DIVERSITY OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES AND STREAMS QUALITY IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF BELEZMA (NORTHERN-EAST, ALGERIA)

Authors

  • Imène Benzina Department of Nature and Life Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Nature and Life Sciences , University Larbi Ben M'hidi, Oum El Bouaghi , Algeria
  • Abdelkrim Si Bachir Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University Batna 2, Batna, Algeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20319/lijhls.2018.41.0118

Keywords:

Macroinvertebrates, Water Quality, Multi-parametric Analysis, Belezma National Park, Algeria

Abstract

In North Africa, the studies of streams quality are incomplete, especially in arid environments which are very fragile. This work is intended to highlight the knowledge of the health status of the streams in the Belezma National Park (Biosphere Reserve) through a multi-parametric approach based on benthic macroinvertebrates ecology. We have prospected in April 2015 four temporary rivers (Wadis: W. Hamla, W. Chaaba, W. Bouilef and W. El Ma) and evaluated the biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in relation to a set of environmental factors: 12 physicochemical water parameters, global habitat characteristics and degree of human pressure. The water flow velocity is generally very low to medium. The habitats are dominated by coarse substratum and rocks (5-90%), sand and gravel are poorly represented while plants habitats are completely absent. The water pH was between 7.29 and 8.50, nitrates (0 - 0.76) and nitrites (0.1 - 0.4). The water was slightly salted (0.20% and 0.30%) and generally clear (turbidity: 2.8 to 22 NTU). We identified a total of 28 taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates divided into 3 phylums, 4 classes, 11 orders and 22 families. Among the insect class, which was the most dominant taxa, the most abundant groups are Diptera (36.85%), Trichoptera (20.92%) and Ephemeroptera (16.73%). The highest biodiversity (total richness: 22 taxa; Shannon index: 2.84) was noted in W. Chaaba, which is located in the integral zone of the protected area. The evaluated biotic index of water quality ‘’IBGN’’ shows that hydro-biological quality of the water in the 4 studied streams was generally as ‘’average’’ (IBGN score between 9 and 10). It would be urgent to set up a biomonitoring program in order to control the disturbances issue to high pollution in this protected area. 

References

AFNOR (1992). Détermination de l’indice biologique global normalisé (I.B.G.N.). 9.

AFNOR (2005). Qualité de l’eau. Dosage des matières en suspension. Méthode par filtration sur filtre en fibres de verre. NF EN 872. In: AFNOR Report. AFNOR, 10.

Ait Mouloud, S. (1988). Essais de recherches sur la dérive des macro-invertébrés dans l’oued Aïssi : faunistique, écologie et biogéographie. Dissertation, USTHB University, Algiers, 118.

Angelier, E. (2000). Ecologie des eaux courantes. Edit TEC & DOC, 177.

Arab, A. (1989). Etude des peuplements d’invertébrés et de poissons appliquée à l’évaluation de la qualité des eaux et des ressources piscicoles des oueds Mouzaia et Chiffa. Dissertation, USTHB University, Algiers, 139.

Ben Rejeb-Jenhani, A. (1989). Le lac Ichkeul: Conditions du milieu, peuplements et biomasses phytoplanctoniques. PhD thesis, University of Tunis, 221.

Berrahou, A., Cellot, B., & Richoux, P. (2001). Distribution longitudinale des macro-invertébrés benthiques de la Moulouya et de ses principaux affluents (Maroc). Annales de Limnologie, 37 (3), 223-235. https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2001020

Boumaiza, M. (1994). Recherche sur les eaux courantes de Tunisie: faunistique, écologie et biogéographie. PhD Thesis, University of Tunis II, 330.

Bouzidi, A., & Guidecelli, J. (1994). Ecologie et distribution des macro-invertébrés des eaux courantes du Haut-Atlas marocain. Revue de la Faculté des Sciences (Rabat), Maroc, 8, 23-43.

Couceiro, S.R.M., Hamada, N., Forsberg, B.R., Pimentel, T.P., Luz, S.L.B. (2012). A macroinvertebrate multimetric index to evaluate the biological condition of streams in the Central Amazon region of Brazil. Ecological Indicators, 18,118–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.11.001

Decamps, H. (1971). La vie dans les cours d’eau. Presses universitaire de France. Paris, 128.

Dos Santos D.A., Molineri, C., Reynaga, M.C., & Basualdo, C. (2011). Which index is the best to assess stream health? Ecological Indicators, 11, 582-589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2010.08.004

Dussart, B. (1966). Limnologie. L'étude des eaux continentales. (Eds). Gauthier Villars, Paris, 677.

Dussart, B. (1992). Limnologie. L'étude des eaux continentales. (Eds). Gauthier Villars, Paris, 736.

