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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Martil River rehabilitation project and recently constructed dam infrastructures to reduce flood risks and to promote local socio-economic development on the ecological integrity of the river. The assessment focused on changes in fluvial landforms over time and the evaluation of aquatic ecosystems based on six physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand), morpho-hydrological variables (stream width, water depth, and current speed), habitat indices (QBR, IHF, and MQI), and macroinvertebrate assemblages of EPT, OCH, and Chironomidae (Diptera) at five stations from autumn 2015 to spring 2018 (prior to and during the rehabilitation actions). The results showed that the river rehabilitation project led to profound changes in Martil River’s ecosystem and water quality over time. Physicochemical and habitat measurements at the rehabilitated sites revealed a major change in macroinvertebrate communities due to changes in fluvial landforms in relation to flow-sediment regimes. As a result, some typical species of lentic habitats disappeared, while alien, opportunistic, and lotic species appeared.

The current study aimed to examine the responses of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa to the major physicochemical (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand) and hydro-morphological (stream width, water depth and current speed) factors affecting their abundance, richness and distribution. Immature insects of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera were sampled as well as water during eight seasonal surveys conducted at 19 stations in Martil basin from spring 2016 to spring 2018. In total, 10,370 individuals belonging to 22 families, 36 genera and 48 species were collected during the study period. Baetidae, Perlodidae and Hydropsychidae were the most abundant and diversified families, respectively for each order. Significant biotypological differences of the EPT assemblages were observed among stream types relating to their spatial distribution, hydrological features and pollution levels. However, species richness and abundance were positively correlated with DO, pH and altitude and negatively correlated with temperature and the other parameters measured. The taxonomic list compiled following our recent investigations includes six new species for the Martil basin enabling them to expand their range in northern Morocco. Furthermore, the biogeographical analysis shows that EPT taxa from Martil basin are essentially composed of Mediterranean elements, with a high proportion of Ibero-Maghrebian endemic species. Moreover, this study provides a basis for further studies to analyze the distribution patterns of EPT taxa through multi-dimensional approaches.

Une caracterisation globale et approfondie de la qualite physicochimique et microbiologique des eaux superficielles de deux reseaux hydrographiques nord marocains, le Laou et le Tahaddart, a ete realisee par le biais d’un suivi qui s’est etale sur trois annees consecutives d’avril 2007 a juillet 2009. La qualite physicochimique et microbiologique globale a ete evaluee a partir de dix parametres : la conductivite, l’oxygene dissout, la turbidite, l’ammonium, les nitrites, les nitrates, les orthophosphates, les coliformes totaux, les coliformes fecaux et les streptocoques fecaux. Cette etude montre que les cours d’eau de ces deux bassins‑versants subissent des perturbations multiples et arrivent a leur seuil de tolerance sur certains de leurs troncons. Au niveau du bassin‑versant du Laou, la qualite des eaux est generalement bonne a moyenne sur l’ensemble des cours d’eau prospectes, excepte certains troncons dont la qualite est mauvaise a cause des rejets des eaux usees et de l’intensification de l’agriculture avec l’utilisation d’engrais et de produits phytosanitaires. Quant au bassin‑versant du Tahaddart, la qualite des eaux est bonne a moyenne au niveau du sous-bassin Haricha, tandis qu’elle est mauvaise a tres mauvaise au niveau des deux sous-bassins El Hachef et Mharhar. La problematique de la qualite de l’eau au niveau de ce bassin reside dans la nature du substrat fortement erosif, l’agriculture et la nature des pratiques agricoles, l’elevage et le surpâturage.

An overview of Moroccan stoneflies is presented as an annotated summary of published and unpublished records from 115 localities. These records have resulted in an updated species list reflecting taxonomic corrections and noteworthy range extensions for several species. A total of 28 species, belonging to 15 genera and seven families, is now known from Morocco with the greatest diversity found in the Rif Mountains (23 species) and the lowest in eastern Morocco with three species. The majority of Moroccan stoneflies are typical Mediterranean species (86%). The Moroccan endemics comprise nine species (32% of the Moroccan fauna). The Plecoptera fauna of Morocco is compared to that of Algeria and Tunisia. Thirty-eight stonefly species are reported from the entire Maghreb region. Protonemura khroumiriensis BéjaouiBoumaïza, 2009 is considered a synonym of P. drahamensis VinçonPardo, 2006.

An overview of Moroccan stoneflies is presented as an annotated summary of published and unpublished records from 115 localities. These records have resulted in an updated species list reflecting taxonomic corrections and noteworthy range extensions for several species. A total of 28 species, belonging to 15 genera and seven families, is now known from Morocco with the greatest diversity found in the Rif Mountains (23 species) and the lowest in eastern Morocco with three species. The majority of Moroccan stoneflies are typical Mediterranean species (86%). The Moroccan endemics comprise nine species (32% of the Moroccan fauna). The Plecoptera fauna of Morocco is compared to that of Algeria and Tunisia. Thirty-eight stonefly species are reported from the entire Maghreb region. Protonemura khroumiriensis Bejaoui & Boumaiza, 2009 is considered a synonym of P. drahamensis Vincon & Pardo, 2006.