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Intra‐annual variation of the spatiotemporal distribution and abundance of T alitridae and O niscidea ( C rustacea, P eracarida) at B izerte L agoon (northern T unisia)
Author(s) -
Jelassi Raja,
Khemaissia Hajer,
NasriAmmar Karima
Publication year - 2012
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/j.1365-2028.2012.01326.x
Subject(s) - transect , species richness , supralittoral zone , abundance (ecology) , biology , botany , ecology , intertidal zone
Abstract During 1 year from spring 2007 to winter 2008, we conducted four seasonal samplings along a transect in the supralittoral zone of B izerte L agoon at M enzel J mil ( T unisia) to study the intra‐annual variation of P eracarida diversity, T alitridae and O niscidea. For each season, one transect was studied and quadrates were placed successively from the shoreline to the road backing the shore. T alitridae and O niscidea were the most abundant taxa in our samples reaching highest densities in summer, when fourteen species were found. The minimum and maximum values of species richness of T alitridae were observed in winter (four species) and summer (eight species), respectively, while for O niscidea, species richness ranged from one species in winter and five species in spring. Both T alitridae and O niscidea exhibited intra‐annual variation in their spatial distribution; in that, they moved away from the shoreline in winter and were found near the waterline in the other seasons. ANOVA test shows a high significant correlation between both T alitridae with S uaeda maritima and O niscidea with the plants S . maritima , S alicornia arabica and O bione portulacoides .