STUDIES ON THE FRESH-WATER ALGAE OF MAKKAH AREA, SAUDI-ARABIA

The composition and distribution of fresh-water algae in Makkah area of Saudi Arabia were investigated. Of a total number of 107 species recorded, 37 belong to Cyanophyta, 34 to Bacillariophyta, 29 to Chlorophyta, 6 to Euglenophyta and 1 to Pyrrhophyta. The most common genera were Oscillatoria (14 spp.), Spirogyra (8 spp.), Navicula (7 spp.), Nitzschia (7 spp.), Gloeocapsa and Euglena (each with 4 spp.) where Merismopedia elegans, Oscillatoria amphibia and O. tenuis were most widely distributed. Al-Taif locality had 64 algal species. Among the dominant algae in Makkah area, the green alga Oedogonium gracilis was chemically investigated and was characterized by having high amount of ash and protein, 17 amino acids where glutamic acid, alanine, aspartic acid and leucine were predominant.