Gabriels, W., Lock, K., De Pauw, N., Goethals, P.L. (2010). Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index Flanders (MMIF) for biological assessment of rivers and lakes in Flanders (Belgium). Limnologica, 40, 199–207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2009.10.001

Gagneur, J., & Thomas, A.G.B. (1988). Contribution à la connaissance des Ephéméroptères d'Algérie. I. Répartition et écologie (1ère partie) (Insecta, Ephemeroptera). Bulletin Société Histoire Naturelle Toulouse, France, 124, 213-223.

Gagneur, J., & Aliane, N. (1991). Contribution à la connaissance des Plécoptères d’Algérie in ‘Overview and strategies of Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera’ Gainesville. Albatercedor J., Sanchez-Ortega A. (Eds). Sandhill Crane Press Inc, 311- 324.

Gagneur, J., Giani, N., & Martinez-Ansemil, E. (1986). Les Oligochètes aquatiques d’Algérie. Bulletin Société Histoire Naturelle, Toulouse, 122, 119-124.

Gauthier, H. (1928). Recherches sur la faune des eaux continentales de l’Algérie et de la Tunisie. Minerva, Alger, 149.

Ghislain, D.M. (2006). Les eaux continentales, Rapport sur la science et la technologie N°25. Académie des sciences, 329.

Giudicelli, J., Dakki, M., & Dia, A. (1985). Caractéristiques abiotiques et hydrobiologiques des eaux courantes méditerranéennes. Verhandlungen des Internationalen Verein Limnologie, 22, 2094-2101. https://doi.org/10.1080/03680770.1983.11897628

Graeber D., Jensen T.M., Rasmussen J.J., Riis T., Wiberg-Larsen P. & Baattrup-Pedersen A. (2017). Multiple stress response of lowland stream benthic macroinvertebrates depends on habitat type. Science of the Total Environment , 599-600, 1517-1523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.102

Haouchine, S. (2011). Recherche sur la faunistique et l’écologie des macro-invertébrés des cours d’eau de Kabylie. Dissertation, Mouloud Mammeri University, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, 157.

Hecker, N., Costa, L.T., Farinha, J.C., & Thomas Vives, P. (1996). Inventaire des zones humides méditerranéennes : collecte des données. Publication MedWet/wetlands International/ Instituo da Conservaçao da Natureza, Vol. III, Lisbone, 99.

Hynes, H.B.N. (1971). The ecology of running water. Liverpool University Press, Liverpool, 555.

Lavandier, P. (1979). Ecologie d’un torrent Pyrénéen de haute montagne : l’Estaragne. PhD Thesis, University of Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France, 523.

Lounaci, A. (1987). Recherches hydrobiologiques sur les peuplements d'invertébrés benthiques du bassin de l'oued Aïssi (Grande Kabylie). Dissertation, USTHB University, Algiers, 133. https://doi.org/10.1051/limn/2000008

Lounaci, A. (2005). Recherche sur la faunistique, l’écologie et biogéographie des macro-invertébrées des cours d’eau de Kabylie. PhD Thesis, Mouloud Mammeri University, Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, 209.

Lounaci, A., Brosse, S., Thomas, A.G.B., & Lek, S. (2000). Abundance, diversity and community structure of macro-invertebrates in an Algerian stream: the Sebaou Wadi. Annales de Limnologie, 36 (2), 123-133.

Lounaci-Daoudi, D. (1996). Travaux sur la faunistique, l'écologie et la biogéographie des insectes aquatiques du réseau hydrographique du Sébaou. Dissertation, Mouloud Maammeri University, Algeria, 152.

Magurran A.E., (2004). Measuring biological diversity. Wiley-Blackwell, New York.

Mebarki, M. (2001). Etude hydrobiologique de trois réseaux hydrographiques de Kabylie (Parc National du Djurdjura, Oued Sébaou et Oued Boghni) : faunistique, écologie et biogéographie des macro-invertébrés benthiques. Dissertation, Mouloud Mammeri University, Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, 178.

Mondy, C.P., Villeneuve, B., Archaimbault, V., & Usseglio-Polatera, P. (2012). A new macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index to evaluate ecological quality of French wade able streams fulfilling the WFD demands: a taxonomical and trait approach. Ecological Indicators, 18, 452-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.013

Moubayed-Breil, A., & Lounaci, A. (2013). Orthocladius (Euorthocladius) kabylianus sp. n., a crenophilous element inhabiting karstic helocrenes and temporary streams in Algeria [Diptera: Chironomidae]. Ephemera, 2012 (2013), Vol. 14 (1), 25-34.

Paulsen, S.G., Mayio, A., Peck, D.V., Stoddard, J.L., Tarquinio, E., Holdsworth, S.M., & Olsen, A.R. (2008). Condition of stream ecosystems in the US: an overview of the first national assessment. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 27, 812-821. https://doi.org/10.1899/08-098.1

PNB. (2015). Plan de gestion du Parc National de Belezma (PNB, Batna - Algeria). Document interne PNB Partie 'A' : Approche descriptive et analytique, 124.

