Epipelic algae were much higher in the main stem of Ismailia
Canal (3047 · 104 cells cm2) than in Suez (of 1626 · 104
cells cm2) and Port Said (395 · 104 cells cm2) branches. Diatoms
dominated Ismailia Canal and its branches, whereas
chlorophyceae and cyanobacteria were rarely and scarcely
present (Fig. 2). Diatoms were dominated by the centric forms,
Cyclotella spp. and Aulacoseira spp. The two genera constituted
an annual mean percentage of 87% of the total diatoms.
Centric diatoms, as the total epipelic, were much higher in the
main stem of Ismailia Canal