New faunistic and distributional data on aquatic Hemiptera from the Oriental Region of Morocco and the Moulouya River basin, covering an area of 119,268 km2, are presented. An annotated list of 45 species, 21 genera and 11 families is provided. Nine species are new records for the entire studied area, and two for the Moulouya River basin. We rediscovered Velia noualhieri iberica and Notonecta viridis after eight decades. We also provide novel records for Aphelocheirus pemae and Hebrus atlas, which were recently described from Morocco, and for the invasive corixid Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis. The dominance of species with broad distributions points to the high dispersal dynamics of the Hemiptera community in the study area, similar to that of other areas where a semiarid climate prevails.

We present new faunistic and distributional data on dragonflies (Odonata) from the east of Morocco, comprising the administrative Oriental Region and the Moulouya River Basin and covering an area of 119,268 km2. A checklist of 47 species belonging to 19 genera and seven families is provided. Pseudagrion s. sublacteum (Coenagrionidae), Aeshna mixta (Aeshnidae), Sympetrum sinaiticum and S. meridionale (Libellulidae) are new for Eastern Morocco, while Paragomphus genei (Gomphidae) is new for the Moulouya watershed. Our surveys yield evidence of breeding of Zygonyx torridus in the Moulouya River, of Sympetrum sinaiticum in the Oriental province, and also of Boyeria rene, which remained unrecorded for more than three decades. We confirm the occurrence of Brachythemis impartita in the study area, by providing new sightings. Our results also revealed the range expansion of several other species whereas some previously known species in the region were not found. We found a clear dominance of the Palearctic elements, mainly Mediterranean, with a high proportion of Ibero-Maghrebian endemic species. This chorotype pattern is similar to patterns observed for other macroinvertebrate groups in the same study area. Data published through GBIF (Doi: 10.15470/dikubb)

Cette étude menée entre mars et août 2014 propose un suivi de neuf descripteurs abiotiques, dans 11 stations d’échantillonnage choisies le long de l’Oued Melloulou, principal affluent de la rive gauche de l’Oued Moulouya. L’utilisation de l’analyse triadique partielle facilite le suivi de la variabilité spatiotemporelle de ces descripteurs physicochimiques, et met en évidence l’évolution de leur structure spatiale. Les résultats obtenus montrent que l’Oued Melloulou bénéficie d’une eau de moyenne à très bonne qualité, et que ce cours d’eau est épargné, pour le moment, des grandes pollutions domestiques et industrielles.

Distribution of aquatic beetles from the east of Morocco (Coleoptera, Polyphaga). We present old and new faunistic and distributional data on aquatic Polyphaga (Coleoptera) from the east of Morocco, comprising the Oriental Region and the basin of Moulouya River. A checklist of 91 species belonging to 27 genera and seven families is provided. Ochthebius quadrifossulatus (Hydraenidae) and Pomatinus substriatus (Dryopidae) are new records for the basin of Moulouya River, and Helophorus occidentalis, H. discrepans, H. flavipes, Hydrochus flavipes, Anacena globulus, Enochrus fuscipennis and Hydrobius fuscipes, all belonging to the family Hydrophilidae, and Limnebius furcatus, Ochthebius aeneus and O. merinidicus (all Hydreanidae) are new for the entire studied area of Eastern Morocco. We found a clear dominance of the Palearctic elements, mainly Mediterranean, with a high proportion of Ibero-Maghrebian endemisms. This chorotype pattern is similar to those observed for other macroinvertebrates orders in the same study area.

No abstract

Monitoring the presence and expansion of alien species and upgrading their biological and ecological knowledge seems crucial to mitigate their possible impact on native communities. Within inland superficial waters, alien fish represent an important threat to the biodiversity and studies on their impact on native communities have increased around the world in the last years. However, little is known about their occurrence, biology and influences in North Africa in general, and more specifically in Morocco. In the present work we aimed to: 1) investigate the presence of any native Aphanius species, especially the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus recorded from the lower basin of the Moulouya River (NE Morocco); 2) monitor the presence and expansion of two invasive species, the eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki and the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus; and 3) contribute to the understanding of the ecological and abiotic affinities that govern the distribution of these alien fishes in North Africa. To achieve these goals, several field sampling campaigns were carried out between 2014 and 2018 across eastern Morocco, comprising the administrative Oriental Region and the Moulouya River Basin and covering an area of 119,268 km2. No native Aphanius species were found. The eastern mosquitofish has invaded the freshwater hydrosystems of the northern part of Morocco, including the study area, while the mummichog is currently limited to the brackish and salty wetlands of Lower Moulouya. Our results show that the known ranges of these two alien species have expanded. Data published through GBIF (Doi:10.15470/2qed9o)

Monitoring amphibian populations, especially over fragile ecosystems such as arid and semiarid landscapes, helps to detect demographic trends and ecological risks. During several campaigns carried out between 2013 and 2017 across the Moulouya River Basin and the Oriental Region of Morocco, we identified nine amphibian species from the 11 previously recorded. Amphibian population threats were also detected. In this work, we focused on the amphibians of the Oriental Region of Morocco with the aims to (1) update their distribution providing new records, (2) confirm the prevalence of some vulnerable species in the region, and (3) provide an overview of the ecology and conservation status of each species at a regional level.

The aim of this study is to investigate the longitudinal zonation of macroinvertebrates assemblages in the Za River basin, the main tributary of Moulouya River (Morocco). This work carried out in three campaigns between March and August 2014 on 12 stations selected. This study allowed the identification of 137 species classified in 109 genera and 65 families. In addition to the physicochemical parameters measured three times in each station, a description of the aquatic environment was made to characterize each of the stations surveyed; in particular with regard to altitude, slope, Emberger quotient, thermal amplitude, kilometers at the source, current velocity and bioclimatic zones. The treatment of this benthic population as well as the stations environmental descriptors, using Foucart' factorial correspondence analysis (FCA) and partial triadic analysis (PTA) respectively, allowed for the development of a typology of this watercourse, where altitude and current speed seem to play a major role in the distribution of benthic invertebrates. The biocenotic study revealed the presence of three stationary groupings corresponding to four faunal groups.