Study of the impact of metal and organic pollution on benthic macrofauna using multivariate analyses in coastal wetland of Reghaïa, Algeria.

Abstract

In this study, we studied the impact of pollution, metallic, organic, and environmental parameters, on benthic macroinvertebrates of the Reghaïa wetland and coastal zone, which is a nature reserve located in northern Algeria and is one of the last heritage sites on the central coast of the country. To do this, multivariate methods are used. The results of the multivariate analyses clearly show the impact of metal and organic pollution on the macroinvertebrates of this wetland which is really striking; this pollution has destroyed and upset the biodiversity of the benthic macrofauna and it has led to the disappearance of several taxa. This pollution has drained this wetland of the taxonomic richness of benthic macroinvertebrates, the only taxa that have resisted are the Diptera such as Psychodidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Syrphidae.