Diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Streams Quality in the National Park of Belezma (Northern-East, Algeria)

Benzina, Imène; Bachir, Abdelkrim Si

doi:10.20319/lijhls.2018.41.0118

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This macrofauna consists of 75.20% insects, 12.50% worms and 12.30% mollusks. This dominance of insects was also reported by Benzina and Si Bachir (2018) in Belezma park (Northern-East, Algeria), Adouony et al (2018) in Faé Dam Lake (Southwest, Côte d'Ivoire), Agblonon Houelome et al (2017) in Benin cotton basin (West Africa) and Gouissi et al (2019) in Affon river, Benin. The families of Chironomidae and Baetidae are the most frequent and the most abundant across all stations, which could be regarded as early warning signals of pollution loads that can degrade water quality and overall ecological health (Arimoro et al 2011;Keddari et al 2019).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

The variability influence of physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rhumel and Endja rivers, Algeria

et al. 2023

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Abstract. Kherief-Nacereddine S, Djeddi H, Nail-Yasmine B, Boukeria S, Benmakhlouf Z, Mehennaoui-Afri FZ. 2023. The variability influence of physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rhumel and Endja rivers, Algeria. Biodiversitas 24: 539-550. Water resources are the most essential resource in the development of the various sectors of a country's economy. In Algeria, a country with a semi-arid climate, the supply of drinking and industrial water is mainly provided by surface water. Currently, the water supply for industrial uses is threatened by the problems of anthropogenic pollution (e.g., urban discharges, industrial and agricultural activities, etc.). The objective of this work is to assess the variability influence of water physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate communities in the Rhumel and Endja rivers in Algeria which supply the Beni Haroun. In each river, two observation stations were established located upstream and downstream, totaling four stations (Rhumel: (Rh1 and Rh2) and Endja: En 1 and En 2). Physicochemical parameters of water were measured, and biological parameters of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages were calculated. The physicochemical approach put highlights the monthly changes in water quality along the two rivers in relation to urban, agricultural, and industrial discharges and as a response to seasonal variations in water level. The difference in taxonomic richness corresponded to environmental conditions of stations appearing more or less stable and highlighting a gradient of the stress on organisms. The results showed that there were 2071 individuals of macroinvertebrates recorded, belonging to 19 families and 10 orders. The individual number of this macrofauna consisted of 75.20% insects, 12.50% worms, and 12.30% mollusks, with the most abundant families across all stations being Chironomidae and Baetidae. The spatiotemporal variability of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages in the two rivers indicated that summer recorded the highest abundance of all samples. The highest number of macroinvertebrate individuals was recorded at Rhumel stations. The elements indicating high pollution were SO4, PO4- and NO2- with the highest values recorded during the summer season for the four stations. Higher pollution was observed at the Endja river. The findings of this study imply that the waters of two rivers are unsuitable for use even for irrigation purposes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

The variability influence of physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rhumel and Endja rivers, Algeria

et al. 2023

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“…Other studies have adapted the principles of the European WFD to Maroc-can rivers [ 66 , 70 , 71 ]. In Algeria, freshwaters have been recently assessed with benthic invertebrates to detect the effects of pollution through use of indices and metrics such as the BMWP, IBGN and EPT in Kebir-Rhumel or Guebli river catchments and streams in the Belezma National Park (Biosphere Reserve) [ 72 – 74 ]. Diatoms have also been used to obtain quality assessments of rivers in Algeria using the BDI index [ 75 ] and in Tunisia through diatom diversity in Lake Ischkeul [ 76 ].…”

Section: Biological Assessment Of Riversmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Biological Assessment and Rehabilitation of the World’s Rivers: An Overview

