Telmatogeton Schiner, 1866 (Chironomidae: Diptera), a newly recorded genus of chironomid larva for the Egyptian Mediterranean Fauna

Sampling of fouling organisms carried out during January 2019 at Al-Max (west of the city of Alexandria) on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt revealed the presence of larval populations belonging to the genus Telmatogeton (Chironomidae), which is reported for the first time from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The larvae were found among clumps of fine filamentous green algae (Enteromorpha compressa). A description of the larva with taxonomic remarks and comments on its ecology and geographical distribution are given.

Enteromorpha intestinalis—a refuge for the supralittoral rockpool harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus brevicornis

Supralittoral rockpools form an extreme environment due to severe fluctuations in salinity, temperature and oxygen concentration. The only seaweed species in supralittoral rockpools around Great Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde was the green alga Enteromorpha intestinalis. Only two animal species were recorded permanently over a three year period in this environment; the orange harpacticoid copepod, Tigriopus brevicornis, and the chironomid larva, Halocladius fucicola. The present study demonstrates the role of the hollow thallus of E. intestinalis in the lifestyles of T. brevicornis (adults and nauplii) and H. fucicola. The thallus provides a moist refuge reducing desiccation when the rockpools completely dry out. Several hundred individuals of T. brevicornis have been observed in a single E. intestinalis thallus. This observation may explain how the species can successfully recolonize completely evaporated supralittoral rockpools after several weeks. The study also raises questions about the reliability of previous population estimates of Tigriopus spp. in light of this constantly overlooked refuge.