Northeastern Algeria Research Articles

Diversity and composition of island insects of the Bejaia region (Algeria).

The study was conducted on four islands located west of Bejaia (north-eastern Algeria) to collect baseline information about diversity and composition of insects. Data were collected during summer and spring of 2015 using traps, sweep nets and the Japanese umbrella sampling methods. A total of 1691 individuals belonging to 112 species were collected. Totals of 72, 56, 41 and 34 species were recorded in Pisans Island, El Euch Island, Sahel Islet and Ail Islet, respectively. Of the 1,691 individuals recorded, 39.85 %, 30.51 %, 18.03 % and 11.59 % were recorded in Pisans Island, El Euch Island, Sahel islet and Ail islet, respectively. Shannon-weaver index ranged from 2.96 to 3.34 and Equitability between 0.77 and 0.87. The composition of the insect community differed between sampled islands (NMDS, Stress =. 0.013). Eleven (11) insect species composed over 50 % of dissimilarity between islands. Two species (Cassida viridis (L.) and Pheidole pallidula (Nyl.) accounted for more than 5% of the diversity on all islands. Sorensen's similarity coefficient showed that Pisans and El Euch islands have the highest similarity (45.37 %), while the lowest similarity was recorded between Pisans Island and Sahel Islet (15.53 %).

Ecosystem services, vulnerability and threat levels of Ramsar wetlands in the complex of Aurès Sbkhates, North-Eastern Algeria

Abstract A socio-economic study were carried out in the wetlands complex of Aurès Sebkhates, in North Eastern Algeria. This study aimed to identify the ecosystem services obtained by local stakeholders, describe the anthropogenic impacts and evaluate the vulnerability and threat levels of three Ramsar wetlands: Garaet Timerganine (freshwater), Garaet Annk Djemel & El Merhsel (brackish water) and Sebkhet Ezzmoul (salt water). A socio-economic survey was conducted of 70 randomly selected households (social group) and 24 people belonging to the local administration (focus group). Vulnerability and threat levels were analyzed. Provisioning and monetary value are the most relevant ecosystem services (water pumping, grazing, agriculture, area for recreation, plant and egg collection, salt mining). Indirect ecosystem services rendered by the studied wetlands (water treatment/flood control) are only known by the focus group. 95% of the surveyed locals believed that the studied wetlands have experienced significant degradation in recent years mainly by human activity. Our results revealed significant threats due to salt mining and the excessive water pumping practiced within the three sites. Natural stressors such as drying out, erosion and siltation also contribute to the disturbance of these wetlands. Analysis of vulnerability (Vt) and threat (T) indices revealed that Garaet Timerganine is highly vulnerable (Vt= 1.48; T = 17.16), Ezzmoul is moderately vulnerable (Vt = 0.23; T = 2.3) and Annk Djemel & El Merhsel are weakly vulnerable (Vt = 0.04; T = 0.28). This study highlighted the most vulnerable wetlands in order to prioritize them and to build a strategy for conservation and their wise use.

Assessing the subsistence strategies of the earliest North African inhabitants: evidence from the Early Pleistocene site of Ain Boucherit (Algeria)

The archaeological data on the earliest hominin behavioral subsistence activities in North Africa are derived primarily from the Early Pleistocene site of Ain Boucherit (northeastern Algeria). Ain Boucherit consists of two archaeological layers, Ain Boucherit Upper (AB-Up) and Ain Boucherit Lower (AB-Lw), estimated to ~ 1.9 Ma and ~ 2.4 Ma, respectively. Cutmarked and hammerstone percussed bones associated with Oldowan stone tools were found in both layers, with AB-Lw yielding the oldest in North Africa. The faunal assemblages from both deposits are dominated by small-sized bovids and equids. Evidence of cutmarks and percussion marks in both assemblages shows that hominins exploited animal carcasses, involving skinning, evisceration and defleshing activities. The evidence of meat and marrow acquisition is more abundant at AB-Lw with carnivore activity being scarce. However, the AB-Up assemblage shows more carnivore damage and less hominin-induced tool marks. Ain Boucherit evidence, is similar, in type and chronology, to that provided by the Early Pleistocene sites in East Africa (e.g., the Gona sites), where the oldest evidence of stone tools used in faunal exploitation have been discovered. This paper reports on the ability of early North African Oldowans to compete successfully for accessing animal resources with other predators.

