The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was ... more The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was subject to various restoration actions in 2011 aiming at enhancing its biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, benthic macrofauna was investigated (28 stations sampled seasonally in 2015) to assess the functioning on the lagoon after these restorations actions. The ultimate aim was to investigate the spatial and seasonal variation of the benthic macrofauna, the environmental drivers, and the potential effects of the recent bioinvasions. Overall, 131 taxa were identified among which two non-indigenous species (NIS) were recorded: Caprella scaura and Paracerceis sculpta. Multivariate analysis of abundances (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) allowed the identification of three main groups of stations totalizing seven macrofaunal assemblages. The species which are dominant and/or discriminate each assemblage are Cymodoce truncata, Elasmopus rapax, Ericthonius brasiliensis, Gammarus insensibilis, Heteromastus sp., Aonides oxycephala, Nereis sp., Loripes orbiculatus, P. sculpta and C. scaura. The macrofaunal assemblage composition are subject to seasonal changes, supported by significant differences in several univariate measures, including total number of individuals, number of taxa, and Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index. Furthermore, the Marchica lagoon showed high values of macrofaunal species richness further supporting the idea that the restoration measures had positive consequences. The distribution of the macrobenthic fauna in the study area was affected by a complex of various factors, with depth, temperature, salinity, sediment characteristics and vegetation biomass being the most important predictor variables. Macrofaunal assemblages significantly correlated with environmental variables; and exhibited a “High” to “Good” status in terms of the impact of alien species according to the Alien Biotic Index. However, the high abundance of NIS detected suggests caution about their impact and further spread.
This study presents an assessment of the diversity and spatial distribution of benthic macrofauna... more This study presents an assessment of the diversity and spatial distribution of benthic macrofauna communities along the Moulay Bousselham lagoon and discusses the environmental factors contributing to observed patterns. In the autumn of 2018, 68 stations were sampled with three replicates per station in subtidal and intertidal areas. Environmental conditions showed that the range of water temperature was from 25.0 °C to 12.3 °C, the salinity varied between 38.7 and 3.7, while the average of pH values fluctuated between 7.3 and 8.0. In vegetated habitats, biomass values of the seagrass Zostera noltei Hornemann ranged between 31.7 gDW/m² and 170.2 gDW/m² while the biomass of the seagrass Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande between 54.2 gDW/m² and 84.7 gDW/m². Sediment analyses showed that the lagoon is mainly composed of sandy and silty sediments. We recorded 37,165 individuals of macrofauna distributed in 63 taxa belonging to 50 families, with a mean abundance value of 4582.8 ind/m² and...
Large-scale research on seagrass-associated benthic fauna is very important for future regional m... more Large-scale research on seagrass-associated benthic fauna is very important for future regional marine conservation. In our study, we investigated spatial and latitudinal variation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages associated to Zostera noltei Hornemann, 1832 beds from five semi-enclosed coastal systems (SECSs) ranging from 23°N to 34°N along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Overall, 17,320 individuals were reported as belonging to 96 taxa. The ecological community descriptors differ significantly at the level of the site. Specific richness showed an inconsistent significant pattern with latitude. The multivariate analyses of the assemblage’s composition showed 57% of total variation observed in benthic assemblages, while the PERMANOVA analysis confirmed that this variation is significant at the level of the site. According to DistLM results, variations in belowground biomass, and percentage of mud, were the important predictor variables explaining this variation along the larg...
The influence of seagrass on benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated in four semi-enclosed co... more The influence of seagrass on benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated in four semi-enclosed coastal systems in Morocco. Biological and environmental variables were examined in vegetated and bare habitats at four selected sites in two seasons (winter and summer). A total of 28,687 individuals were reported as belonging to 69 taxa. Species richness increased significantly with latitudinal gradient. Macrofaunal biomass varied significantly across sites and had a significant positive relationship with the presence of seagrass in both summer and winter. The DIMO model indicated that the variations in macrobenthic faunal structure were mainly due to the existence of the Zostera noltei; PERMANOVA analysis detected that faunal assemblages shifted within the site and that their variation was enhanced with latitude, in both seasons. A seasonal cause for the spread of macrofauna at all the study sites may be the type of habitat. Distance-based linear models (DistLM) revealed that sediment characteristics (carbon and calcium carbonate concentrations and clay percentage) are the main predictor variables that explain the composition of the macrobenthic faunal assemblage. This study proposes a general model for evaluating spatial distribution patterns at various levels within seagrass-dominated coastal lagoons.
