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Composition and distribution of stygobionts in the Tafna alluvial aquifer (north-western Algeria).
- Source :
-
Subterranean Biology . 2011, Issue 8, p21-32. 12p. - Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Little is known about the hypogean fauna of Algeria, with studies mostly dating to the beginning of the twentieth century (Gurney 1908; Racovitza 1912; Monod 1924; Pesce and Tetè 1978); moreover, the knowledge varies markedly among regions. In this study, we examined the composition and distribution of the invertebrate communities in the phreatic zone of the Tafna aquifer (N-W Algeria). Twelve wells close to the Tafna wadi, ranging between 120 and 1100 m a.s.l., were studied from May 2005 to March 2006. Many specimens belonging to 37 taxa were collected, the most frequent taxa being Typhlocirolana sp., a stygobitic Gammaridae species, Cyclopidae and Ostracoda. Other crustacean species were relatively scarce, with discontinuous distribution, being present only in a few wells. The taxonomic richness and abundance of stygobitic crustacean communities were relatively constant over time. The spatial distribution of stygobionts was mainly related to the exchanges with surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *HYPOGEAN fishes
*AQUIFERS
*WADIS
*ZOOGEOGRAPHY
*ANIMAL species
*GAMMARIDAE
*CRUSTACEA
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 17681448
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Subterranean Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 85643941
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.8.1227