COMPARATIVE STUDY ON MACROZOOBENTHOS BETWEEN NIMFA AND RADHIMA COASTS (VLORA BAY, ALBANIA)

This paper represent's a comparative study on species composition, quantitative characteristics, seasonal variations and stability of macrozoobenthic populations between Nimfa and Radhima coasts in Vlora Bay. Sampling has been carried out during 2007-2009, focusing on the supralittoral, mediolittoral and upper part of infralittoral. A total of 103 species has been found in both investigated sites. It is worthy to note the presence of the gastropod Cellana rota, an alien species for the Mediterranean Sea, 26 endangered species in national scale and 2 endangered species in regional scale (Lithophaga lithophaga and Paracentrotus lividus). The macrozoobenthic community in the studied area has showed a low stability. Characteristics of macrozoobenthic populations in both sites are mainly related to the macroalgal cover and substrate typology.