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The present study models potential regions for Argan tree plantations in Algeria using the MaxEnt approach, taking into account the sites of successful plantations at national level. There has been exhaustive sampling of 45 sites of plantations, with results collected over three years, 2021, 2022 and 2023. Current climate data were used from the Worldclim database (version 2.0). The results obtained indicate that the north-western regions of the country, the eastern and central coasts, are highly suitable (≥75%), but the desert and steppe regions are weakly suitable (<25%). Therefore, a suitable bioclimatic environment for planting argan trees (with at least 50% probability) depends on a minimum temperature of 2.5 to 6.5°C and annual precipitation of 160 to 1,400 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) have attracted global attention due to their ubiquity and potential impact on the environment. However, MPs are poorly documented along the Algerian coast. To address this data gap, this study investigated the presence of MPs on three recreational beaches in western Algeria (Stidia, Sablettes and Mersat El Hadjaj). The mean MP abundance for the three beaches was estimated at 55.47 ± 48.01 items/m2. Characterization of MPs shape revealed that fragments (79.81 %) were dominant, followed by pellets (10.58 %), filaments (5.57 %), and foam (3.85 %). An assessment of the Microplastic Pollution Index, the Pellet Pollution Index, and the Coefficient of Microplastic Impact, revealed the presence of very low to moderate levels of MPs on the beaches. This presence was associated with minimal beach pollution and moderate overall impact. The sector analysis approach results confirm that there are two different magnitudes of MPs presence that can negatively impact on the environmental quality of the studied beaches. [Display omitted] • Microplastic items were found in beaches along the western coast of Algeria. • The detected average MP abundance was lower than recorded on many other beaches. • The quality of beaches and MPs impacts were assessed using beach quality indexes (BQI). • BQI revealed the presence of very low to moderate levels of MPs on the beaches • MP presence can potentially have a negative impact on the environmental quality of the studied beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of weeding (chemical, mechanical and control) on the floristic composition of citrus orchards in the region of Tlemcen (Northwestern Algeria). A comparative approach between two methods of weeding (mechanical vs. chemical) compared to a control (without weeding) was carried out at 3 stations of 100 m2 inside the citrus orchard studied. The floristic surveys were performed in the stations at different times (before and after each weeding). In the floristic inventory, 168 surveys were carried out and a total of 88 species were identified belonging to 71 genera and 30 botanical families. This adventitious flora was dominated by the Mediterranean elements (64%), the therophytes (51%) and dicotyledons (64%). Statistical elaboration of floristic data by means of multifactorial ANOVA revealed the existence of a significant spatial-temporal difference in the mean species richness between the stations (control vs. chemical and mechanical). In addition, the species richness before weeding tended to be higher than that after it. Weeding methods practised by crop growers need to be reconsidered. The benefits that weeds can provide should be considered as well as the damage caused by the different weeding techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]