Checklist of Benthic Marine Macroalgae in Western Algeria

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Introduction

Macrophytes are an indicator of the state of coastal ecosystems, and their study is, therefore, a significant issue. Generally, the benthic macroalgae is not well-known in the west coast of Algeria (Traiche and al., 2018, Bachir Bouidjra, 2012). The diversity of macroalgae in aquatic environments can help assess the health of ecosystems, and provide information on invasions of new species (Ramdani et al., 2020). The absence of synthesis work (Bouidjra, 2010; Borsali et al., 2020) led us to consider the census and update the checklist of marine benthic macroalgae presented in the west coast of Algeria). Other similar research has been carried out in other areas: Ould-Ahmed et al. (2013), Senties and Dreckmann (2013), Vietnam (Van Nguyen, 2013), Iran (Kokabi and Youcefzadi, 2015).

Materials and Methods

Three stations (Mostaganem, Arzew, and Oran) are chosen according to the state of the coastal ecosystem, whether or not it is subject to anthropogenic pressure due to urban, industrial, and port activities (Fig. 1).

Figure 1: Geographical location of the studied area.

Waters supply the Gulf of Oran, and the Gulf of Arzew originated from the Atlantic Ocean, and the circulation seems to be very turbulent along the African continent. These turbulences favor the dispersion of eventual pollution sources and permit such relative significant food chain development (Millot, 1989, Kies and al., 2020). The marine algae were isolated, and each of its individuals was identified according to several determination keys, such as Debray (1893), Boudouresque and Seridi (1989), Birje et al. (1996), Boudouresque and Verlaque (2002), Cabioc'h et al. (2006), Fischer et al. (2007), Ballesteros et al. (2007), Bachir Bouidjra (2012), and AlgaeBase (global algal database of taxonomic, nomenclatural and distributional information).

Results and Discussion

The sampling campaign made it possible to inventory macroalgae in Algerian west coast, and 22 species were harvested. They are divided into 3 taxa: Chlorophyta, Ochrophyta, and Rhodophyta:

1. Ochrophyta / Heterokontophyta (4 orders / 4 families / 5 genera / 5 species )
Class: Phaeophyceae (Fig. 2)

Figure 2: Chlorophyta (Mansouri, 2021).

Order: Ectocarpales
Family: Scytosiphonaceae

Genus: Colpomenia
Species: Colpomenia sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth, Derbès & Solier) 1851

Order: Fucales
Family: Sargassaceae
Genus: Cystoseira
Species: Cytoseira stricta (Sauvageau) 1911
Order: Dictyotales
Family: Dictyotaceae
Genus: Dictyota
Species:Dictyota dichotoma(Huds, J.V. Lamour) 1809
Genus: Padina
Species: Padina pavonica (Linnaeus, Thivy) 1960
Order: Fucales
Family: Sargassaceae
Genus: Sargassum
Species: Sargassum muticum (Yendo, Fensholt) 1955

2. Chlorophyta (3 orders / 4 families / 6 genera / 8 species)
Class: Ulvophyceae (Fig. 3)

Figure 3: Phéophyta (Mansouri, 2021).

Order: Bryopsidales
Family: Caulerpaceae
Genus: Caulerpa
Species: Caulerpaprolifera (Forssk., J.V.Lamour.) 1809
Family: Codiaceae
Genus: Codium
Species: Codium Decorticatum (Woodward, M.Howe,) 1911
Genus: Caulerpa
Species: Caulerpa Racemosa (Forsskal, J. Agardh1873)

Order: Cladophorales
Family: Boodleaceae
Genus: Cladophoropsis
Species: Cladophoropsis membranacea (Hofman bang ex C.Agardh, Borgesen) 1905
Order: Ulvales
Family: Ulvaceae
Genus: Enteromorpha
Species: Enteromorpha compressa (Linnaeus) 1753

Genus: Enteromorpha
Species: Enteromorpha intestinalis (Linnaeus) 1753
Genus: Ulva
Species: Ulva lactuca (Linnaeus) 1753
Genus: Ulva
Species : Ulva rigida (C. Agardh, 1823).

3. Rhodophyta (7 orders /7 families / 8 gen/ 7 species)
Class : Florideophyceae (Fig. 4)

Figure 4: Rhodophyta (Mansouri, 2021).

Order: Bonnemaisoniales
Family: Bonnemaisoniaceae
Genus: Asparagopsis
Species: Asparagopsis Armata (Harvey) 1855

Order: Corallinales
Family: Corallinaceae
Genus: Corallina
Species: Corallina Elongata (Lenormand ex Kützing) 1858

Order: Gelidiales
Family: Gelidiaceae
Genus: Gelidium (J.V.Lamour) 1813
Genus: Gelidium
Species: Gelidium crinale (Hare ex Turner, Gaillon) 1828

Order: Gracilariales
Family: Gracilariaceae
Genus: Gracilaria
Species: Gracilis verrucosa (Robert Kaye Greville) 1830
Order: Gigartinales
Family: Cystocloniaceae
Genus: Hypnea
Species: Hypnea Musciformis (Wulfen, J.V.Lamouroux) 1813
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Rhodomelaceae
Genus: Laurencia
Species: Laurencia Papillosa (C. Agardh, Greville) 1830
Genus: Osmundea
Species: Osmundea pinnatifida (Hudson, Stackh) 1809

Order: Peyssonneliales
Family: Peyssonneliaceae
Genus: Peyssonnelia (Decaisne) 1839
Species: Peyssonnelia squamaria (S.G.Gmelin) Decaisne ex J.Agardh 1842.

Conclusion

The macroalgae of the Algerian coast remain little studied (Seridi, 2007; Ould-Ahmed et al., 2019). This study made it possible to inventory macroalgae and assess their diversity in the Algerian west coast coastal zone. The Chlorophyceae are represented particularly by Ulva lactuca with a recovery of 23.8%, and the Phaeophyceae are represented by Padina pavonica with a recovery rate of 17%. The other stations (Arzew and Oran), are characterized by an important general average recovery of Chlorophyceae respectively of 36.36% and 52.53%, with a notable recovery in the two stations,  Ulva lactuca of (25.2%; 27 %) and for Hypenia musiformis (23.2 and 12.8%). It should be noted that the presence of a Pheophycea at these two stations (Oran and Mostaganem) indicating the good environmental condition: Cystoseria stricta with a rate of 17.8% and 12.8%. The species of Caulerpa racemosa, is widely represented in Oran and Arzew, while she is absent in Mostaganem (Ould-Ahmed and Meinesz, 2007; Bachir Bouiadjra et al., 2010). This study deserves to be continued over several annual cycles to better understand the evolution of intertidal macroalgae (Rodriguez-Prieto and Polo, 1996).

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