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Vol. 54, 2015
Biodiversity of Talitridae family (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in some Tunisian coastal lagoons
Raja Jelassi1,*, Hajer Khemaissia1, Martin Zimmer2, Dieter Garbe-Schönberg3,
and Karima Nasri-Ammar1
1Université
de Tunis El Manar II, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Unité de recherche
Bio-Écologie et Systématique Évolutive, Tunis, Tunisie
2FB Organismische Biologie, AG Ökologie, Biodiversität & Evolution der Tiere, Universität Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
3Institut für Geowissenschaften, ICP-MS Labor, Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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.
Key words: Tunisia; Biodiversity; Lagoon; Amphipoda; Talitridae; Heavy metals.
*Correspondence: E-mail: djelassi.raja@gmail.com
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