Composition of a molluscan assemblage associated with macrophytes in Menzel Jemil (Bizerte lagoon, SW Mediterranean Sea)
Zaabar, W.; Zakhama-Sraieb, R.; Charfi-Cheikhrouha, F.; Achouri, M.S. (2018). Composition of a molluscan assemblage associated with macrophytes in Menzel Jemil (Bizerte lagoon, SW Mediterranean Sea). Afr. J. Ecol. 56(3): 537-547. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aje.12490
In: African Journal of Ecology. Wiley: Oxford,. ISSN 0141-6707; e-ISSN 1365-2028, meer
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| Auteurs | | Top |
- Zaabar, W.
- Zakhama-Sraieb, R.
- Charfi-Cheikhrouha, F.
- Achouri, M.S.
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| Abstract |
The molluscan species composition and diversity associated with macrophytes was studied throughout 1 year at Menzel Jemil station (Bizerte lagoon, north-west of Tunisia). A total of 7,539 individuals belonging to 13 species were collected. The molluscan assemblage was mainly composed of gastropods (98.12%, nine species), followed by bivalves (1.88%, four species). Hydrobia acuta ranked first with 49.97% of total abundance, followed by Bittium reticulatum (17.97%), Tritia mutabilis (11.38%), Haminoea navicula (8.98%), Phorcus articulatus (5.17%) and Cerithium vulgatum (3.94%). The large number of juvenile molluscs collected confirms the importance of macroalgae and seagrass for mollusc recruitment. Significant temporal variations of species richness, density and diversity indices of the mollusc assemblage have been observed during the year. Multivariate analyses applied to our data revealed significant relationships between the macrophyte composition and associated molluscan assemblage. The BIOENV analysis indicated that water temperature, phosphates concentration and macrophyte biomass were environmental variables most closely associated with the temporal variation of molluscan assemblage. |
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