The Marchica lagoon is the single lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Beside its ecolog... more The Marchica lagoon is the single lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Beside its ecological and socio-economic values, the lagoon is under pressure of a complex mixture of human-mediated stressors (urbanization, pollution, overfishing, tourism, etc.). Nowadays, many institutional efforts have been undertaken to establish a sustainable management plan of the lagoon in the context of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach. Thus, understanding how these stressors impact upon ecological status and ecosystem services is a sound step for any efficient integral management. Based on sampling performed on June 2014, the present work aimed at assessing the ecological quality status (ES) of the northern part of the lagoon using Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson meadows and benthic macrofauna. 16 stations (11 with C. nodosa and 5 on bare sediment) were sampled using a Van Veen grab. Preliminary results showed differences between stations. Shoots biomass fluctuated betw...
Seagrass meadows exist in most shallow, sheltered, soft-bottomed marine coastlines and estuaries ... more Seagrass meadows exist in most shallow, sheltered, soft-bottomed marine coastlines and estuaries throughout the world and rank among the most productive systems in the ocean. Zostera noltei Hornemann is a small seagrass largely widespread in intertidal areas of Western Europe and North-West Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and in the Black Sea. In Morocco, intertidal Zostera noltei meadows were identified at six coastal ecosystems across c.a. 2500 km of its Atlantic coast (Tahaddart estuary, Moulay Bousselham, Sidi Moussa, Oualidia, Khnifiss lagoons and Dakhla Bay). The present work aimed at assessing the spatial and latitudinal variation of Z. noltei meadows by measuring the density of shoots, leaf biomass, root-rhizome biomass, number of leaf /shoot and the average length and width of leafs. Samples were conducted between December 2014 and January 2015, using a hand PVC corer (12.5 of diameter). When possible, a downstream and upstream comparison is performed in each site. Density of...
The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was ... more The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was subject to various restoration actions in 2011 aiming at enhancing its biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, benthic macrofauna was investigated (28 stations sampled seasonally in 2015) to assess the functioning on the lagoon after these restorations actions. The ultimate aim was to investigate the spatial and seasonal variation of the benthic macrofauna, the environmental drivers, and the potential effects of the recent bioinvasions. Overall, 131 taxa were identified among which two non-indigenous species (NIS) were recorded: Caprella scaura and Paracerceis sculpta. Multivariate analysis of abundances (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) allowed the identification of three main groups of stations totalizing seven macrofaunal assemblages. The species which are dominant and/or discriminate each assemblage are Cymodoce truncata, Elasmopus rapax, Ericthonius brasiliensis, Gammarus insensibilis, Heteromastus sp., Aonides oxycephala, Nereis sp., Loripes orbiculatus, P. sculpta and C. scaura. The macrofaunal assemblage composition are subject to seasonal changes, supported by significant differences in several univariate measures, including total number of individuals, number of taxa, and Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index. Furthermore, the Marchica lagoon showed high values of macrofaunal species richness further supporting the idea that the restoration measures had positive consequences. The distribution of the macrobenthic fauna in the study area was affected by a complex of various factors, with depth, temperature, salinity, sediment characteristics and vegetation biomass being the most important predictor variables. Macrofaunal assemblages significantly correlated with environmental variables; and exhibited a “High” to “Good” status in terms of the impact of alien species according to the Alien Biotic Index. However, the high abundance of NIS detected suggests caution about their impact and further spread.
