Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
Open Access

Abstract

The lagoon of Oualidia, located on Morocco�s Atlantic coast, is international interest in its diversity and potential shellfish. It is exploited for its natural stocks in coastal resources such as shellfish, fish species, macroalgae. The main purpose of this work is to describe the composition, abundance, diversity and spatial distribution of the benthic fauna in the area and to assess the factors governing this spatial distribution in Oualidia lagoon. The benthic macroinvertebrates of Oualidia lagoon (Moroccan Atlantic coast) was studied during summer 2013. The distribution of the benthic macroinvertebrates species was recorded at 43 stations on the whole of the lagoon. The samples were collected using a Van Veen grab with two samples in each station and each sample had a surface area of 0.0625 m2. The samples were sieved in situ through a 1-mm mesh. The material retained on the mesh was fixed in formaldehyde 10%. Water parameters (salinity and temperature) were recorded at each site. The macroinvertebrates were sorted, identified at the lowest taxonomic level possible and counted. A total of 52 taxa of benthic macroinvertebrates were listed. The molluscs and polychaete dominate qualitatively. Classification analysis used to perform the characterization of the lagoon on the basis of benthic macroinvertebrates showed the existence of three main clusters from downstream to upstream. Hydrodynamic and sediment composition were the major factors affecting the number of species and the biodiversity of benthic communities.

Biography

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