Abstract
The present study aims to assess entomofauna biodiversity at three saline wetlands, located in Setif region, Northeastern Algeria. To determine the predominant environmental factors in the distribution of entomofauna, six different stations and three transects in each station were chosen according to the distribution of plant and soil salinity in each transect. Results were analysed, and different ecological indexes and analytical methods were applied, from 2016 to 2017. The total of individual insects belonging to 9 orders, 71 families, and 131 species were collected from the three sites. The highest abundance was in Coleoptera (38.17%) while the lowest abundance was found in Ephemeroptera (1.53%). The highest number of individuals (11438) was found in Bazer site in 2016, while the lowest number of individuals (4921) was in site Chott Frain in 2017. The highest abundance of insects (109) was recorded in transect BS1T16, and the lowest abundance of species was recorded in transect HS1T36. Diversity and equitability indices showed highest values in HS1T16 (H = 4,356) and HS1T37 (E = 0.7282). Some ecological parameters showed a significant relationship between the insects occurrence, distribution of plants, and type of soil.
Highlights
Algeria is known by its unique geographical position and its varied areas and climate
Study Area. is study was carried out in the ecocomplex of saline wetlands of the high plains of Setif in Northeastern Algeria (Figure 1). e altitude in this ecocomplex varies between 800 and 1200m, and the region is characterized by semiarid Mediterranean climate, hot-dry summer (30–35°C) followed by cool-wet winter (− 2–5°C) [8]. e majority of these wetlands run dry during the dry season. e dominant substrate soil is rich in magnesium chlorides, and it only allows the development of salt-tolerant flora highly adapted, composed mainly of Chenopodiaceae (Atriplex halimus, Atriplex patula, Salsola fruticosa, and Salicornia fruticosa) and Brassicaceae (Mauricaundia arvensis, Matthiola fruticulosa, and Diplotaxis muralis) [3]
In the three saline wetlands, six stations were selected, with three transects on each station, and the insects were collected each month from February 2016 to November 2017, within halophytic plant belts surrounding directed from the periphery to the lake centre. ey were selected along three transects along soil salinity gradient and vegetation cover gradient
Summary
Algeria is known by its unique geographical position and its varied areas and climate. E biodiversity values of the saline wetlands in the Sebkha Bazer and Chott Beida have been recognised by their national and international significance, as demonstrated through their listing by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. At is due to the outstanding diversity of their plant communities and their role in conserving the large number of animals and migration of water birds that congregate during the dry season and rare insect species [3]. E soil and vegetation diversity and richness indirectly affect insect species diversity and abundance [5, 6]. International Journal of Zoology e most important environmental factors usually affecting insect communities are temperature (water or air), vegetation cover, and salinity (soil and water) [6, 7]. Particular difficulties include absence of surveys or studies of distribution of insects in saline wetlands (Sebkha and Chott). Several studies have shown that macroinvertebrate assemblages begin to be modified when salinity ranges from 1 to 3 g/L with a reduction of diversity and abundance [7]
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