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Diversity of terrestrial isopods in the supralittoral zone of G har E l M elh lagoon ( T unisia)
Author(s) -
Khemaissia Hajer,
Jelassi Raja,
SoutyGrosset Catherine,
NasriAmmar Karima
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12043
Subject(s) - quadrat , abundance (ecology) , supralittoral zone , biology , ecology , habitat , transect , geography , intertidal zone
In T unisia, while wetlands are considered as remarkable habitats for their faunal and floral diversity, few studies on the species diversity of terrestrial isopods were performed. To fill this gap, the spatio‐temporal distribution of Oniscidea at G har E l M elh lagoon (north‐east of Tunisia) was analysed. Sampling was carried out with 50 × 50 cm quadrats along a perpendicular transect to the shoreline. Nine species of terrestrial isopods belonging to seven genera were identified. C haetophiloscia elongata D ollfus, 1884 was the most abundant species in all seasons except for summer; its relative abundance ranged from 38.9% to 77% in summer and autumn, respectively. Hill diversity indices ranged from 0.86 to 0.94 and equitability indices from 0.33 and 0.68. The statistical analysis showed a significant difference of isopod species and plant associations among seasons.