Ecological Diagnosis of the Algerian West Coast Marine Environment by Using Benthic Macroalgae

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to carry out an ecological diagnostic of intertidal rocky marine habitats in Oran coastline (South Western Mediterranean). The ecological status and ecological quality were assessed by using the abundance and composition of benthic macroalgae to indicate shifts in the aquatic ecosystem in Nine (9) targeted stations. The floristic inventory has revealed a total of 18 taxa, including 5 Rhodophyta, 8 Phaeophyta and 5 Chlorophyta. The calculation of environmental quality indices (average cover, global average cover and species richness) showed a heterogeneity in the composition and the distribution of macroalgae between the different stations as well as a very high diversity at the station (S1) which was characterized by the presence of fourteen (14) species of algae of the three groups compared to the other stations. The algal flora of the Oran Bay was characterized by the dominance of Chlorophyta, followed by Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta.