Investigations conducted in temporary
wetlands of the coastal Meseta of W Morocco
(Benslimane region) lead to the discovery of
Bellis prostrata in a small endoreic temporary
pool (ca. 1 ha) of the quartzitic-limestone
plateau of Benslimane

Amami, Btissam

Bouahim, Siham

Bouattour, A.

Bélair, Gérard de

Daoud-Bouattour, Amina

García, Nieves

Ghrabi-Gammar, Zeineb

Grillas, Patrick

Loutfi, Mohammed

Mouhssine, Rhazi

Muller, Serge D.

Rhazi, Laila

Saad-Limam, Semia Ben

Saber, Er-Riyahi

Tattou, Mohammed Ibn

Tellal, Mohammed

English

Repositorio Institucional Universidad de Málaga

Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 207-211 Málaga, 2010ASTERACEAEBellis prostrata Pomel Nouv. Mat. Fl. Atlant. 287 (1875).= Bellis repens sensu auct. Maghreb= Bellis radicans Coss. & Dur. ex Batt. & Trab. Fl. Algér. (Dicot.): 422 (1890).MOROCCO: Bensl imane plateau, temporary pool of Aïn Sferjila, 33°39’40’’N 07°09’50’’W, 202 m a.s.l., 07-05-2008, collected by L. Rhazi & S.D. Muller, Herb. Institut Scientiﬁ que de Rabat.Floras of North Africa indicate Bellis prostrata as an Algero-Tunisian endemic restricted in the coastal wetlands of NE Algeria, between Senhadja and El Kala (Quézel & Santa, 1963: 922) and in coastal reliefs of N Tunisia, between Hammam Lif and Tabarka/Aïn Draham (Pottier-Alapetite, 1981: 952). It is a perennial herb with cuneiform-spatulate glabrous leaves. Each of the prostrated stems bears several large capitules, the apical one being on a long peduncle. These features allow distinguishing this species from the dwarf Bellis annua L., 16 .  BELLIS PROSTRATA  POMEL (ASTERACEAE) ,  A NEW SPECIES FOR MOROCCOLaila RHAZI*, Serge D. MULLER, Mouhssine RHAZI, Patrick GRILLAS, Mohamed IBN TATTOU, Er-Riyahi SABER, Mohammed TELLAL, Siham BOUAHIM, Btissam AMAMI, Mohammed LOUTFI, Amina DAOUD-BOUATTOUR, Semia BEN SAAD-LIMAM, Zeineb GHRABI-GAMMAR, Gérard de BÉLAIR & Nieves GARCIABellis prostrata Pomel (Asteraceae), una nueva especie para MarruecosKey words. North Africa, endemic species, conservation, temporary wetland. Palabras clave. Norte de África, especie endémica, conservación, humedales temporales.Recibido el 10 de septiembre de 2010, aceptado para su publicación el 18 de octubre de 2010CONTRIBUCIONES A LA FLORA VASCULAR DE MARRUECOS(16) The present work beneﬁ ted from the ﬁ nancial support of the programme Egide-Volubilis (PHC MA/07-172) and of the CMPTM project (08/TM 82). This paper is contribution ISEM no 2010-117.208 Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 2010which is abundant in a large variety of wetlands throughout the Mediterranean basin.Investigations conducted in temporary wetlands of the coastal Meseta of W Morocco (Benslimane region) lead to the discovery of Bellis prostrata in a small endoreic temporary pool (ca. 1 ha) of the quartzitic-limestone plateau of Benslimane. The pool of Aïn Sferjila, supplied in winter and spring by several intermittent springs, is surrounded by a degraded cork-oak forest (Quercus suber L.) and eucalyptus plantations (Eucalyptuscamaldulensis Dehnh.). A few eucalyptus trees develop within the pool, which is moreover affected by livestock (grazing and water use).Phytosociological relevés have been realised within the Bellis prostrata population, at the edge of the pool, in May 2008 and April 2009. The individuals of B. prostrata have been counted in both years on the entire site, encompassing the pool and the adjacent springs. These years were climatically different: 2008 was very dry (ca. 60% of the annual average of precipitations of Benslimane region), and 2009 was very humid (ca. 160% of the mean). Two sediment samples were taken respectively from the centre and from the edge of the pool, respectively, and physicochemicalcharacteristics were measured at the laboratory. Phytosociological relevés (tab. 1) comprise 32 species, including a rare species in Morocco (Apium inundatum (L.) Rchb.f.), and an endemic species strictly restricted to temporary pool (Sedum jahandiezii Batt.). 18 species were found the ﬁ rst year, and 26 the second year. The closest spring harbours similar plant communities, except for 5 species characteristic of the temporary pools of the region (Crassula vaillantii (Willd.) Roth, Isoetes velata A. Braun, Lotus hispidus Desf. ex DC., Lythrum borysthenicum (Schrank) Litv. and Trifolium ornithopodioides L.; Rhazi et al. 2009). The population of Bellis prostrata was composed of 350 individuals in 2008, and of 410 in 2009, most of them located around the pool, with a few ones scattered in adjacent springs.The clayey-silty sediment of the pool is organic, poorly mineralised, with an acidic pH (tab. 2). The eutrophic state of the pool is also shown by the abundance of Lemna minor L., Apium nodiflorum (L.) Lag., and of the invasive tropical Pteridophyte Azolla ﬁ liculoides Lam.The ﬁ nding of Bellis prostrata in Morocco, about 1300 km away from its Algero-Tunisian distribution area (ﬁ g. 1) raises a number of Figure 1: Distribution of Bellis prostrata in North Africa. Distribución de Bellis prostrata en el Norte de África.Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 2010 209Table 1. Phytosociological relevés (Braun-Blanquet, 1932) in the Bellis prostrata population of Aïn Sferjila pool and springs. * = rare species in Morocco (according to Fennane & Ibn Tattou, 1998); ** = endemic species of Morocco. Inventarios ﬁ tosociológicos en las poblaciones de Bellis prostrata. *= especie rara en Marruecos (Fennane & Ibn Tattou, 1998); **= especie endémica de Marruecos.Pool Pool SpringsSurface area of relevé (m²) 25 25 36Water depth (cm) Wet soil Saturated soil 4Date 19/05/2008 04/04/2009 04/04/2009Alisma plantago-aquatica L. + +Anagallis arvensis L. +Apium inundatum (L.) Rchb.f. * 1 2 2Apium nodiﬂ orum(L.) Lag. + 2 1Arisarum vulgare Targ.Tozz. + +Azolla ﬁ liculoides Lam. 1 2Baldellia ranunculoides (L.) Parl. + 1 +Bellis prostrata Pomel * 3 4 2Callitriche stagnalis Scop. 2 2Crassula vaillantii (Willd.) Roth +Daucus carota L. +Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult. + +Isoetes velata A. Braun 3Isolepis cernua (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. + 1 1Juncus bufonius L. + 2 3Lemna minor L. 2 2Leontodon taraxacoides (Vill.) Mérat 2Lotus hispidus Desf. ex DC. +Lythrum borysthenicum (Schrank) Litv. +Lythrum hyssopifolia L. + +Plantago coronopus L. 1 1Poa annua L. + 1 1Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. 1 2Ranunculus ophioglossifolius Vill. 4 4 2Ranunculus peltatus Schrank 1 2 1Ranunculus sardous Crantz 2 1 1Rumex pulcher L. +Sedum jahandiezii Batt. ** 3Spergularia rubra (L.) J.Presl & C.Presl +Stachys arvensis L. +Trifolium ornithopodioides L. +Trifolium resupinatum L. + + +210 Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 2010biogeographical and ecological questions. Its main distribution area is centred on the Algero-Tunisian boundary, and encompasses the Numidian wetland complexes (Guerbès-Senhadja and Annaba-El Kala; Pomel, 1875; Maire, 1936; Quézel & Santa, 1963; Samraoui & de Bélair, 1997; de Bélair 2005), the Kroumiria mountain range (Battandier, 1919; Nègre, 1951; Pottier-Alapetite, 1981), the Mogods hills (Pottier-Alapetite, 1951, 1981; Ferchichi-Ben Jamaa et al. 2010), and the Cap Bon (Pottier-Alapetite, 1981). The number of populations in these regions is thought to exceed 60. It is reported there from margins of various wetlands, often developed on peaty substrate: forest hollows, temporary pools, springs, forest wades, wet lawns, alder carrs, sedge marshes, and semi-permanent lakes.The habitat of the recently discovered population of Morocco is relatively similar to the ones known from Algeria and Tunisia. It is a forest peaty pool, rich in organic matter, physiognomically close to several peaty depressions of Mogods, Kroumiria and Numidia. However, the presence of Apium inundatum, Azolla filiculoides, Crassula vaillantii, Trifolium ornithopodioides, and the endemic Sedum jahandiezii allows distinguishing the Moroccan plant community from the Algero-Tunisian ones.Although Bellis prostrata is relatively constant in suitable wetland habitats of NE North Africa, it always occurs there as small populations, most of them threatened by human activities. Because of its reduced distribution in Algeria, it is considered as very rare by Quézel & Santa (1963). Most of the wetlands we visited in Numidia and northern Tunisia were affected by overgrazing, draining, agriculture and pollution (de Bélair 2009). These disturbances seem to not affect strongly Bellis prostrata, which appears as a stress-tolerant species. However, their increase often results in the complete destruction of the habitats and of their plant communities. This certainly constitutes the main threat for B. prostrata populations.The Moroccan population occurs in a relatively degraded site, markedly affected by grazing, eutrophication, invasive species (Azolla ﬁ liculoides), and by shade, drying out resulting from eucalyptus plantations. Although it seems to be rather stable (2008-2009), we expect that these disturbances will induce profound changes in the hydrological regime and in the chemical characteristics of water, and consequently could lead to the disappearance of most of the hydrophytic species (Rhazi et al.2001), including Bellis prostrata.At the scale of Morocco, Bellis prostrata is known only from one single location within a restricted Area of Occupancy (< 20 km²). Populations seem to be stable although with a limited number of mature individuals (< 500), and