Rejsek, F. (2002). Analyse des eaux, Aspects réglementaire et techniques. Série : Sciences et techniques de l'environnement. Paris, 360.

Rodier, J. (2000). Analyse de l’eau : eau naturelle, eau résiduaire, eau de mer. Analyses physico-chimiques, bactériologiques. 8th Edit. Dunod, 973.

Samraoui, B., & Menai, R. (1999). A contribution to the study of Algerian Odonata. International Journal of Odonatology, 2 (2), 145-165. https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.1999.9748126

Samraoui, B., & Corbet, P.S. (2000a). The Odonata of Numidica. Part I: Status and distribution. International Journal of Odonatology, 3 (1), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2000.9748133

Samraoui, B., & Corbet, P S. (2000b). The Odonata of Numidica. Part II: Seasonal ecology. International Journal of Odonatology, 3 (1), 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2000.9748134

Sellam, N., Amador V, Zouggaghe F., & Moulai R. (2016). L’utilisation des Coleoptera, Ephemeroptera et Diptera comme bioindicateurs de la qualité des eaux de quelques Oueds en Algérie. Butlletí de la Institució Catalana d’Història Natural, 80, 47-56.

Sellam, N., Zouggaghe, F., Alloul ,B., Mimouni, A., Moulaï, R. (2017). Taxa richness and community structure of macroinvertebrates in rivers of different bioclimatic regions of Algeria. Journal of Materials and Environmental Sciences 8, 1574-1588.

Stoddard, J.L., Herlihy, A.T., Peck, D.V., Hughes, R.M., Whittier, T.R., & Tarquinio, E. (2008). A process for creating multitachetmetric indices for large-scale aquatic surveys. Journal of the North American Benthological Society, 27, 878-891. https://doi.org/10.1899/08-053.1

Tachet, H., Richoux, M., Bournaud, M., & Usseglio-Polatera, P. (2014). Invertébrés d’eau douce: Systématique, Biologie, Écologie. CNRS éditions, Paris, 344.

Touron-Poncet, H., Bernadet, C., Compin, A., Bargier, N., & Cereghino, R. (2014). Implementing the Water Framework Directive in overseas Europe: A multimetric macro-invertebrate index for river bioassessment in Caribbean islands. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, 408, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.limno.2014.04.002

Thomas, A.G.B. (1998). A provisional checklist of the Mayflies of North Africa (Ephemeroptera). Bulletin Société Histoire Naturelle, Toulouse, France, 134, 13-20.

Tonkin, J.D., Death, R.G. (2012). Consistent effects of productivity and disturbance on diversity between landscapes. Ecosphere 3 doi, 10,1890/ES12-00243.1. https://doi.org/10.1890/ES12-00243.1

Turki, S. (2002). Contribution à l’étude bio-écologique des rotifères, cladocères,copépodes des eaux continentales tunisiennes et dynamique saisonnière du zooplancton de la retenue de barrage Bir M’chergua. PhD Thesis. University of Tunis, El Manar / INSTM, 225.

Vaillant, F. (1955). Recherches sur la faune madicole de France, de Corse et d’Afrique du Nord. Bulletin du Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle (Zoologie), 11, 258.

Verneaux, J., & Coll. (1982). Une nouvelle méthode pratique d'évaluation de la qualité des eaux courantes. Un indice biologique de qualité générale (IBG). Annales Scientifiques, University of Franche-Comté Besançon, France, 4(3), 11-21.

Yasri, N., Vinçon, G., & Lounaci, A. (2013). A new Amphinemura from Central Maghreb (Algeria, Tunisia): A. berthelemyi sp. n. (Plecoptera: Nemouridae). Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellscheft. Bulletin Society Entomology, Suisse, 86, 25-33.

Zerguine, K., Samraoui, B., & Rossaro, B. (2009). A survey of Chironomids from seasonal ponds of Numidia, northeastern Algeria. Boll. Zool. Agr. Bachic. Ser. II, 41 (3), 167-174.

Zouggaghe, F. (2010). Etude des communautés de macro-invertébrés benthiques dans le bassin versant de la Soummam, université de Béjaia, Algérie, 159.

Downloads

Published

2018-03-15

How to Cite

Benzina, I., & Bachir, A. (2018). DIVERSITY OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES AND STREAMS QUALITY IN THE NATIONAL PARK OF BELEZMA (NORTHERN-EAST, ALGERIA). LIFE: International Journal of Health and Life-Sciences, 4(1), 01–18. https://doi.org/10.20319/lijhls.2018.41.0118