Contribution to the study of the biodiversity of benthic invertebrates and the biological quality of some rivers in the watershed boumerzoug (east of Algeria)

The composition of invertebrate communities colonizing the bottom of rivers, called for this reason benthic macro invertebrates, allows characterizing the biological quality of river water.This study focuses on benthic macrofauna of oued Boumerzoug and its two tributaries: Oued El Guareh and Oued Segus. Eleven (11) stations were prospecting object, between December 2014 and April 2015.The six sampling campaigns have identified a faunal population consisted of 7364 individuals, distributed in 106 taxa, with predominance of Diptera and the lack of sensitive polluo- elements (plécoptères). The results of analysis by method " IBGN " reveal poor hydro biological quality in the stations (G1, G2, G3, S1, S2, S3, S4, B1) and bad qualities for stations (B2, B3, B4).Key words: Benthic macro-invertebrates ; Bio- indicators ; Pollution ; IBGN ; Quality

Exotic ants from the Maghreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with first report of the hairy alien ant Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) in Algeria

Exotic ants from the Maghreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) with first report of the Hairy Alien Ant Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) in Algeria.- We compiled 16 exotic ant species found in the Maghreb in wild ecosystems, gardens and urban areas. Five of these introduced species are considered major ecological and agricultural household pest species that have become established above all in Morocco. During our investigation in a citrus orchard of ITMAS Heuraoua, Algiers, we detected two exotic ants, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) and Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, plus nine native ant species. The Formicinae ant N. jaegerskioeldi is recorded for the first time in Algeria, taking the number of exotic ants in the country to 11. This is the fourth known record in North Africa. A brief comparison between the exotic ant fauna of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and neighboring countries highlights the need to improve the limited knowledge of ants in North Africa.Hormigas exóticas del Magreb (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) con primer registro de la hormiga velluda alóctona Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) en Argelia. Documentamos 16 especies exóticas de hormigas distribuidas en ecosistemas naturales, jardines y áreas urbanas del Magreb. Cinco de las especies introducidas y establecidas constituyen plagas importantes desde los puntos de vista ecológico, agrícola y doméstico, especialmente en Marruecos. Durante nuestra investigación en una huerta de cítricos de ITMAS Heuraoua, Argel, registramos dos hormigas exóticas, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) y Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, así como nueve especies de hormigas autóctonas. La hormiga N. jaegerskioeldi, de la subfamilia Formicinae, fue registrada por primera vez en Argelia, lo que eleva a 11 el número de hormigas exóticas presentes en el país. Este es el cuarto registro conocido en el Norte de África. Una breve comparación entre la fauna de hormigas exóticas de Argelia, Marruecos, Túnez y países vecinos pone de relieve la necesidad de mejorar el limitado conocimiento sobre las hormigas en el Norte de África.Formigues exòtiques del Magrib (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) amb primer registre de la formiga peluda al·lòctona Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr) a Algèria. Documentem 16 espècies exòtiques de formigues distribuïdes en ecosistemes naturals, jardins i àrees urbanes del Magrib. Cinc de les espècies introduïdes i establertes constitueixen plagues importants des dels punts de vista ecològic, agrícola i domèstic, especialment al Marroc. Durant la nostra recerca en una horta de cítrics d'ITMAS Heuraoua, Alger, vam registrar dues formigues exòtiques, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi (Mayr, 1904) i Strumigenys membranifera Emery, 1869, així com nou espècies de formigues autòctones. La formiga N. jaegerskioeldi, de la subfamília Formicinae, va ser registrada per primera vegada a Algèria, cosa que eleva fins a 11 el nombre de formigues exòtiques presents al país. Aquest és el quart registre conegut al Nord d'Àfrica. Una breu comparació entre la fauna de formigues exòtiques d'Algèria, el Marroc, Tunísia i els països veïns posa en relleu la necessitat de millorar el limitat coneixement sobre les formigues al Nord d'Àfrica

The richness and diversity of Lepidoptera species in different habitats of the national Park Theniet El Had (Algeria)

