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Trophic organization of the macro-zoobenthic assemblages within coastal areas subjected to anthropogenic activities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 June 2008

Ahmed Afli ,
Rakia Ayari  and
Mouldi Brahim
Ahmed Afli*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Marines
Rakia Ayari
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies Marines
Mouldi Brahim
Affiliation:
Laboratoire du Milieu Marin, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer 28, Rue de 2 Mars 1934–2025 Salammbô, Tunisia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Ahmed Afli Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologies MarinesInstitut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer 28Rue de 2 Mars 1934–2025 SalammbôTunisia email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Coastal areas, in general, are affected more and more by anthropogenic activities. Benthic macrofauna assemblages react to this disturbance and constitute, then, an effective biological tool to study the degree of contamination of the biotope. For this study three coastal sites, more or less exposed to anthropogenic activities but differing according to their opening to the sea, were studied. Sediments were sampled aboard a research vessel and using a 0.1 m2 Van Veen grab. Results show that Tunis bay and Dkhila coast, which are more open to the sea, appear more balanced on the trophic plan, and the biodiversity state is more satisfactory. However, Bizerte lagoon is closed, except for a limited communication with the sea via a narrow ship canal. So, the ecosystem presents some eutrophication signs and a great trophic imbalance in which carnivores largely dominate the benthic assemblages. In this situation, the herbivore chain is substituted by a microbial chain and only some opportunistic species can survive in these anoxic sediments related to the strong fluctuations of the environment factors during the year.

Keywords

benthic macrofaunatrophic groupslagoon of Bizertebay of Tuniscoast of Dkhila
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 88 , Issue 4 , August 2008 , pp. 663 - 674
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2008

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