Contribution to the knowledge of the Amphipoda (stygobionts) collected from the Meknes aquifer, Morocco

Abstract

Groundwater in the Saïss Basin is an important resource economic and social for the region. They are also the reservoir of an original biological diversity. The subterranean aquatic fauna is to date largely unknown in the Meknes region. It, therefore, represents both a significant part of the national natural heritage and an essential part of the regional natural heritage to be taken into account when conservation measures are considered. Eight wells and two springs were investigated between February 2013 and February 2014. The study was conducted in three localities in the surroundings of Meknes (Meknes, El Hajeb, and Agouray). In fact, Amphipod distribution data is based on unpublished data from my thesis work. Most hypogean taxa are crustaceans, principally the Amphipoda. This research work is a contribution to the knowledge of Amphipoda (stygobionts) collected from the Meknes aquifer. Among the subterranean Amphipoda, species belonging to the genera Metacrangonyx and Pseudoniphargus, which have never been described previously, are limited to a single locality (Agouray), typically found in Wells W4 and W5. In addition, the first record of (Metacrangonyx sp, and Pseudoniphargus sp1 and sp2.) for the stygofauna of the Meknes aquifer was also recorded. These results represent an important contribution to regional biodiversity and finally to complete the inventory of the stygofauna of Morocco.