The diversity of Lepidoptera in several habitats of the National Park Theniet El Had (P.N.T.E.H.) was studied during twelve months of the years 2015 and 2016 in several habitats and totalising 851 specimens belonging to 17 families, 9 super families and 60 species. Among these 31 butterflies and 35 moths were recorded. the clairière (grass fields) turned out to be the most species-rich with 54 species, followed by cédraie with 39 species, the yeusaie with 33 species, the suberaie with 30 species, the zénaie with 29 species and finally the pinaie with only 22 species. The family Nymphalidae was the most dominant one in the parc with 32.48%. The diversity index (H’ and H’max) and the equitability (E) calculated for the 6 types of habitats is H’= 2,74 bits, H’max = 4,09 bits and E = 0,67 bits, meaning that the Lepidoptera species are at equilibrium with the different types of habitat which were studied.Keywords: National Park; Theniet El Had; Lepidoptera; Rhopalocera; Heterocera; Diversity (H’); Equitability (E

Contribution to the knowledge of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) of Biskra, Algeria

Contribución al conocimiento de los Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) de Biskra, Argelia Este trabajo aporta una lista de avispas Chalcidoideas recolectadas en la región de Biskra, en el suroeste de Argelia, en 2017. Consta de un total de 35 individuos clasificados en 17 especies de Chalcidoideos pertenecientes a ocho familias e incluye cinco géneros registrados por primera vez en Argelia. Aphelinus asychis Walker, 1839 (Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae) y Pachyneuron groenlandicum Holmgren, 1872 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) son asimismo nuevos registros en Argelia. Se consignan brevemente los datos bilógicos y la distribución geográfica de cada especie. Datos publicados en GBIF (doi: 10.15470/jx3ahv)We provide here a list of Chalcidoid wasps collected from the region of Biskra in the south east of Algeria in 2017. The list is comprised of 35 individuals classified into 17 species belonging to eight families. Five genera are reported for the first time from Algeria. Aphelinus asychis Walker, 1839 (Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae) and Pachyneuron groenlandicum Holmgren, 1872 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) are new records from Algeria. Biological data and geographical distributions of each species are mentioned. Data published in GBIF (doi: 10.15470/jx3ahv)Contribució al coneixement dels Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) de Biskra, Algèria Aquest treball aporta una llista de vespes Chalcidoidees recol·lectades a la regió de Biskra, al sud-oest d’Algèria, el 2017. Consta d’un total de 35 individus classificats en 17 espècies de Chalcidoideus pertanyents a vuit famílies i inclou cinc gèneres registrats per primera vegada a Algèria. Aphelinus asychis Walker, 1839 (Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae) i Pachyneuron groenlandicum Holmgren, 1872 (Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) també són nous registres a Algèria. Es consignen breument les dades biològiques i la distribució geogràfica de cada espècie. Dades publicades a GBIF (doi: 10.15470/jx3ahv

Increasing Protein at the Expense of Carbohydrate in the Diet Down-Regulates Glucose Utilization as Glucose Sparing Effect in Rats

High protein (HP) diet could serve as a good strategy against obesity, provoking the changes in energy metabolic pathways. However, those modifications differ during a dietary adaptation. To better understand the mechanisms involved in effect of high protein diet (HP) on limiting adiposity in rats we studied in parallel the gene expression of enzymes involved in protein and energy metabolism and the profiles of nutrients oxidation. Eighty male Wistar rats were fed a normal protein diet (NP, 14% of protein) for one week, then either maintained on NP diet or assigned to a HP diet (50% of protein) for 1, 3, 6 and 14 days. mRNA levels of genes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism were measured in liver, adipose tissues, kidney and muscles by real time PCR. Energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation were measured by indirect calorimetry. Liver glycogen and plasma glucose and hormones were assayed. In liver, HP feeding 1) decreased mRNA encoding glycolysis enzymes (GK, L-PK) and lipogenesis enzymes(ACC, FAS), 2) increased mRNA encoding gluconeogenesis enzymes (PEPCK), 3) first lowered, then restored mRNA encoding glycogen synthesis enzyme (GS), 4) did not change mRNA encoding β-oxidation enzymes (CPT1, ACOX1, βHAD). Few changes were seen in other organs. In parallel, indirect calorimetry confirmed that following HP feeding, glucose oxidation was reduced and fat oxidation was stable, except during the 1st day of adaptation where lipid oxidation was increased. Finally, this study showed that plasma insulin was lowered and hepatic glucose uptake was decreased. Taken together, these results demonstrate that following HP feeding, CHO utilization was increased above the increase in carbohydrate intake while lipogenesis was decreased thus giving a potential explanation for the fat lowering effect of HP diets

