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Several researches have been conducted to explain patterns of the abundance, richness and taxonomic diversity of benthic polychaetes; however, such analyses have ignored the functional diversity of polychaete communities, especially feeding guilds in intertidal rocky shores. The present study was carried out to describe and analyse the polychaete feeding guilds on intertidal rocky shores and then examine the effects of environmental factors. Twelve intertidal rocky shores from the coastal protected area of Essaouira (Atlantic coast of Morocco) were sampled during the summer of 2016. A total of 42 polychaete species belonging to 29 genera and 16 families were identified among the 4517 specimens collected. The medium biomass per sampling site was found to be 37.61 ± 15.80 g.m -2 . The polychaete species were classified into five feeding guilds, and nine feeding modes. The filter feeders were the dominant feeding guild (32%) followed by omnivores (23%), burrowers (20%), carnivorous (15%) and surface deposit-feeders (10%). The FDT (filter feeder, discretely motile, with tentacles) was the most abundant feeding mode, accounting for 24% of abundance (mainly represented by Sabellaria alveolata), followed by the ODJ feeding mode (omnivorous, discretely motile, with jaw apparatus) with 22%, and the SDT feeding mode (surface deposit feeder, discretely motile, with tentacles) with 18.9%. The highest trophic importance index and index of trophic diversity values were recorded in the southern region of Essaouira coastline. Based on the canonical correspondence analysis, composition and spatial distribution of polychaete feeding guilds were mainly related to the length of rocky shores and water temperature.

This article summarizes the state of stocks of sardine, sardina pilchardus in Moroccan waters at the end of 2016 and 2018. These stocks varies according to the region,They are now in a sustainable exploitation situation:Atlantic sardine, but also stocks that have reached or are still in over-exploitation levels: Mediterranean sardine. The fi shing pressure exerted on the sardine stock exceeds the optimal level by 40%. Due to the degradation of the fragile marine environment of the Mediterranean region, generated by pollution of various origins, the overexploitation of juveniles in the coastal strip, non-responsible practices and the use of non-fi shing gearselective, it is imperative to take the necessary measures to protect the marine environment and ensure rational and sustainable exploitation of the resource. (High commission plan 2006 report).

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