Coastal eutrophication as a potential driver of functional homogenization of copepod species assemblages in the Mediterranean Sea

International audienceEutrophication as a consequence of anthropogenic nutrient enrichment is one of the major threats to biodiversity in nearshore and coastal marine waters, and consequently, for ecosystem functioning. This study explores changes in the biological organization of copepod assemblages along a Chl a gradient through an upscaling analysis of regional datasets from the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Results show that omnivorous copepods using passive and/or ambush feeding strategy are favored as Chl a increases, and copepod community shifts towards trophic homogenization by favoring generalist feeders against specialists. To our knowledge, this is the first report of functional homogenization of copepods as the result of eutrophication. The present study also demonstrates the potential use of trait-based approaches to explore the effect of human disturbances on marine copepod assemblages in marine ecosystems

A chemotaxonomic study of the Xanthoparmelia pulla group in Algeria

International audienceThe Xanthoparmelia pulla group is well represented in Algeria from coastal to desert areas. As it is difficult to recognize the species without chemical data, we undertook a study of specimens collected in Algeria using chromatography (TLC and HPLC), mass spectrometry and fluorimetry. Our results confirm the presence of six species, two of which are represented by two chemotypes. We report two diphenyl ethers (beta-collatolic and beta-alectoronic acids) for the first time in X. glabrans. We also provide a key to these taxa based on chemical data, and employ a new test combining UV and K reactions