Insulin resistance, lipotoxicity, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis: the missing links. The Claude Bernard Lecture 2009

Insulin resistance is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with a metabolic and cardiovascular cluster of disorders (dyslipidaemia, hypertension, obesity [especially visceral], glucose intolerance, endothelial dysfunction), each of which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Multiple prospective studies have documented an association between insulin resistance and accelerated CVD in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as in non-diabetic individuals. The molecular causes of insulin resistance, i.e. impaired insulin signalling through the phosphoinositol-3 kinase pathway with intact signalling through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, are responsible for the impairment in insulin-stimulated glucose metabolism and contribute to the accelerated rate of CVD in type 2 diabetes patients. The current epidemic of diabetes is being driven by the obesity epidemic, which represents a state of tissue fat overload. Accumulation of toxic lipid metabolites (fatty acyl CoA, diacylglycerol, ceramide) in muscle, liver, adipocytes, beta cells and arterial tissues contributes to insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerosis, respectively, in type 2 diabetes. Treatment with thiazolidinediones mobilises fat out of tissues, leading to enhanced insulin sensitivity, improved beta cell function and decreased atherogenesis. Insulin resistance and lipotoxicity represent the missing links (beyond the classical cardiovascular risk factors) that help explain the accelerated rate of CVD in type 2 diabetic patients

AMP-activated protein kinase and hepatic genes involved in glucose metabolism.

International audienceMammalian AMP-activated protein kinase presents strong structural and functional similarities with the yeast sucrose non-fermenting 1 (Snf1) kinase involved in the derepression of glucose-repressed genes. It is now clearly established that AMP-activated protein kinase in the liver decreases glycolytic/lipogenic gene expression as well as genes involved in hepatic glucose production. This is achieved through a decreased transcriptional efficiency of transcription factors such as sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-1c, carbohydrate-response-element-binding protein, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha or forkhead-related protein. Clearly, the long-term consequences of AMP-activated protein kinase activation have to be taken into account if activators of this enzyme are to be designed as anti-diabetic drugs

Diversity of beetles associated with watermelon crops Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mats. in the region of Ouargla (southern Algeria)

We studied the diversity of beetle families in watermelon fields in the palm grove of Zaatote at Ouargla (34º 54' N, 5º 20' E). The sampling method used was Barber pots as they allowed the largest number of captures of insects, regarding both individuals and species. Over the three years of the study (2016, 2017 and 2018), we identified 787 individuals from 12 taxonomic families. Throughout the sampling period, the Coccinellidae family was clearly dominant, with an Fc = 35.02 % in 2016, 36.2 % in 2017 and 34.34 % in 2018. The second most dominant family was Tenebrionidae with an Fc = 26.35 % in 2016, 30.04 % in 2017, and 33.33 % in 2018. Other families were poorly represented. In 2016, regarding their trophism, 18 species of beetles (30.91 %) were phytophagous and feed on the watermelon crop, while 26 species were predatory and decomposing auxiliaries.Se estudió la diversidad de familias de coleópteros en campos de cultivo de sandía situados en el palmeral de Zaatote (Ouargla) (34º 54' N,5º 20' E). El método de muestreo utilizado fueron botes de Barber, que permitieron el mayornúmero de capturas de insectos, tanto por lo que respecta a individuos como a especies.Durante los tres años del estudio (2016, 2017 y 2018) se identificaron 787 individuos pertenecientesa 12 familias taxonómicas. En todo el periodo de muestreo, la familia Coccinellidaefue claramente dominante con Fc = 35,02 % en 2016, 36,2 % en 2017 y 34,34 % en 2018,seguida de la familia Tenebrionidae con Fc = 26,35 % en 2016, 30,04 % en 2017 y 33,33 %en 2018. Las demás familias estaban muy poco representadas. En 2016, según su trofismo,18 especies de coleópteros (30,91 %) eran fitófagas y se alimentaban de los cultivosde sandía, mientras que 26 especies eran depredadoras y descomponedoras auxiliares.S'ha estudiat la diversitat de families de coleòpters encamps de síndria al palmeral de Zaatote a Ouargla (34º 54' N, 5º 20' E). El mètode demostreig aplicat va ser amb pots de Barber que van permetre el major nombre de capturesd'insectes, tant en individus com en espècies. Durant els tres anys d'estudi (2016, 2017 i2018), es van identificar 787 individus pertanyents a 12 famílies taxonòmiques. Durant tot elperíode de mostreig, la família Coccinellidae va ser clarament dominant amb Fc = 35,02 %el 2016, 36,2 % el 2017 i 34,34 % el 2018. En segona posició, la família Tenebrionidae ambel Fc = 26,35 % el 2016, el 30,04 % el 2017 i 33,33 % el 2018. La resta de famílies estavenmolt poc representades. En 2016, en funció del seu trofisme, 18 espècies de coleópters(30,91 %) eren fitòfagues i s'alimentaven dels cultius de sindria, mentre que 26 espècieseren depredadores i descomponedores auxiliars

