Abstract
Physical Habitat characterization of black flies was performed in the Tafna Basin of Algeria, based primarily on stream size, substrate, and aquatic and riparian vegetation. A total of 143 samples were taken between April and October 2009 at 11 sampling sites in the Tafna catchment. Dams exerted an effect through a slowdown of flow and sedimentation of fine particles, eliminating coarse microhabitats favorable for black flies. Stream and substrate characteristics are key parameters that determined the microhabitats of the species. Of 10 species considered, four were widely present with significant plasticity for the stream and substrate. Four other species were more closely associated with faster streams and eroded substrate. A greater rheophilic tendency was found for Simulium bezzii (Corti), Simulium sergenti Edwards, Simulium quadrifila Grenier, Faure and Laurent and Simulium galloprovinciale Giudicelli, which represents a new record for Algeria.
Highlights
Among the benthic macroinvertebrates of Algerian wadis, larvae and pupae of Diptera Simuliidae have received less attention
Of the 10 species in our samples, seven previously have been reported in Tafna catchment by Gagneur and Clergue-Gazeau [6]: S. velutinum, S. ruficorne, S. bezzii, S. intermedium, S. ornatum, S. pseudequinum, and S. sergenti. They have found in wadis of the Djurdjura Mountains in northern Algeria [8] and in the Seybouse River Basin in northeastern Algeria [10]
Simulium trifasciatum and S. quadrifila were reported recently in the checklist of Simuliidae of Algeria [9], and S. galloprovinciale was recorded for the first time in this work
Summary
Among the benthic macroinvertebrates of Algerian wadis, larvae and pupae of Diptera Simuliidae have received less attention. Apart from the first inventory [1], the early studies were devoted to the description of species but rarely to their ecology [2]-[5]. The present study, performed 25 years after the work by Gagneur and Clergue-Gazeau [6] on Simuliidae in the Tafna catchment, aims to identify the faunal composition, to provide update simuliid geographic observations and understand the organization of the community by analysis of the micro-distribution of species within differentiated microhabitats according to the current-substrate complex. The concept of a relationship between the specific characteristics of microhabitats and the micro-distribution of macroinvertebrates has been highlighted by numerous authors [11]-[14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
