**Biodiversity of Amphipoda Talitridae in Tunisian Wetlands Wetlands**

**Biodiversity of Amphipoda Talitridae in Tunisian** 

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.69523

Jelassi Raja, Khemaissia Hajer and Nasri-

Jelassi Raja, Khemaissia Hajer and Nasri-Ammar Karima Ammar Karima Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69523

#### **Abstract**

Although wetlands were remarkable habitats with their fauna and flora diversity, few studies have been devoted to the study of amphipod biodiversity in this ecosystem type. The amphipod communities of six wetland types belonging to 117 stations were studied with respect to species composition, abundance and their relationship with environmental parameters. Amphipods were collected during spring. At each station, eight quadrats of 50 × 50 cm<sup>2</sup> were randomly placed. Animals were preserved in alcohol at 70°C. In the laboratory, the specimens collected were identified and counted. Physicochemical parameters (organic matter, particle size, heavy metals) of sampled soils were determined. The results showed that the highest species richness was observed in lagoons with the presence of eight species namely *Orchestia montagui, Orchestia gammarellus, Orchestia mediterranea, Orchestia stephenseni, Orchestia cavimana, Platorchestia platensis, Deshayesorchestia deshayesii* and *Talitrus saltator*, whereas in the hill lakes and dams banks, no specimens were collected. The biodiversity of amphipod species depends on climatic (temperature, humidity) and edaphic (organic matter, particle size, heavy metals) factors.

**Keywords:** Tunisia, wetlands, neuro-inflammation, Amphipoda, diversity, environmental factors

## **1. Introduction**

In the Mediterranean, there was a high diversity of wetlands (lagoon, lake, sebkha, wadi, hill reservoir and dam) that were of great importance in conservation of biology. They were considered among the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems [1]. They offer a wide variety of natural habitats for plants and aquatic animals as well as semi-terrestrial and terrestrial species. The interactions of biological (plants, animals, microorganisms, etc.) and

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© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons

physicochemical components (granulometry, temperature, humidity, etc.) of wetlands enable them to perform many ecological functions such as shoreline stabilization and water purification. Lacaze [2] mentioned that lagoon wetlands harbour a diverse fauna, but were threatened by intense anthropogenic exploitation and pollution. As they receive continental freshwater from their catchment area, many lagoons have been subjected to severe degradation of water quality caused by pollution and*/*or eutrophication [3]. In Tunisia, semi-closed shallow lagoons were among the most sensitive areas to environmental stresses [4, 5].

**Stations Wetland type Governorate GPS Sediment type** 1. Bizerte Lagoon Bizerte 37°13′8″N/009°55′1″E Loamy sand 2. El Bcherliya Lagoon Bizerte 37°10′03″N/010°09′57″E Loamy sand

4. Boughaz Lagoon Bizerte 37°10′09″N/010°13′12″E Sandy loam 5. Sidi Ali Mekki Lagoon Bizerte 37°09′50″N/010°14′45″E Fine silt 6. Tunis North lagoon Lagoon Tunis 36°48′01″N/010°12′27″E Loamy sand 7. Tunis South lagoon Lagoon Tunis 36°47′59″N/010°12′26″E Sandy 8. Korba lagoon Lagoon Nabeul 36°38′12″N/010°54′11″E Loamy sand 9. Tazarka lagoon Lagoon Nabeul 36°32′20″N/010°50′38″E Sandy-clay-silt

10. Bhiret El Biben Lagoon Medenine 33°15′57″N/011°08′28″E Sandy 11. Ichkeul Lake Bizerte 37°06′37″N/009°41′21″E Loamy sand 12. Bouhnach Lake Ariana 36°58′57″N/010°08′56″E Sandy loam 13. Majin Chitane Lake Bizerte 37°09′07″N/009°05′54″E Sandy-clay-loam 14. El Ouafi Sebkha Bizerte 37°09′22″N/010°13′38″E Sandy Silt 15. Raoud Sebkha Ariana 36°55′57″N/010°10′48″E Clay 16. Ariana Sebkha Ariana 36°56′53″N/010°11′4″E Sandy clay 17. Kalaat Andalous Sebkha Ariana 37°05′06″N/010°10′16″E Clay 18. Sliman Sebkha Nabeul 36°42′02″N/010°27′37″E Sandy 19. Maâmoura Sebkha Nabeul 36°28′2″N/010°48′21″E Sandy 20. Sidi Khlifa Sebkha Sousse 36°14′20″N/10°26′15″E Clay 21. Assa Jriba Sebkha Sousse 36°0′46″N/10°25′36″E Clay

22. Halk El Menzel Sebkha Sousse 36°0′23″N/10°27′15″E Loamy sand 23. Sousse Sebkha Sousse 35°47′45″N/10°38′48″E Sandy silt loam 24. Monastir Sebkha Monastir 35°46′21″N/10°46′47″E Loamy sand

25. Argoub Sebkha Gabès 33°38′20″N/10°16′56″E Clay 26. Khalfallah Sebkha Medenine 33°26′59″N/010°56′32″E Clay 27. Gorgabiya Sebkha Medenine 33°23′45″N/10°54′54″E Sandy 28. Moknine Sebkha Monastir 35°37′13″N/10°55′17″E Clay loam 29. Gargour Sebkha Sfax 34°37′32″N/10°38′22″E Sandy clay 30. Sidi El Hani Sebkha Sousse 35°32′14″N/010°18′35″E Sandy Silt 31. Kalbiya Sebkha Kairouan 35°54′25″N/010°17′08″E Silty 32. Metbasta Sebkha Kairouan 35°45′14″N/010°06′57″E Silty 33. M'Habbil Sebkha Medenine 33°24′47″N/010°51′59″E Clay 34. Kairouan Sebkha Kairouan 35°44′6″N/010°6′52″E Silty 35. Mchiguig Sebkha Sfax 34°58′58″N/010°03′06″E Sandy Silt

Lagoon Bizerte 37°10′04″N/010°11′40″E Loamy sand

Biodiversity of Amphipoda Talitridae in Tunisian Wetlands

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69523

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3. Ghar El Melh Old

harbour

Among wetlands, sandy beaches were more studied and characterized by the presence of a large number of invertebrates. Talitridae amphipods were among the most dominant invertebrates living on wetlands [6]. These talitrids play an important role as decomposers of organic matter and were considered as potential bio-indicators of sandy beaches quality [7, 8]. This role was estimated using genetic approach, behavioural approach as well as reproduction and spatio-temporal distribution studies [9–32].

In Tunisia, amphipod communities inhabiting wetlands bank, other than sandy beaches [21– 23, 31–35] have not received much attention. Through this study, we propose a description as exhaustive as possible of the biodiversity of these communities taking into account geographical, climatic and edaphic specificities. More specifically, we addressed the following questions: (1) Does the diversity of Talitridae amphipods follow a north-south cline? (2) Is the correlation between specific diversity and wetlands type is significant?