Diversity of beetles associated with watermelon crops Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Mats. in the region of Ouargla (southern Algeria)

We studied the diversity of beetle families in watermelon fields in the palm grove of Zaatote at Ouargla (34º 54' N, 5º 20' E). The sampling method used was Barber pots as they allowed the largest number of captures of insects, regarding both individuals and species. Over the three years of the study (2016, 2017 and 2018), we identified 787 individuals from 12 taxonomic families. Throughout the sampling period, the Coccinellidae family was clearly dominant, with an Fc = 35.02 % in 2016, 36.2 % in 2017 and 34.34 % in 2018. The second most dominant family was Tenebrionidae with an Fc = 26.35 % in 2016, 30.04 % in 2017, and 33.33 % in 2018. Other families were poorly represented. In 2016, regarding their trophism, 18 species of beetles (30.91 %) were phytophagous and feed on the watermelon crop, while 26 species were predatory and decomposing auxiliaries.Se estudió la diversidad de familias de coleópteros en campos de cultivo de sandía situados en el palmeral de Zaatote (Ouargla) (34º 54' N,5º 20' E). El método de muestreo utilizado fueron botes de Barber, que permitieron el mayornúmero de capturas de insectos, tanto por lo que respecta a individuos como a especies.Durante los tres años del estudio (2016, 2017 y 2018) se identificaron 787 individuos pertenecientesa 12 familias taxonómicas. En todo el periodo de muestreo, la familia Coccinellidaefue claramente dominante con Fc = 35,02 % en 2016, 36,2 % en 2017 y 34,34 % en 2018,seguida de la familia Tenebrionidae con Fc = 26,35 % en 2016, 30,04 % en 2017 y 33,33 %en 2018. Las demás familias estaban muy poco representadas. En 2016, según su trofismo,18 especies de coleópteros (30,91 %) eran fitófagas y se alimentaban de los cultivosde sandía, mientras que 26 especies eran depredadoras y descomponedoras auxiliares.S'ha estudiat la diversitat de families de coleòpters encamps de síndria al palmeral de Zaatote a Ouargla (34º 54' N, 5º 20' E). El mètode demostreig aplicat va ser amb pots de Barber que van permetre el major nombre de capturesd'insectes, tant en individus com en espècies. Durant els tres anys d'estudi (2016, 2017 i2018), es van identificar 787 individus pertanyents a 12 famílies taxonòmiques. Durant tot elperíode de mostreig, la família Coccinellidae va ser clarament dominant amb Fc = 35,02 %el 2016, 36,2 % el 2017 i 34,34 % el 2018. En segona posició, la família Tenebrionidae ambel Fc = 26,35 % el 2016, el 30,04 % el 2017 i 33,33 % el 2018. La resta de famílies estavenmolt poc representades. En 2016, en funció del seu trofisme, 18 espècies de coleópters(30,91 %) eren fitòfagues i s'alimentaven dels cultius de sindria, mentre que 26 espècieseren depredadores i descomponedores auxiliars