.85). 
DISTRIBUTION: 
North Arabian Sea (Pakistan) and Red Sea (Saudi Arabia). 
Enterom01pha intestinalis (Linnaeus) Link 
(Fig.2, Plate lB) 
Enteromorplla intestinalis (Linnaeus) Link; Abbott and Hollenberg, 1976:p.76; Anand, 
1940:p.13; Chapman, 1956:p.404; De Toni, 1889:p.123; Durairatnam, 1961:p.18; 
Saifullah and Nizamuddin: Ulva and Enteromorpha from Jeddah 25 
8 
60)Jm 
Fig.l. Ulva grandis Saifullah and Nizamuddin; A, Surface view of the thallus; B, T.S. 
of the thallus. 
8 
A 20)Jm 
Fig.2. Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linn.) Link; A, Surface view of the thallus; B, T.S. of 
the thallus. 
26 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.l(l), 1992 
7cm 
Plate lA. A portion of thallus of Ulva grandis on herbarium sheet. 
10cm 
Plate lB. Habit of Enterommpha intestinalis. 
Saifullah and Nizamuddin: Ulva and Enteromorpha from J eddah 27 
Nasr, 1947:p.21; Saifullah and Nizamuddin, 1977:p.529; Womersley, 1984:p.161, 
pl.I, figs.3,4, pl.II, B&C. 
Thallus slender, tubular, branched or unbranched, more than a metre long and 
7mm broad, free-floating entangled masses in adult stage but attached when young, 
several fronds arising from the same base ( caespitose), adhering strongly to the paper 
on drying; membrane up to 20 Jtm thick, younger specimens 10-15 Jtm thick, outer 
wall up to 5 ~m thick and lamellated; cells not isodiametric, arranged irregularly in 
surface view; in T.S. cells almost square 10-20 Jtm high and up to 15 Jtm broad; struc-
turally composed of a single layer of rectangular cells with a central cavity; chloroplast 
parietal with one to many pyrenoids. 
This species was also collected from the same habitat as that of U. grandis but on a 
different date, that is , 11 November 1986 and contributed to green discolouration of 
coastal waters. It grew extensively to form free-floating entangled masses on the 
surface of stagnant waters. These masses later drifted to the shore where they piled 
up in huge amounts creating a characteristic pungent smell as they rot. This species 
has also been reported elsewhere from polluted areas (Anand, 1940; Jones, 1987; 
Saifullah and Nizamuddin, 1977). 
LOCALITY: 
South Corniche, Jeddah (Leg. Saifullah, No.12. 11.11.86). 
DISTRIBUTION: 
Cosmopolitan occurring preferably in brackish and esturine environment with pol-
luted stagnant waters. 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We are thankful to Dr. A.S. Mandura and Dr. A.K. Khafaji, both of Faculty of 
Marine Science, K.A.A. University, Jeddah for their help in collection of the speci-
mens. We are also indebted to Professor J. Gerloff of Botanischer Garten und Bota-
nisches Museum, Berlin for reviewing the manuscript. 
REFERENCES 
Abbot, I.A. and G.J. Hollenberg. 1976. Marine algae of California. Standard University Press, 
California.Pp.1-827. 
Anand, P. 1940. Marine algae fmm Ka1'8chi. Part L Chlomphyceae. University of Pu11jab, Lahore. Pp.1-76. 
Chapman, V.J. 1956. The marine algae of New Zealand. Part. I. Myxophyceae and Chlorophyceae. Jour-
nal of the Linnean Society (Botany)55: 333-501. 
De Toni, G.B. 1889. S,}1loge Algarum omnium Cogt1itarum. Fol. I. (Chloroph;ceae), Padua. Pp.1-315. 
Durairatnam, M. 1961. Contribution to the study of the marine algae of Ceylon. Fisheries Research Station 
Department of Fisheries Ceylon, Bulletin No.10. Pp.l-181. 
Jones, D.A. 1987. A field guide to the sea shores of Kuwait and the Arabian Gulf University of Kuwait 
Publications, Kuwait.Pp.l-624. 
Nasr, A.H. 1947. Synop;is of the marine algae of the Egyptian Red Sea Coast, 1931. Bulletin of the Faculty 
of Science, Cairo, Egypt, No.26.Pp.l-115. 
28 Pakistan Journal of Marine Sciences, Vol.l(l), 1992 
North, W. J., G.C. Stephens and B.B. North. 1972. Marine algae and their relation to pollution problems. 
In: Marine pollution and Sea fife (Ed. Marine Ruivo). F.A.O. Publications, Fishing News (Books) Ltd. 
London.Pp.1-624. 
Saifullah, S.M. and M. Nizamuddin. 1977. Studies of the marine algae from Pakistan: Ulva!es. Botanica 
Marina 20. 521-536. 
Saifullah, S.M., AS. Mandura and A.K. Khafaji. 1988. A Platymonas bloom in coastal waters of Jeddah, 
Saudi Arabia. Pakistan Joumaf of Botany 20. 285-289. 
Womersley, H.B.S. 1984. The benthic ma1ine flora of Southem Australia. Pa1't.L Government Press. Ade-
laide,. Pp.1-329. 


Two most abundant species of Ulva and Enteromorpha from coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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Two most abundant species of Ulva and Enteromorpha from coast of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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