signiﬁ cant ﬂ uctuations in numbers have not been recorded. Its habitat is currently exposed to eutrophication due to water pollution, invasive plants and desiccation from eucalyptus plantations. It has only been recently discovered Wmax(cm)pH OM(%)Cd(µS)Clay(%)Silt(%)Sand(%)Centre 54 6.5 15.4 120 45.5 35.6 13.8Edge 0 6.3 12.3 110 29.7 42.35 21.9Table 2. Physicochemical characteristics of centre and edge of Aïn Sferjila pool: maximal water depth (Wmax), pH, organic matter percentage (OM), electric conductivity (Cd), and clay, silt and sand percentages. Características ﬁ sicoquímicas del centro y los márgenes de la charca temporal de Aïn Sferjila: profundidad máxima del agua (Wmax), pH, porcentaje de materia orgánica (OM), conductividad eléctrica (Cd), y porcentajes de arcilla, limo y arena.Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 2010 211in the country and, therefore, there is not record of these stresses to be directly affecting its populations. It is considered to be threatened in Morocco according to IUCN Red List category and criteria, qualifying for category Vulnerable D2, and could become Critically Endangered or even Extinct in the country within a very short time period if urgent conservation measures are not taken in place.ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. We thank Marie-Antoinette Diaz for her help in the Spanish translation, Florence Daubigney for her logistical and technical support, and Mohammed Fennaneand Jalal El Oualidi for providing access to the Herbarium of Institut Scientifique de Rabat. REFERENCESBATTANDIER, J.A. -1919- Contributions à la Flore Atlantique. Librairie Klincksieck, L’homme successeur, Paris: 45. BEAUDET, G. -1969- Le plateau central Marocain et ses bordures étude géomorphologique. Ouvrage publié avec l’aide du ministère de l’enseignement supérieur du Maroc et des ministères français de l’Education nationale et des Affaires étrangères. Rabat.DE BÉLAIR, G. -2005- Dynamique de la végétation de mares temporaires en Afrique du Nord (Numidie orientale, NE Algérie). Ecologia Mediterranea 31(1): 1-18DE BÉLAIR, G. -2009- Bellis prostrata. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.2. www.iucnredlist.org.FENNANE, M. & IBN TATTOU, M. -1998- Catalogue des plantes endémiques, rares ou menacées du Maroc. Bocconea 8: 1-243.FERCHICHI-BEN JAMAA, H., S.D. MULLER, A. DAOUD-BOUATTOUR, Z. GHRABI-GAMMAR, L. RHAZI, I. SOULIÉ-MÄRSCHE, M. OUALI, & S. BEN SAAD-LIMAM -2010- Structures de végétation et conservation des zones humides temporaires méditerranéennes : la région des Mogods (Tunisie septentrionale). Comptes Rendus Biologies 333: 265-279. IUCN -2001- IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.MAIRE, R. -1936- Contribution à l’étude de la ﬂ ore de l’Afrique du Nord (Contribution 2042). Bulletin de la Société de l’Histoire Naturelle de l’Afrique du Nord 27: 231.NÈGRE, R. -1951- Note phytosociologique sur quelques mares et tourbières de Kroumirie. Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France, 79èmeSession extraordinaire en Tunisie: 16-22, Paris.POMEL, A. -1875- Nouveaux matériaux pour la flore atlantique. Fascicule 2. Bulletin de la Société des Sciences Physiques, Naturelles et Climatologiques de l’Algérie : 286.POTTIER-ALAPETITE,  G.  -1951-  Note préliminaire sur l’Isoetion tunisien. Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France, 79ème Session extraordinaire en Tunisie : 4-6, Paris.POTTIER-ALAPETITE, G. -1981- Flore de la Tunisie, vol. 2. Publié par les soins de A. NABLI. Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientiﬁ que et Ministère de l’Agriculture, Tunis.QUÉZEL, P. & S. SANTA -1963- Nouvelle ﬂ ore de l’Algérie et des régions désertiques méridionales. Vol. 2, CNRS, Paris.RHAZI, L., P. GRILLAS, A. MOUNIROU TOURÉ& L. TAN HAM -2001- Impact of land use and activities on water, sediment and vegetation of temporary pools in Morocco. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences Paris. Life Sciences324: 165-177.RHAZI, L., P. GRILLAS, M. RHAZI, J.C. AZNAR-2009- Ten-year dynamics of vegetation in a Mediterranean temporary pool in western Morocco. Hydrobiologia 634: 185-194.SAMRAOUI, B. & DE BÉLAIR, G. -1997- The Guerbes-Senhadja wetlands (N.E. Algeria). Part I: An Overview. Ecologie 28 (3): 233-250Adress of corresponding author. Université Hassan II Aïn Chock, Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire d’Ecologie Aquatique et Environnement, BP 5366 Maarif Casablanca, Maroc. rhazilaila@yahoo.fr 212 Acta Botanica Malacitana 35. 2010

Bellis prostrata Pomel (Asteraceae), a new species for Morocco

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Repositorio Institucional Universidad de Málaga

DIALNET

Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga