QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE INTERTIDAL ENVIRONMENT OF KUWAIT I - INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL CLASSIFICATION

Quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biological data of the intertidal zone in Kuwait was undertaken to develop an integrated bas is for assessing and protecting this sensitive coastal ecosystem. Clus ter analyses were performed to determine the resemblance between the s ampling stations based on the sediment composition, the benthic macrof auna and the physico-chemical characteristics of the intertidal sedime nt/water. Five distinct sub-environments were delineated within the in tertidal zone of Kuwait. Each sub-environment was described in terms o f number of taxa, mean density of organisms, sediment type, tidal leve l and dominant organisms. The physico-chemical parameters investigated were found to be unimportant in the distribution of the intertidal be nthic macrofauna. On the other hand, sediment type was found to be a m ajor factor in the overall composition of the benthic community. The b enthic fauna and related characteristics of the subenvironments could be used as indicators to monitor changes in the intertidal ecosystem a nd as guides to protection and management of the different coasts. The approach described in this paper could also be adopted elsewhere to p rovide a sound basis for evaluating environmental impacts and for deve loping sustainable coastal management. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited .