Phylotranscriptomics interrogation uncovers a complex evolutionary history for the planarian genus Dugesia (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) in the Western Mediterranean

The Mediterranean is one of the most biodiverse areas of the Paleartic region. Here, basing on large data sets of single copy orthologs obtained from transcriptomic data, we investigated the evolutionary history of the genus Dugesia in the Western Mediterranean area. The results corroborated that the complex paleogeological history of the region was an important driver of diversification for the genus, speciating as microplates and islands were forming. These processes led to the differentiation of three main biogeographic clades: Iberia-Apennines-Alps, Corsica-Sardinia, and Iberia-Africa. The internal relationships of these major clades were analysed with several representative samples per species. The use of large data sets regarding the number of loci and samples, as well as state-of-the-art phylogenomic inference methods allowed us to answer different unresolved questions about the evolution of particular groups, such as the diversification path of D. subtentaculata in the Iberian Peninsula and its colonization of Africa. Additionally, our results support the differentiation of D. benazzii in two lineages which could represent two species. Finally, we analysed here for the first time a comprehensive number of samples from several asexual Iberian populations whose assignment at the species level has been an enigma through the years. The phylogenies obtained with different inference methods showed a branching topology of asexual individuals at the base of sexual clades. We hypothesize that this unexpected topology is related to long-term asexuality. This work represents the first phylotranscriptomic analysis of Tricladida, laying the first stone of the genomic era in phylogenetic studies on this taxonomic group

L'adaptation au changement climatique dans le bassin de Tensift au Maroc par une gestion améliorée du bassin versant et le paiement pour les services environnementaux - rapport final

Ce projet bénéficie d'une subvention du Centre de recherches pour le développement international (CRDI), Ottawa, Canada.Le défi que le présent projet de recherche a essayé de relever est de trouver des pistes pour repenser la GIRE dans un contexte du changement climatique, tout en prenant en considération le maintien de la production des biens et services environnementaux. Ceci ne pourra se réaliser qu’à travers des actions permettant de prendre en considération la donne climatique et les instruments basés sur le marché (e.g. le Paiement pour les Services Environnementaux (PSE)) dans les politiques de gestion de l’eau

Assessment of Future Water Demand and Supply under IPCC Climate Change and Socio-Economic Scenarios, Using a Combination of Models in Ourika Watershed, High Atlas, Morocco

Climate change will affect the water resources system, on global and regional levels. Over the past thirty years, the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco have experienced severe droughts, which causes a decrease in water supply that affects both agriculture and the urban water system. In this paper, we assess the impact of climate change and socio-economic activities on water supply and demand in the Ourika watershed (High Atlas of Morocco), then we evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of regional adaptation strategies for water supply management. For this, we simulate and analyze the future water situation using the statistical downscaling model (SDSM) and the water assessment and planning tool (WEAP). After the model’s calibration and validation, the precipitation, minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax) temperatures, water demand and unmet water demand were projected for 2100 horizon, using different climate change scenarios. The results revealed that the model’s performance, calibration and validation were found to be satisfactory. The analysis shows that the mean precipitation will decrease by 49.25% and 34.61% by 2100, under A2 and B2 emission scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The projected mean Tmax and Tmin will be warmer than the baseline period, with Tmax increasing by 4.2 °C (A2) and 3.6 °C (B2), and Tmin by 3.5 °C (A2) and 2.9 °C (B2) by 2100. The results also show that water demand and the unmet water demand will increase in all scenarios, the pressure on water resources will increase, leading to water scarcity. The results reveal that, under the influence of climate change, future unmet water demand is expected to reach 64 million cubic meters (MCM) by 2100. The results demonstrate that the assessments of the proposed adaptation strategies are effective, but not sufficient to ensure water sustainability for the Ourika watershed

Dugesia sicula Lepori 1948

Dugesia sicula Lepori, 1948 Material examined ZMA V. Pl. 6907.1, Ain Mastour spring, Ousletia, Tunisia, (35° 52’ 22.40’’N 9° 37’36.41’’W) March 2009, coll. A. H. Harrath, sagittal sections on 11 slides; V. Pl. 6907.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 13 slides; V. Pl. 6907.3, horizontal sections on 10 slides. ZMA V.Pl. 6908.1, Oued Dhimine, Oum El Bouaghi, Algeria (36°01' 09.89" N 7°14' 38.75" W), coll. D. Merzoug, sagittal sections on 10 slides, V.Pl. 6908.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 8 slides.Published as part of Harrath, Abdul Halim, Sluys, Ronald, Merzoug, Djemoi, Khebiza, Mohamed Yacoubi-, Alwasel, Saleh & Riutort, Marta, 2012, Freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) from the Palearctic section of the African continent: new records, with the description of a new species, pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3182 (1) on page 6, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3182.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/524794

Schmidtea polychroa

Schmidtea polychroa (Schmidt, 1861) Material examined ZMA V. Pl. 6910.1, Arrafraf spring, Oum El Bouaghi city, Algeria, 05 February 2010, coll. A. H. Harrath, Djemoi Merzoug, sagittal sections on 21 slides; V. Pl. 6910.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 15 slides; V. Pl. 6910.3, ibid., horizontal sections on 8 slides; V. Pl. 6910.4, ibid., horizontal sections on 12 slides. ZMA V.Pl. 6911.1, Ain El Ajmi spring, Dahmani town, Tunisia, sagittal sections on 15 slides; V.Pl. 6911.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 14 slides; V.Pl. 6911.3, ibid., horizontal sections on 8 slides.Published as part of Harrath, Abdul Halim, Sluys, Ronald, Merzoug, Djemoi, Khebiza, Mohamed Yacoubi-, Alwasel, Saleh & Riutort, Marta, 2012, Freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) from the Palearctic section of the African continent: new records, with the description of a new species, pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3182 (1) on page 9, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3182.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/524794

Dugesia tubqalis Harrath & Sluys 2012, sp. nov.

Dugesia tubqalis Harrath & Sluys, sp. nov. Material examined Holotype: ZMA V.Pl. 6905.1, Imlil and Taddert, Toubkal Mountains, Marrakech, Morocco, 23 December 2009, coll. A. H. Harrath, sagittal sections on 18 slides. Paratypes: ZMA V.Pl. 6905.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 18 slides; V.Pl. 6905.3, sagittal sections on 16 slides; V.Pl. 6905.4, horizontal sections on 6 slides; V.Pl. 6905.5, horizontal sections on 8 slides. Other material: ZMA V Pl. 6906.1, Taddert, Toubkal Marrakech, Morocco, 23 December 2009, coll. A. H. Harrath, sagittal sections on 19 slides.Published as part of Harrath, Abdul Halim, Sluys, Ronald, Merzoug, Djemoi, Khebiza, Mohamed Yacoubi-, Alwasel, Saleh & Riutort, Marta, 2012, Freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) from the Palearctic section of the African continent: new records, with the description of a new species, pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3182 (1) on page 2, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3182.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/524794

Polycelis felina

Polycelis felina (Dalyell, 1814) Material examined ZMA V. Pl. 6912.1, Ain Soltane spring, Imouzer-Kandar, Fes city, Morocco, 28 December 2009, coll. A. H. Harrath & K. Abdessalem, sagittal sections on 12 slides; V. Pl. 6912.2, ibid., horizontal sections on 18 slides; V. Pl. 6912.3, ibid., sagittal sections on 16 slides; V. Pl. 6912.4, ibid., sagittal sections on 18 slides; V. Pl. 6912.5, ibid., horizontal sections on 9 slides ZMA V. Pl. 6913.1, Ghazi spring, Aggar river, Safrou, Fes city, Morocco, 27 December 2009, coll. A. H. Harrath & K. Abdessalem, sagittal sections on 15 slides; V. Pl. 6913.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 8 slides; V. Pl. 6913.3, ibid., horizontal sections on 10 slides; V. Pl. 6913.4, ibid., sagittal sections on 10 slides. ZMA V.Pl. 6914.1, Taddirt, Toubkal- Marrakech, sagittal sections on 10 slides; V.Pl. 6914.2, ibid., sagittal sections on 9 slides; V.Pl. 6914.3, ibid., horizontal sections on 7 slides.Published as part of Harrath, Abdul Halim, Sluys, Ronald, Merzoug, Djemoi, Khebiza, Mohamed Yacoubi-, Alwasel, Saleh & Riutort, Marta, 2012, Freshwater planarians (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida) from the Palearctic section of the African continent: new records, with the description of a new species, pp. 1-15 in Zootaxa 3182 (1) on pages 12-13, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3182.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/524794