Experimental study of a low-cost ceiling cooling system in the north Algerian climate

This experimental study aimed to characterize the performance of a new type of radiant ceiling heating/cooling system in terms of thermal comfort and energy savings in a room of a building located in northeastern Algeria. Good insulation was applied to the room located on the ground floor after studying its heat losses and gains. Tests were conducted during the summer period, more precisely in June, to evaluate the thermal conditions of the room during the intermittent periods of operation of the radiant ceiling system. Results showed that the room's ambient temperature decreased by 1.1 °C after 15 min of operating the cooling system during the first day of the experiment and remained below 27.2 °C throughout all the experimental days regardless of the outdoor temperature. The system was highly efficient, did not require daily use, and reduced cooling energy consumption by 89%. Despite the primitive and simple materials and tools used to manufacture the radiant panels (diffusers), the system produced satisfactory results at 38 EU/m2.

Hydrogeochemistryof groundwater in Es-Sbikhat El-Mahmel basin, Khenchela (NE Algeria)

Es-Sbikhat El-Mahmel basin, located at the southeastern piedmont of Aures massif (Northeastern Algeria), is characterized by a semi arid condition . The sampling process was realized within 39 boreholes and wells during May 2015. Results of analysis data projected on the PCA (Principal Componet Analysis) plan which express 52.70% of variance has shown a chemical facies evolution from calcium bicarbonate water into calcium chloride water, going through a transition facies marked by calcium-sulfate to magnesium-sulfate water.Thermodynamic analysis corroborated that water rock interaction is the main process that control mineralization (dissolution precipitation, cationic exchange and anthropogenic pollution).

Evaluating the Effect of Land Use Land Cover Changes on Soil Loss Distribution in the Seybouse Basin, Northeastern Algeria

Evaluating the Effect of Land Use Land Cover Changes on Soil Loss Distribution in the Seybouse Basin, Northeastern Algeria

Oyster-dominated macrobenthic associations in the Cenomanian of Djebel Bouarif (Aures Mountains, Northeastern Algeria)

In the Batna area of Algeria, the Cenomanian is represented by the Smail Marls Formation, a highly fossiliferous unit with a diverse benthic macrofauna (mainly of ostreid bivalves). A total of 1090 specimens belonging to 65 macrobenthic species were identified from 19 stratigraphic samples. The macrofaunal communities were quantitively analyzed using the hierarchical clustering (HC), nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), and permutational analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Five distinct associations are recognized: 1) Costagyra olisiponensis, 2) Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum, 3) Aspidiscus cristatus, 4) Rhynchostreon suborbiculatum-Mecaster ameliae, and 5) Pycnodonte vesicularis. Data suggests that during the Cenomanian, the dominance of high-energy opportunistic oyster species within the soft marly sediments are related to their adaptive strategies. The changes noted in the community structure are attributed to sea-level fluctuations, rate of sedimentation and the prevailing hydrodynamics. Towards the uppermost Cenomanian and the Cenomanian–Turonian boundary, the oysters become rare due to eustatic sea-level rise and this decline coincides with increasing predation intensity on oysters and the destruction of their shallower habitats.

Fish food-web structure of a southern Mediterranean lagoon (El Mellah Lagoon, Algeria): what we can learn from stable isotope analysis

The structure of a fish food-web was described for the first time in a coastal lagoon in the southern Mediterranean Sea by analysing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes of fish species and their potential food sources. The El Mellah Lagoon (EML) located in extreme north-eastern Algeria, is the only coastal lagoon in the southern Mediterranean with low human pressure due to few human activities and its protected status under the Ramsar Convention. We investigated the structure of the fish food-web in the spring at four stations in the lagoon that differed in their proximity to rivers and the channel, which connects to the sea. The results provided insight into ecological functions of EML as a feeding area for all fish species caught in the lagoon, in particular marine migrant juveniles and resident species. The δ13C results highlighted the importance of marine organic matter on the functioning of the EML fish food-web, to which organic matter in marine sediments and likely microphytobenthos contribute most. Our study also revealed the importance of seagrass (Ruppia sp.) for detritivorous fish (i.e., Mugilidae species) and for their potential to shelter a wide variety of benthic invertebrates that are potential food sources for benthivorous fish. Our study revealed the small influence of freshwater inputs on the functioning of the EML food-web and that juvenile marine fish may use the lagoon for reasons other than feeding, most likely to avoid predation and obtain physiological advantages.

