Ecological interpretation of the distribution, morphometry and energetics of a population of Paracomesoma dubium Filipjev, 1918 (Comesomatidae, Nematoda) from Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)
Boufahja, F.; Amorri, J.; Beyrem, H.; Essid, N.; Mahmoudi, E.; Aïssa, P. (2006). Ecological interpretation of the distribution, morphometry and energetics of a population of Paracomesoma dubium Filipjev, 1918 (Comesomatidae, Nematoda) from Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia). Mar. Life 16(1-2): 3-13
In: Marine Life = Vie Marine. Institut Océanographique Paul Ricard: Marseille. ISSN 1168-3430; e-ISSN 2117-7368, more
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| Keywords |
Paracomesoma dubium (Filipjev, 1918) Schuurmans Stekhoven, 1950 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Bizerte Lagoon, Paracomesoma dubium, respiration and production rates, organic matter, metals |
| Authors | | Top |
- Boufahja, F.
- Amorri, J.
- Beyrem, H.
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- Essid, N.
- Mahmoudi, E.
- Aïssa, P.
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| Abstract |
Samples of waters and sediments were collected for biochemical and faunal analyses at five coastal sites in Bizerte lagoon in September 2002. A nematode population of Paracomesoma dubium was selected in order to detect the effect of environmental parameters and pollution on nematode body size and metabolic activity. Sediment properties (organic matter, heavy metals and chlorophyll a) appeared to be directly influenced by grain size composition and waste discharge from the El Fouledh metallurgic plant. The spatial distribution of this dominant nematode species was strongly correlated with the distribution of chlorophyll a, metals, organic matter and hydrocarbons in sediments. The length and volume size spectra were significantly different between most of the stations and the body size was the lowest at the most polluted station (MB). Increase in body volume of adults resulted more from width increase than length increase in contaminated clay sediments. Increase of mean grain size appeared to advantage larger organisms, having larger body size and higher respiration rate. |
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