Feio

Hughes

Callisto

et al. 2021

Water

113

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The biological assessment of rivers i.e., their assessment through use of aquatic assemblages, integrates the effects of multiple-stressors on these systems over time and is essential to evaluate ecosystem condition and establish recovery measures. It has been undertaken in many countries since the 1990s, but not globally. And where national or multi-national monitoring networks have gathered large amounts of data, the poor water body classifications have not necessarily resulted in the rehabilitation of rivers. Thus, here we aimed to identify major gaps in the biological assessment and rehabilitation of rivers worldwide by focusing on the best examples in Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North, Central, and South America. Our study showed that it is not possible so far to draw a world map of the ecological quality of rivers. Biological assessment of rivers and streams is only implemented officially nation-wide and regularly in the European Union, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, and the USA. In Australia, Canada, China, New Zealand, and Singapore it has been implemented officially at the state/province level (in some cases using common protocols) or in major catchments or even only once at the national level to define reference conditions (Australia). In other cases, biological monitoring is driven by a specific problem, impact assessments, water licenses, or the need to rehabilitate a river or a river section (as in Brazil, South Korea, China, Canada, Japan, Australia). In some countries monitoring programs have only been explored by research teams mostly at the catchment or local level (e.g., Brazil, Mexico, Chile, China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam) or implemented by citizen science groups (e.g., Southern Africa, Gambia, East Africa, Australia, Brazil, Canada). The existing large-extent assessments show a striking loss of biodiversity in the last 2–3 decades in Japanese and New Zealand rivers (e.g., 42% and 70% of fish species threatened or endangered, respectively). A poor condition (below Good condition) exists in 25% of South Korean rivers, half of the European water bodies, and 44% of USA rivers, while in Australia 30% of the reaches sampled were significantly impaired in 2006. Regarding river rehabilitation, the greatest implementation has occurred in North America, Australia, Northern Europe, Japan, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea. Most rehabilitation measures have been related to improving water quality and river connectivity for fish or the improvement of riparian vegetation. The limited extent of most rehabilitation measures (i.e., not considering the entire catchment) often constrains the improvement of biological condition. Yet, many rehabilitation projects also lack pre-and/or post-monitoring of ecological condition, which prevents assessing the success and shortcomings of the recovery measures. Economic constraints are the most cited limitation for implementing monitoring programs and rehabilitation actions, followed by technical limitations, limited knowledge of the fauna and flora and their life-history traits (especially in Africa, South America and Mexico), and poor awareness by decision-makers. On the other hand, citizen involvement is recognized as key to the success and sustainability of rehabilitation projects. Thus, establishing rehabilitation needs, defining clear goals, tracking progress towards achieving them, and involving local populations and stakeholders are key recommendations for rehabilitation projects (Table 1). Large-extent and long-term monitoring programs are also essential to provide a realistic overview of the condition of rivers worldwide. Soon, the use of DNA biological samples and eDNA to investigate aquatic diversity could contribute to reducing costs and thus increase monitoring efforts and a more complete assessment of biodiversity. Finally, we propose developing transcontinental teams to elaborate and improve technical guidelines for implementing biological monitoring programs and river rehabilitation and establishing common financial and technical frameworks for managing international catchments. We also recommend providing such expert teams through the United Nations Environment Program to aid the extension of biomonitoring, bioassessment, and river rehabilitation knowledge globally.

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“…Furthermore, the water ow during the rainy season removes accumulated sediments from the larger substrate surfaces (Benzina and Si Bachir 2018). This creates suitable habitats and opportunities for the settlement of benthic insects.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How do substrate types affect the seasonal richness and functional feeding groups variation of benthic insects in an arid region (northeastern Algeria)?

Meradi,

Bounar,

Benzina

et al. 2024

Biologia

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The diversity of bottom substrates is a primary driver of taxonomic richness and species abundance patterns of freshwater benthic insects in space and time. Here, we examine the in uence of substrate composition on the seasonal patterns of benthic insect communities in streams of arid regions. Benthic insects were sampled monthly over a year at three sampling sites distributed along the Bouilef stream within the Belezma biosphere reserve (Algeria). Different substrate types (sand, gravel, pebbles, boulders, and emergent macrophytes) were sampled in the rainy and dry seasons. During the 2 studied seasons, a total of 8599 insects belonging to 6 orders, 26 families, and 39 genera/species were sampled and identi ed. Student's t-test analysis showed that season in uences signi cantly the mean abundance of benthic insects, which increases in the rainy season. However, the season does not affect taxa richness. Substrate types in uence taxa composition and variation of benthic insect communities. The results showed that pebbles and boulders are the most populated by gathering and ltering collectors in terms of taxa abundance. Emergent macrophytes are more favorable for herbivores shredders. Principal Coordinates Analysis ''PCoA'' also showed that pebbles and boulders differed signi cantly from other substrates, whereas sand and gravel substrates exhibited similar taxa mean abundance. Such assessments can help propose conservation measures needed to successfully safeguard these fragile ecosystems.

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Diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates and Streams Quality in the National Park of Belezma (Northern-East, Algeria)

Abstract: In North Africa, the studies of streams quality are incomplete, especially

Cited by 6 publications

References 13 publications

The variability influence of physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rhumel and Endja rivers, Algeria

The variability influence of physicochemical parameters on macroinvertebrate assemblages in the Rhumel and Endja rivers, Algeria

The Biological Assessment and Rehabilitation of the World’s Rivers: An Overview

How do substrate types affect the seasonal richness and functional feeding groups variation of benthic insects in an arid region (northeastern Algeria)?

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