Ultraviolet-photoluminescence and trace element analyses in Ga-rich sphalerite from the Djebel Gustar Zn-Pb deposit, Algeria

The Djebel Gustar Zn-Pb deposit in northeastern Algeria is one of many carbonate-hosted base metal deposits in the Atlas metallogenic province of North Africa. The sphalerite in this deposit occurs in five distinct types that differ in texture, mineral assemblage, chemical composition, and UV photoluminescence signature. Detailed investigation of trace elements by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) showed that the sphalerite is significantly enriched in the critical metal Ga. The trace element concentrations of the different sphalerite types correlated well with their photoluminescence color; with Mn2+ (orange-yellow), Cu+ (green), and Ga3+ (red) being the dominant activators. We suggest that the Ga enrichment in the Djebel Gustar deposit is the result of formation conditions that include the mixing of a Cl-rich fluid carrying mainly Zn and Pb with a more reduced and Cl-poor fluid containing considerable organic matter and/or calcite with adsorbed Ga(OH)3. This Ga was subsequently incorporated into sphalerite, rather than forming a stoichiometric Ga phase. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that UV photoluminescence of low Fe sphalerite has the potential to become a simple and affordable tool for preliminary characterization of sphalerite ores in mining and exploration with respect to critical elements such as Ga.

Laffitteina from the Maastrichtian-Thanetian shallow marine carbonates of the Aures Basin (Northeastern Algeria): microfacies and stratigraphic distribution

The Maastrichtian-Thanetian Ncham Member of the Aurès Basin in northeastern Algeria contains variably lenticular microfossils, which are defined as Laffitteina genera. It is a large benthic foraminifera, studied from three stratigraphic sections. The systematic study of Laffitteina led identification of nine species, four of which, Laffitteina marsicana, L. aff. mengaudi, L. monodi and L. erki were recorded for the first time in the study area. Various species of Laffitteina were used as index fossils to recognize the K/Pg transition in the Aurès Basin. The last occurrence of L. oztuerki marks the end of the Maastrichtian, which was found in association with Omphalocyclus macroporus (Lamarck) in the upper Maastrichtian. The first occurrence of L. erki marks the Thanetian age, while the Danian and Selandian deposits are missing in the field after a general emersion in the early Paleocene, despite the absence of a visible non unconformity. It could therefore be proposed that the K/Pg transition may occurs in the last 10 m of the Ncham Member. Concerning the paleoenvironment, Laffitteina is considered as a resistant foraminifera and thrives in meso- to eutrophic environments (lagoon). Microfacies data from the Upper Cretaceous-Lower Paleogene limestones of the Aurès Basin suggests a carbonate platform with shallowing-up sequential organization, mainly controlled by fluctuations in sea-level.

The 24 January 2020 Mw 5.0 El Aouana Earthquake, Northeastern Algeria: Insights into a New NW–SE Right-Lateral Bejaia-Babors Shear Zone

The 24 January 2020 Mw 5.0 El Aouana Earthquake, Northeastern Algeria: Insights into a New NW–SE Right-Lateral Bejaia-Babors Shear Zone

GIS-based Selection of Appropriate Landfill Sites: The Case of Communal Grouping in Batna, Algeria

The choice of a landfill site is a complex process that includes various, social, environmental, and technical, parameters which require the processing of a large amount of spatial data. The Geographic Information System (GIS), integrated with its functionalities, represents a powerful and well-adapted tool to solve this problem. This study uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to solve the problem of quantifying qualitative features. It enables users to make intuitive judgments about the relative eight of different predetermined criteria or options in Batna, northeastern Algeria and its neighboring municipalities. The superposition of data related to several characteristics, such as geology, hydrology, and land use, allowed us to overcome several difficulties in evaluating the location of sites suitable for establishing landfills. Results show that 88.498km2 in total meets the specified exclusion factors, of which 34.098% represent areas of very excellent suitability and 33.741% appropriate areas. Finally, low appropriateness applies to 32.161%.

