الفهرس 
MATERIALS AND METHODSOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study was a part of a research program of The National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries. Monthly cruises were carried out by a research team. The team work included many specifications as, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Bottom founa, Water Quality, Sediment and Water Pollution. The phytoplankton dynamics and its primary productivity in relation to the most effective physico-chemical parameters were under investigation at Damietta Branch for 230 km from El-Kanater El-Khyria to the Faraskour impoundment.
Damietta Branch was divided into 6 sites namely, El-Kanater, Benha, Zefta, Talkha, El-Serw and Faraskour. At each site two stations were taken, one at the eastern bank (EB) and the other at the main channel
(M).
’I’’
The studied parameters
-Water and Air Temperature:
Water temperatures were slightly lower than the corresponding values of air temperature. The value of water temperature ranged between
14.6 °C at Zefta during February and 32.2 °C at Faraskour during August. Air temperature ranged from 15.1 °C at Benha during February to 32.6 °C at Zefta during July.
- The Hydrogen ion concentration (pH):
The pH value of the area under investigation were slightly alkaline
(>7). The maximum value of 8.47 was recorded at Talkha (EB) in October
while the mmunum value of 7 17 was recorded at El-Serw (M) m
February.
-Depth:
The highest value of 24.5 m was recorded at the downstream station El-Serw (M) in April, while the lowest value of 1.0 m was recorded at Benha (EB) and Zefta (EB) in May and April, respectively.
-Transparency (Secchi depth):
Transparency was higher in the downstream stations than in the upstream stations. The highest value of 330.0 em was recorded at Faraskour (M) in January, while the lowest value of 42.0 em was recorded at El-Kanater (M) during June.
- The electrical conductivity:
The results of electrical conductivity showed a gradually increase downstream reaching its highest value of814 fl mohs atFaraskour(M) during January, while its lowest value of 252 fl mobs was detected at Benha (M) in February.
- Turbidity:
The turbidity values decreased downstream, its values changed from 36.5 N.T.U. at Benha (EB) in April to 0.8 N.T.U. at Talkha (M) in August.
- Alkalinity:
While the Carbonate alkalinity concentrations were under the detection limit at some stations during Winter months (January and