Macrobenthic fauna of soft-bottom in the eastern sector of the Gulf of Oran (western Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

Ahmed Kerfouf, Habib Meliani, Patricio R. de los Ríos-Escalante, Kamel Belhadj Tahar, Denis Françoise

ORCID IDs: A.K. 0000-0002-4466-1201; H.M. 0000-0002-7051-6059; P.D.L.R. 0000-0001-5056-7003; K.B.T. 0000-0002-0711-9296; F.D. 0000-0002-0006-8238

Laboratory of Eco-development of Space, University of Djillali Liabes, Sidi Bel Abbès, 22000, ALGERIA
Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Químicas, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Casilla 15-D, Temuco, CHILE
Núcleo de Estudios Ambientales UC Temuco, CHILE
Le Mans University- Laboratory BOREA MNHN, CNRS 8067, SU, IRD 207, UCN, UA- Concarneau, FRANCE

Abstract

Research of benthic macrofauna of the Algerian west coasts is generally rare and mainly concerns a single species. The present work created an inventory of the macrobenthos explaining their distribution in the eastern sector of the Gulf of Oran. A total of 506 individuals sampled at 14 sites in winter 2019 were identified as four main taxa (279 polychaetes, 154 crustaceans, 41 echinoderms, and 32 molluscs). The taxonomic analysis made it possible to inventory 112 species (25 polychaetes, 61 crustaceans, 18 molluscs and 8 echinoderms). Polychaetes were dominant in all stations. Four bio-sedimentary facies (sand, sanded gravel, graveled sand and gravel) were identified by Ascending Hierarchical Classification, diversity indices, and sedimentary analysis and the zoological and ecological characteristics of the main soft-bottom communities of the study area were described.

Keywords: Macrofauna, macrobenthos, softbottom, sedimentary facies, Gulf of Oran, western Algeria

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