Geophysical and geological contribution to determining the neritic limestone aquifer structure of Hammam Bradaa – El Fedjoudj (Seybouse medium), Northeastern Algeria

Purpose. The neritic aquifer that extends between Hammam Bradaa and El Fedjoudj, despite its faulted and in places karstified structure, due toits capacity and lateral extension represent a strategic resource for the region. Its waters are used for drinking water supply in the neighboring towns: Heliopolis, Guelaat Bousbaa, Nechmaya and El Fedjoudj, as well as in part of the Annaba wilaya. These neritic limestones outcrop at Djebel Debagh and Bouzitoune. Methods. In order to better study the potential of this aquifer, it is essential to identify its geometry and structure by analyzing the geological data, mechanical drilling data and geophysical data analysis through an electrical survey campaign. Findings. The main results indicate that the study area has identified two important aquifer formations: a formation in the Mio-Plio-Quaternary alluvium consisting of clays, marls, gravel and sand; the second is a deep carbonate aquifer composed of fissured and karstified neritic limestone of the Cretaceous age of variable depth ranging within 50 and 350 m. Originality. The originality of the study is in the fact that the studied area is characterized by the presence of thick, fractured and karstified carbonate formations, which are intensively tectonized and have significant aquifer potential. Practical implications. The correlation of geological data with geophysical data made it possible to conclude that the stu-died area is a sedimentary basin bounded by faults predominantly oriented to the south-west and north-east, forming a highly fractured unit consisting of horsts and grabens. The significant water potential reservoir is formed essentially by carbonate geological formations, highly fractured with the presence of karst forms represented by resistant horizons.

Estimated Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Ruminants from Slaughterhouses in Constantine Province (Northeastern Algeria): A 10-Year Retrospective Survey (2011–2020)

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered one of the most widespread and devastating zoonotic diseases in low-income countries, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The aim of this 10-year retrospective survey (from 2011 to 2020) was to determine the frequency of bovine, ovine, and goat tuberculosis in different local slaughterhouses across Constantine Province, Algeria. The control of livestock carcasses was systematically performed by veterinarian inspectors, after each stage of the slaughter process. The routine abattoir inspection included the detection of visible abnormalities on different organs and lymph nodes. The overall prevalence of tuberculosis recorded in slaughtered animals was 0.83%, with the following distribution among species: 2.73% in cattle, 0.001% in sheep, and 0.0% in goats. During the study period, there was a strong correlation (R = 0.82) (p < 0.01) between tuberculosis occurrence and the number of slaughtered cattle. Fluctuations in monthly TB prevalence ranged from 2% to 24.8% between 2018 and 2020, although there were no statistically significant correlations between infection and the age or gender of the animals, except for the year 2020 when a significantly higher (p = 0.017) percentage of TB cases were recorded in female cattle compared to male cattle. The average monthly weight of the confiscated livers and lungs ranged significantly (p ≤ 0.05) from 150 kg to 350 kg. The study results provide baseline data regarding livestock tuberculosis monitoring in the area of Constantine, Algeria, indicating that the disease incidence is not highly alarming, yet remains a serious public and animal health issue in the screened region.

SOIL ANALYSIS OF BARN SWALLOW (HIRUNDO RUSTICA) NEST’S (NORTHEASTERN OF ALGERIA)

This work consists of analyzing the Barn Swallows nest’s soil (Hirundo Rustica) which was nested in the northeastern Algeria, particularly in the Mila region (Beinen), the Guelma region (Town-Center and Bouchegouf) and, the Oum El Bouaghi region (Ain el Baida). This species of birds uses different materials to build their nests, whose main component is the existing meadow soil. This study is contributes to knowing the bird strategy on nest building and materials chosen in it. From there, we have done weight chemical analysis according to the Vatan model; the results obtained are represented in the Czerminski diagram; for the organic matter quantification, we have used Walkley and Blacket method, and ecological analysis was according to ANOVA model. The weight chemical analysis results showed us loamy sandstone or marly sandstone soil type on the Northside of the study area (Mila region) and marly sandstone, sandy-marly loams, marl, and marly-sandy limestones on the Southside of the study area (Guelma and Oum El Baouaghi region), the organic matter analysis results showed non-aggressive soils and the ecological analyzes revealed a significant difference between the nest’s compositions of each region except for the loam which has an F = 1.4857 and P = 0.2681. So, the Barn Swallows have a very precise strategy in choosing construction materials for their nests. For that, we recommend to characterize those construction materials by other studies (plasticity, mechanical resistance, mineralogy etc.).