The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was ... more The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was subject to various restoration actions in 2011 aiming at enhancing its biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, benthic macrofauna was investigated (28 stations sampled seasonally in 2015) to assess the functioning on the lagoon after these restorations actions. The ultimate aim was to investigate the spatial and seasonal variation of the benthic macrofauna, the environmental drivers, and the potential effects of the recent bioinvasions. Overall, 131 taxa were identified among which two non-indigenous species (NIS) were recorded: Caprella scaura and Paracerceis sculpta. Multivariate analysis of abundances (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) allowed the identification of three main groups of stations totalizing seven macrofaunal assemblages. The species which are dominant and/or discriminate each assemblage are Cymodoce truncata, Elasmopus rapax, Ericthonius brasiliensis, Gammarus insensibilis, Heteromastus sp., Aonides oxycephala, Nereis sp., Loripes orbiculatus, P. sculpta and C. scaura. The macrofaunal assemblage composition are subject to seasonal changes, supported by significant differences in several univariate measures, including total number of individuals, number of taxa, and Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index. Furthermore, the Marchica lagoon showed high values of macrofaunal species richness further supporting the idea that the restoration measures had positive consequences. The distribution of the macrobenthic fauna in the study area was affected by a complex of various factors, with depth, temperature, salinity, sediment characteristics and vegetation biomass being the most important predictor variables. Macrofaunal assemblages significantly correlated with environmental variables; and exhibited a “High” to “Good” status in terms of the impact of alien species according to the Alien Biotic Index. However, the high abundance of NIS detected suggests caution about their impact and further spread.
This study presents an assessment of the diversity and spatial distribution of benthic macrofauna... more This study presents an assessment of the diversity and spatial distribution of benthic macrofauna communities along the Moulay Bousselham lagoon and discusses the environmental factors contributing to observed patterns. In the autumn of 2018, 68 stations were sampled with three replicates per station in subtidal and intertidal areas. Environmental conditions showed that the range of water temperature was from 25.0 °C to 12.3 °C, the salinity varied between 38.7 and 3.7, while the average of pH values fluctuated between 7.3 and 8.0. In vegetated habitats, biomass values of the seagrass Zostera noltei Hornemann ranged between 31.7 gDW/m² and 170.2 gDW/m² while the biomass of the seagrass Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande between 54.2 gDW/m² and 84.7 gDW/m². Sediment analyses showed that the lagoon is mainly composed of sandy and silty sediments. We recorded 37,165 individuals of macrofauna distributed in 63 taxa belonging to 50 families, with a mean abundance value of 4582.8 ind/m² and...
Large-scale research on seagrass-associated benthic fauna is very important for future regional m... more Large-scale research on seagrass-associated benthic fauna is very important for future regional marine conservation. In our study, we investigated spatial and latitudinal variation of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages associated to Zostera noltei Hornemann, 1832 beds from five semi-enclosed coastal systems (SECSs) ranging from 23°N to 34°N along the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Overall, 17,320 individuals were reported as belonging to 96 taxa. The ecological community descriptors differ significantly at the level of the site. Specific richness showed an inconsistent significant pattern with latitude. The multivariate analyses of the assemblage’s composition showed 57% of total variation observed in benthic assemblages, while the PERMANOVA analysis confirmed that this variation is significant at the level of the site. According to DistLM results, variations in belowground biomass, and percentage of mud, were the important predictor variables explaining this variation along the larg...
The influence of seagrass on benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated in four semi-enclosed co... more The influence of seagrass on benthic macroinvertebrates was investigated in four semi-enclosed coastal systems in Morocco. Biological and environmental variables were examined in vegetated and bare habitats at four selected sites in two seasons (winter and summer). A total of 28,687 individuals were reported as belonging to 69 taxa. Species richness increased significantly with latitudinal gradient. Macrofaunal biomass varied significantly across sites and had a significant positive relationship with the presence of seagrass in both summer and winter. The DIMO model indicated that the variations in macrobenthic faunal structure were mainly due to the existence of the Zostera noltei; PERMANOVA analysis detected that faunal assemblages shifted within the site and that their variation was enhanced with latitude, in both seasons. A seasonal cause for the spread of macrofauna at all the study sites may be the type of habitat. Distance-based linear models (DistLM) revealed that sediment characteristics (carbon and calcium carbonate concentrations and clay percentage) are the main predictor variables that explain the composition of the macrobenthic faunal assemblage. This study proposes a general model for evaluating spatial distribution patterns at various levels within seagrass-dominated coastal lagoons.
