Ecological Quality Status of the Algiers coastal waters by using macroalgae assemblages as bioindicators (Algeria, Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

Macroalgal assemblages have been used as a quality element for the assessment of the ecological status classes (ESCs) in coastal water bodies for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC). To assess the suitability of this quality element in the coastal waters off Algiers, seven sampling sites with five (5) replications covering a wide range of anthropogenic pressures were studied during spring and summer 2015. Coverage data for the macroalgae at each sampling site were analyzed at the biological levels of species, i.e., structural (species number, nMDS, clustering, K-dominance and Simper analysis based on Bray-Curtis similarity), and ecological status groups, i.e., functional (nMDS, clustering, K-dominance, ecological evaluation index/EEI-c). Key water variables (temperature, salinity and pH) along with the anthropogenic stress index MALUSI were also estimated. The obtained results revealed a significant effect of anthropogenic stress on the macroalgal assemblages. The structural analysis showed the following: (1) species richness of 86 taxa in total; (2) dominance of Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta (late-successional) associated with Lithophyllum incrustans and Jania rubens at nonimpacted sites and with Ulva rigida, Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa cylindracea (opportunistic) species at impacted sites; and (3) a higher proportion of low-abundance species in polluted communities than in less polluted communities. The functional analysis showed the following: (1) classification of sites based on multivariate and K-dominance analyses into four groups, three in agreement with the water degradation information and one in agreement with a low salinity influence; (2) classification of sites into "bad", "high", "moderate" and "good" ESCs based on the EEI-c index; and (3) a strong nonlinear relationship (R²=0.85) of the EEI-c index with the MALUSI index. Therefore, the EEI-c index will be a suitable tool to implement a national monitoring program within the scope the WFD along Algerian coasts.

Macrobenthic fauna and the ecological status of a shellfish farm in the Mediterranean Sea (Algeria)

“…The correlation matrix showed significant correlations between the four biotic indices. Finally, the EQR score for the current survey (0.55) was similar to the EQR scores reported by Chabane et al (2018) (0.41) and Bahbah et al (2020) (0.49), who used macroalgal assemblages that are known to be good indicators of water quality (Ballesteros et al, 1984;Bishop et al, 2002;Arévalo et al, 2007;Orlando-Bonaca et al, 2008;Lasinio et al, 2017).…”

Environmental impacts of shore revetment

“…More research gaps that need to be addressed include long-term in-depth environmental evaluations. Macroinvertebrates and macroalgae may be applied as ecological indicators for water quality assessment and overall aquatic ecosystem health [ 96 , 97 ]. However, current research on water quality after implementation of a revetment is rare.…”

Study of the benthic macrofauna and application of AMBI index in the coastal waters of Algeria

“…In another study performed at the Algerian coast Grimes (2010) have reported similar results. This analysis makes it possible to relativize the current environmental situation of the studied sites compared to states of disturbance more important present on some Algerian waters (Rouane-Hacene et al, 2017;Belhaouari et al, 2017;Khadidja et al, 2018).…”