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This preliminary study aims at assessing a contamination level of Bejaia Gulf by some Metallic Trace Elements (MTEs) such as zinc, iron, copper, nickel, lead and cadmium. The use of hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linneaus, 1758) as a bio-indicator of these heavy metals, made it possible to put in an obvious the presence of these micropollutants at the level of two target organs, the liver, detoxifying organ and the muscle, the most prized part by consumer. The MTE assays are performed using a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (FAAS). As for the fish contamination level, it is referred to the guide values of the WHO, FAO and Algerian recommendations. Within the framework of our study, the recorded values show that hake accumulates all metal pollutants being analyzed. Iron and zinc exhibit the highest concentration, the presence of nickel and copper were also recorded. Lead and cadmium have critical concentrations exceeding even Algerian standards.

The diet of the greater forkbeard Phycis blennoides (Brünnich, 1768) of the Algerian coast was studied between December 2013 and June 2015, providing information on its ecology for a better understanding of the feeding strategy. A total of 956 individuals, whose total length (TL) varied between 9.7 and 54.5 cm and weight (W) between 2.80 and 1334.11 g, were examined. The index of relative importance (%IRI), combining the three main descriptors of the presence of different ingested prey (%F, %N, %W), was used to characterize the relative importance of different food taxa. Qualitative and quantitative variations in diet were studied according to sex, size and seasons. The average annual digestive vacuity index (%V) was 5.51. It did not vary between seasons (x2cal = 5.43, x2th = 7.82, α = 5%) and size (x2cal = 2.08, x2th = 5.99, α = 5%), but was different between male (%V = 4.94) and female (%V= 12.78). Qualitative analysis of stomach contents reveals a fairly diverse range of predation with 1342 preys counted for a total weight of 462.84 g, which corresponds to an average number (AN) and weight (AW) of 3.03 and 1.04 g, respectively. This species feeds on benthic preys, composed mainly of natantia crustaceans (%IRI = 44.84) and teleost fish (%IRI = 2.61) with intraspecific preys (%IRI = 6.15). This cannibalism was frequent in specimens with a TL that exceeds 20 cm; it was even more frequent in females as well as in winter. Significant differences in feeding habits of P. blennoides occurred according to sex, fish size and between seasons. The trophic level (TROPH) was high (3.66 < TROPH < 3.97), corresponding to carnivorous character.

The objective of this study was to determine the population distribution and some biological aspects for fish stock assessment of the greater forkbeard Phycis blennoides along the Algerian basin. The distribution of P. blennoides (3418 individuals) was studied using data collected between 170–779 m depth during two bottom trawl surveys developed on 2003 and 2004. Additionally, some biological parameters were obtained from 1050 individuals sampled from commercial fisheries in Algerian ports (i.e. Annaba, Azeffoun, Dellys, Cap Djinet, Zemmouri, Bouharoun, Algiers, La Madrague, Cherchell, Tenes and Mostaganem) during the period 2013–2017. P. blennoides sampled from bottom trawl surveys showed a depth related distribution with the largest individuals being found at 600–800 m depth and the smallest at shallower depths. Density and biomass varied with depth and density also with longitude, while biomass showed no pattern with longitude. Recruitment was recorded in the eastern sector of Algeria during winter, for individuals sampled by bottom trawl surveys. Young P. blennoides entered commercial fisheries in summer, with an overall sex ratio skewed towards males (1F:2.18M). The size at first maturity (L 50) was 24.30 cm and 30.39 cm for males and females, respectively. The age at 50% maturity was 2–3 years for specimens collected by a bottom trawl survey in 2003 and commercial fisheries, but 3–4 years for the bottom trawl survey in 2004.

The aim of this paper was to report on an examination of the digestive organs in the deep-water fish Phycis blennoides (Brünnich) from Algerian coastal waters. A total of 1,019 specimens (5.7-62.7 cm in total length) obtained from commercial fisheries were examined between December 2013 and May 2017. The anatomical study was conducted using morphometric measurements of different sections of the digestive tract of P. blennoides. The histological features of the digestive tract were examined in the esophagus, stomach, intestine, and pyloric cecum. They were compatible with carnivorous feeding behavior and confirmed by a low intestinal quotient (IQ = 0.72 ± 0.13). The histopathological assessment highlighted the hepatic steatosis and parasitic infestation in its intestine from Anisakis simplex, which also occurs in Algerian coastal waters. According to our knowledge, this paper reports for the first time the morphohistological analysis of the digestive tract of a Phycidae species in Africa and provides the first histopathological assessment of the digestive organs of the greater forkbeard in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]