Hydrobiological notes on the high-salinity waters of the Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula is surrounded by high-salinity seas and bordered by saline lagoons. The geologically long-lasting high-saline conditions have resulted in the formation of a metahaline marine fauna in the Red Sea. Metahaline marine elements also inhabit the saline lagoons with salinities up to 60 to 80 In open lagoons, beyond these values, a hyperhaline community of marine euryhaline organisms has established itself. Only beyond 100 S, or if the lagoon has no open connection with the sea, is this community replaced by hypersaline continental fresh-water elements. These observations are also discussed in the light of possible generalizations.