Biodiversity of Talitridae family (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in some Tunisian coastal lagoons

Abstract

Background: Although wetlands were remarkable habitats with their fauna and flora diversity, few studies have been devoted to the study of amphipod distribution in this type of environment. To study both qualitatively and quantitatively amphipod community, surveys were conducted during the spring season in ten coastal lagoons ranging from subhumid to arid bioclimatic stage. At each station, eight quadrats of 50 × 50 cm were randomly placed. Amphipods were preserved in alcohol 70°C. In the laboratory, the specimens collected were identified and counted. Meanwhile, analyses of organic matter, particle size, and heavy metals from the soil taken from each station were made. Results: A total of 1,340 specimens of amphipods were collected, and eight species belonging to Talitridae family were identified. Species richness ranges from one species collected in the supralittoral zone of El Bcherliya (Ghar El Melh lagoon) and eight species in the supralittoral zone of Bizerte lagoon. In this last station, the relative abundance of amphipods was significantly higher (36.04%, N = 483). In addition, the diversity indices of Simpson, Shannon-Weaver, and equitability shows that the highest species diversity characterizes this same station while the community was more balanced in opposite El Boughaz (Ghar El Melh lagoon) (J″ = 0.996). Conclusions: The spatial distribution of different amphipod species depends on edaphic (heavy metals, granulometry, organic matter) and climatic (temperature, humidity) factors.

Diversity of terrestrial isopods in the northern Tunisian wetlands

“…In Tunisia, diversity studies of terrestrial isopod communities inhabiting the supralittoral zone of wetlands effectively started with the work of Jelassi, Khemaissia & Nasri‐Ammar (); Jelassi et al . (, ); and Khemaissia et al . (,b).…”

Inventory of the free-living marine nematode species from el Bibane Lagoon (Tunisia)

“…It has a high number of habitats that are of interest from a naturalistic point of view. However, as these habitats are under increasing exploitation, estimates of lagoon biodiversity are urgent (Guelorget et al, 1982;Pergent and Zaouali, 1992;Rabaoui et al, 2014;Jelassi et al, 2015).…”

Biodiversity of Amphipoda Talitridae in Tunisian Wetlands

“…According to Williams [50], the relationship between population movements and trophic preferences does not seem to be a major parameter in the structuring of zonation despite the important mobility of the sandhopper Talitrus saltator, which would induce a greater choice of nutrient sources. Studying the biodiversity of amphipods in some coastal lagoons in Tunisia, Jelassi et al [33] showed that the most important species richness observed in the bank of Bizerte lagoon would be related to the presence of important vegetation in spring as well as…”

“…In Tunisia, amphipod communities inhabiting wetlands bank, other than sandy beaches [21][22][23][31][32][33][34][35] have not received much attention. Through this study, we propose a description as exhaustive as possible of the biodiversity of these communities taking into account geographical, climatic and edaphic specificities.…”