Groundwater fauna can be used as indicators of anthropogenic impacts on aquifers: A case study from Meknes area, Morocco

Abstract

The groundwater in the plain of Fez-Meknes constitutes a major resource in the region. The study highlights the importance of this resource, especially its irreplaceability. However, a number of inferences of point source pollution or diffuse were made. In this context, this study aimed at showing the possible relationships between the water quality of wells and springs and the diversity of the aquatic fauna which occurs in these habitats. To this end, the water quality and the fauna were regularly investigated in several stations (8 wells and 2 springs) selected in the region. The stations were chosen considering visible differences related to both their fauna and also some evident characteristics i.e. water table depth, nature of geological substratum, protection and human use, so that it was possible to expect certain diversity. The total faunal richness of stations was poorly correlated with water quality but, in contrast, the specific richness of the stygobiontic fauna (the subterranean species living in groundwater), and moreover the abundance of these stygobiontic species decreased significantly in case of water pollution. Thus the stygobiontic fauna and especially the peracarid crustaceans appear to be good indicators of water quality in the studied wells and springs.