Biodiversity of Amphipoda Talitridae in Tunisian Wetlands

Although wetlands were remarkable habitats with their fauna and flora diversity, few studies have been devoted to the study of amphipod biodiversity in this ecosystem type. The amphipod communities of six wetland types belonging to 117 stations were studied with respect to species composition, abundance and their relationship with environmental parameters. Amphipods were collected during spring. At each station, eight quadrats of 50 × 50 cm2 were randomly placed. Animals were preserved in alcohol at 70°C. In the laboratory, the specimens collected were identified and counted. Physicochemical parameters (organic matter, particle size, heavy metals) of sampled soils were determined. The results showed that the highest species richness was observed in lagoons with the presence of eight species namely Orchestia montagui, Orchestia gammarellus, Orchestia mediterranea, Orchestia stephenseni, Orchestia cavimana, Platorchestia platensis, Deshayesorchestia deshayesii and Talitrus saltator, whereas in the hill lakes and dams banks, no specimens were collected. The biodiversity of amphipod species depends on climatic (temperature, humidity) and edaphic (organic matter, particle size, heavy metals) factors

Zoological Studies / Biodiversity of Talitridae family (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in some Tunisian coastal lagoons

Background Although wetlands were remarkable habitats with their fauna and flora diversity, few studies have been devoted to the study of amphipod distribution in this type of environment. To study both qualitatively and quantitatively amphipod community, surveys were conducted during the spring season in ten coastal lagoons ranging from subhumid to arid bioclimatic stage. At each station, eight quadrats of 5050 cm were randomly placed. Amphipods were preserved in alcohol 70C. In the laboratory, the specimens collected were identified and counted. Meanwhile, analyses of organic matter, particle size, and heavy metals from the soil taken from each station were made. Results A total of 1,340 specimens of amphipods were collected, and eight species belonging to Talitridae family were identified. Species richness ranges from one species collected in the supralittoral zone of El Bcherliya (Ghar El Melh lagoon) and eight species in the supralittoral zone of Bizerte lagoon. In this last station, the relative abundance of amphipods was significantly higher (36.04%, N=483). In addition, the diversity indices of Simpson, Shannon-Weaver, and equitability shows that the highest species diversity characterizes this same station while the community was more balanced in opposite El Boughaz (Ghar El Melh lagoon) (J″=0.996). Conclusions The spatial distribution of different amphipod species depends on edaphic (heavy metals, granulometry, organic matter) and climatic (temperature, humidity) factors.(VLID)242534

Effects of trace metal elements on ultrastructural features of hepatopancreas of Armadillidium granulatum Brandt, 1833 (Crustacea, Isopoda)

International audienc

Heavy Metals Assessment and Their Effects on the Hepatopancreas in Orchestia montagui (Amphipoda, Talitridae)

International audienc

Ecotoxicological effects of trace element contamination in talitrid amphipod Orchestia montagui Audouin, 1826

International audienc

Evaluation of trace element contamination using Armadillo officinalis Duméril, 1816 (Crustacea, Isopoda) as a tool: An ultrastructural study

International audienc

Histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas of Porcellio laevis (Crustacea, Isopoda) after exposure to Cd and Zn mixture

ACTIInternational audienc