ABSTRACT
Over the last century, the research of phycology in Egypt is concerned with water resources especially the River Nile and its two main branches as the main source of freshwater and also some lakes, streams, and ponds. Nowadays the research is not restricted to water sources of Egypt but also arid and desert lands that are considered rich algae biodiversity habitat. Also, limited studies on the biodiversity of microalgae in the saltwater environment are reported. Thus, this chapter summarizes distribution and biodiversity of algae a in River Nile, Springs of Bahariya Oasis (Western Desert), Ain Helwan (near Cairo), Ain El-Sokhna (near Suez town), El-Temsah Lake (Ismailia town), Hammam Musa Faroun (South Sinai), WadiEl-Natrun Lakes (Western Desert), and Farafra Oasis. Besides, Mediterranean lakes, like Mariut, Edku, Manzala, Burullus, and Bardawil, are natural resources for fish production in Egypt and rich with phytoplankton. Even rice fields at El-Kharga Oasis are suitable places for algal growth. Also, it was found that there is a relationship between salinity or ions concentrations (sodium, chloride, sulfate, magnesium, and calcium) and algae biodiversity.
