Oceanographia Journal
Volume 3, Numéro 1, Pages 133-143
2026-11-01
Diversity And Composition Of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities In The El Abiod River (northeastern Algeria): Influence Of Physico-chemical Parameters
Authors : Smaoune Ghiles . Saal Imane .
Abstract
The present study investigates the spatial and temporal variation of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in relation to physico-chemical parameters in the El Abiod River, located in northeastern Algeria. Nine sampling stations were selected along a 74 km stretch of the river, covering different altitudinal and environmental gradients. Monthly samplings were conducted from March to February, except during July and August due to the complete drying of the river. Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, salinity, and nutrient concentrations (nitrates, nitrites, calcium, magnesium, and chlorides) were measured in situ and in the laboratory. A total of 13,678 individuals belonging to 59 families were identified. Insects dominated the assemblages (98.46%), with Diptera (45.62%), Ephemeroptera (37.76%), and Trichoptera (12.86%) as the most abundant orders, followed by Coleoptera, Odonata, and Mollusca. The Shannon–Weaver diversity index (H’) and evenness (E) revealed significant spatial and temporal variations. The highest diversity values were recorded at downstream stations (H’ = 3.83; E = 0.85), particularly at Foum El Gherza, characterized by moderate mineralization and reduced anthropogenic pressure, whereas upstream sites, such as Medina 2, showed low diversity (H’ = 1.02; E = 0.44) due to organic pollution and domestic wastewater inputs. Multivariate analyses (PCA and CCA) highlighted strong correlations between community structure and key environmental variables, particularly conductivity, calcium, magnesium, and nutrient concentrations. These results suggest that the distribution and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the El Abiod River are primarily governed by physicochemical gradients and anthropogenic influences. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the ecological functioning of semi-arid rivers in North Africa and supports the use of benthic macroinvertebrates as reliable bioindicators for assessing water quality and ecosystem health.
Keywords
Benthic macroinvertebrates ; Diversity ; Physico-chemical parameters ; Water quality ; El Abiod River ; Semi-arid ecosystem
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