The Marchica lagoon is the single lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Beside its ecolog... more The Marchica lagoon is the single lagoon on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Beside its ecological and socio-economic values, the lagoon is under pressure of a complex mixture of human-mediated stressors (urbanization, pollution, overfishing, tourism, etc.). Nowadays, many institutional efforts have been undertaken to establish a sustainable management plan of the lagoon in the context of an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach. Thus, understanding how these stressors impact upon ecological status and ecosystem services is a sound step for any efficient integral management. Based on sampling performed on June 2014, the present work aimed at assessing the ecological quality status (ES) of the northern part of the lagoon using Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson meadows and benthic macrofauna. 16 stations (11 with C. nodosa and 5 on bare sediment) were sampled using a Van Veen grab. Preliminary results showed differences between stations. Shoots biomass fluctuated betw...
Seagrass meadows exist in most shallow, sheltered, soft-bottomed marine coastlines and estuaries ... more Seagrass meadows exist in most shallow, sheltered, soft-bottomed marine coastlines and estuaries throughout the world and rank among the most productive systems in the ocean. Zostera noltei Hornemann is a small seagrass largely widespread in intertidal areas of Western Europe and North-West Africa, the Mediterranean Sea and in the Black Sea. In Morocco, intertidal Zostera noltei meadows were identified at six coastal ecosystems across c.a. 2500 km of its Atlantic coast (Tahaddart estuary, Moulay Bousselham, Sidi Moussa, Oualidia, Khnifiss lagoons and Dakhla Bay). The present work aimed at assessing the spatial and latitudinal variation of Z. noltei meadows by measuring the density of shoots, leaf biomass, root-rhizome biomass, number of leaf /shoot and the average length and width of leafs. Samples were conducted between December 2014 and January 2015, using a hand PVC corer (12.5 of diameter). When possible, a downstream and upstream comparison is performed in each site. Density of...
The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was ... more The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Alboran Sea), one of the largest lagoons in the Mediterranean, was subject to various restoration actions in 2011 aiming at enhancing its biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here, benthic macrofauna was investigated (28 stations sampled seasonally in 2015) to assess the functioning on the lagoon after these restorations actions. The ultimate aim was to investigate the spatial and seasonal variation of the benthic macrofauna, the environmental drivers, and the potential effects of the recent bioinvasions. Overall, 131 taxa were identified among which two non-indigenous species (NIS) were recorded: Caprella scaura and Paracerceis sculpta. Multivariate analysis of abundances (cluster analysis and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling) allowed the identification of three main groups of stations totalizing seven macrofaunal assemblages. The species which are dominant and/or discriminate each assemblage are Cymodoce truncata, Elasmopus rapax, Ericthonius brasiliensis, Gammarus insensibilis, Heteromastus sp., Aonides oxycephala, Nereis sp., Loripes orbiculatus, P. sculpta and C. scaura. The macrofaunal assemblage composition are subject to seasonal changes, supported by significant differences in several univariate measures, including total number of individuals, number of taxa, and Shannon–Wiener’s diversity index. Furthermore, the Marchica lagoon showed high values of macrofaunal species richness further supporting the idea that the restoration measures had positive consequences. The distribution of the macrobenthic fauna in the study area was affected by a complex of various factors, with depth, temperature, salinity, sediment characteristics and vegetation biomass being the most important predictor variables. Macrofaunal assemblages significantly correlated with environmental variables; and exhibited a “High” to “Good” status in terms of the impact of alien species according to the Alien Biotic Index. However, the high abundance of NIS detected suggests caution about their impact and further spread.
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Papers by Oussama Bououarour