Fish assemblages of the Marchica lagoon (Mediterranean, Morocco): Spatial patterns and environmental drivers

The black gobyGobius nigerLinnaeus, 1758 in the Marchica lagoon (Alboran Sea, Morocco): Spatial-temporal distribution and its environmental drivers, and the site-related footprint

“…Overall, according to our results, depth and temperature are important predictors explaining the distribution of G. niger in the lagoon, with depth being the most contributing variable. This is in accordance with the distribution patterns of fish assemblages in the Marchica lagoon where a spatial gradient in the bentho-demersal component of the fish assemblage structure was observed, with more marine species occurring near the sea inlet and more resident species in the lagoon inner margins (Selfati et al ., 2019). Moreover, depth is a key factor for understanding the structure of fish assemblages in the Marchica lagoon, but has to be seen as a variable that acts in concert with other factors such as vegetation cover, pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen for bentho-demersal fish, and salinity and suspended matter for pelagic fish (Selfati et al .…”

“…Their presence and abundance may provide important indications on the conservation status of coastal lagoon habitats (Facca et al ., 2020). Assuming that the black goby G. niger , the most representative species of gobies in the Marchica lagoon, is considered as sedentary fish in coastal lagoons (Franco et al , 2008a, 2008b, 2012; Kara & Quignard, 2019; Selfati et al ., 2019) and that the species has its counterparts along the adjacent Mediterranean coast of Morocco, our study aims to (1) establish the spatial and temporal distribution of G. niger and its environmental drivers using a systematic sampling covering the whole lagoon basin, and (2) examine the potential lagoon-related footprint i . e .…”

“…Their presence and abundance may provide important indications on the conservation status of coastal lagoon habitats (Facca et al, 2020). Considering that the black goby G. niger is the most common species of gobies in the Marchica lagoon, that it is a resident fish in coastal lagoons (Franco et al, 2008a(Franco et al, , 2008b(Franco et al, , 2012Kara & Quignard, 2019;Selfati et al, 2019) and that its lagoon population has its counterparts of the same species along the adjacent Mediterranean coast of Morocco, our study aims to (1) analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of G. niger and its environmental drivers using a systematic sampling covering the whole lagoon basin, and (2) examine the potential lagoon-related footprint i.e. whether the supposed sedentary population of the black goby in the Marchica lagoon differs from black gobies from the adjacent Mediterranean coast of Morocco considering morphometric, genetic and parasitological proxies.…”

Seasonal and Spatial Patterns of Ecotoxicological Indices of Trace Elements in Superficial Sediments of the Marchica Lagoon Following Restoration Actions during the Last Decade

“…The Marchica Lagoon, a unique coastal lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, and the second largest in North Africa, is an example of these vulnerable ecosystems. Besides its ecological value as a Ramsar site and socioeconomic services [21][22][23][24], the lagoon and its immediate surroundings have been undergoing major socioeconomic changes (tourism projects, construction of marinas, etc.). The strong urbanization of its shoreline has caused disturbances of various kinds, such as pollution and loss of habitat, which have had repercussions on the ecological values of the ecosystem.…”

Updated and comprehensive checklist of the fish fauna of the Marchica Lagoon (Alboran Sea, Morocco), following hydraulogical intervention

“…(Elliott and Dewailly, 1995; Garcia Charton and Perez Ruzafa, 2001, 2004;Franco et al, 2008aFranco et al, , 2008bFranco et al, , 2012Selfati et al, 2019 ), with additions and adjustments for species not listed in those papers and accounting for specific fish use and adaptations in the lagoon of Marchica (based on local knowledge from monthly monitoring conducted between October 2015 and September 2016). Available information on the trophic level was also used as obtained from Fishbase (Froese and Pauly, 2016).Fish data prior to the opening of the new inlet(before 2011; 1908-2010) correspond to four inventories.…”