Prophylactic Acts and Ethnoveterinary Medicine for Sick Cattle in Few Cow Farming in the Wilaya of Skikda ( Northeastern Algeria )

A sample of 130 dairy cattle farms distributed in twenty communes of the wilaya of Skikda located in the North East of Algeria was the subject of investigations on the prophylactic acts during 3 agricultural campaigns and on the therapeutic methods adopted by the breeders when diseases appear in their herds as well as knowledge of traditional remedies based on medicinal plants used in dairy cattle farming to treat certain diseases. Concerning prophylactic acts, the regular monitoring of internal and external parasitism of animals practiced respectively in 58.6% and 82.2% of farms surveyed is significant compared to other regions of the country. On the other hand, vaccination against rabies is only practiced in 25.5% of farms. While the screening operations for tuberculosis and brucellosis were only carried out in 38.2% of cases. The breeders surveyed in the wilaya of Skikda adopt different strategies to try to treat their sick animals: 65.4% of ‘among them call on the veterinarian while 18.5% try to treat their sick animals themselves with the use of medicinal plants against certain diseases and other breeders use drugs and medicinal plants at the same time to accelerate healing for fear of veterinary costs. In terms of ethnobotany, the 20 plant species used in the composition of 24 traditional remedies to treat various livestock diseases have shown that the aerial part of the plant is the most used part (65%) and the form of use the most. the most widespread is the infusion (50%). It seems important to encourage scientific research in order to identify the traditional remedies used in ethnoveterinary medicine and to test their effectiveness.

Comparative and Evaluative Study On Total Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Potential Within Hydromythanol Extracts and Their Fractions from All Parts of Drimia numidica (JORD. &amp; FOURR.) J.C. MANNING &amp; GOLDBLATT of Northeastern Algeria

Introduction: Drimia numidica is a polyphenol-rich species that has antioxidant capacity, which makes it very important. Nevertheless, D. numidica has not been studied in depth. Moreover, its capsules have not been studied so far. This detailed study compared the values of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of all D. numidica parts (scapes, flowers, bulbs, capsules, leaves, roots), from Edough Peninsula, Annaba, Algeria, using hydromethanol extracts and their fractions (cyclohexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). Methods: The total phenolic content was determined by Folin Ciocalteo assay, and the antioxidant activity by the following methods: DPPH, Reducing Powder, Phenanthroline, Silver Nanoparticles, CUPRAC, and ABTS. Statistical analysis was done using the ANOVA test and a correlation test (between antioxidant activity and total phenolic content). Results: The Ethyl acetate fraction was found the sample with the highest phenolic content. The same was true for the antioxidant activity in all tests except for the silver nanoparticles test in which cyclohexane extracts scored the best. Considering the methods used in general, there is a correlation between phenolic content and the highest antioxidant activity, but there are some methods that have not recorded any correlation. Conclusion: Choosing the appropriate method or extract/fraction type is extremely important. In addition, extracts of D. numidica parts could be an important natural alternative to antioxidants industrial.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Propolis from Northeastern Algeria

Propolis is a bee resinous substance consisting mainly of phenolic compounds having nutritional and therapeutic properties and formed by the mixing of the tree and plant secretions collected by honey bees. Herein, the present study was aimed to assess the antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity of ethanolic and acetone propolis extracts from two sampling sites in Souk Ahras city (northeast Algeria). The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by using the common antioxidant assays (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH], acide 2-2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonique) [ABTS], galvinoxyl radical [GOR], and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity [CUPRAC]), and the anticholinesterase activity was determined against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Moreover, the total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and condensed tannins (CTC) contents were quantified. The propolis extracts showed a potent antioxidant/inhibitory activity which almost met that of synthetic antioxidants used as standards (butylated hydroxytoluene [BHT] and butylated hydroxyanisole [BHA]). In addition, the AChE activity was highly strongly inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the propolis extracts. The propolis extracts proved their richness in bioactive molecules able to enhance various biological activities and processes.

Family Carabidae (Coleoptera) in an Algerian salt wetland: taxonomic diversity, functional traits and effect of environmental drivers on their structure and composition

ABSTRACT This study treated the taxonomic diversity and the functional traits of the carabid beetle communities living at Sebkha Ezzemoul in Northeastern Algeria. The fauna was fortnightly sampled using pitfall traps, set up in two stations at the wetland vicinity, during one year. Alpha diversity was evaluated by calculating non-parametric indices. Moreover, several functional traits of the beetles, such as body size, diet, humidity requirement, wing morphology and chorotypes, were studied. The GLMM test was applied to test the spatiotemporal effect and the effects of the environmental variables on the variation of beetles’ diversity. The CCA was applied to determine how environmental factors influence the functional traits of the carabid community. Catches totalled 173 individuals belonging to 18 species, 14 genera and 9 subfamilies. The most abundant species is Cicindela maura with 51 individuals (29.48%). The collected species were dominated by medium-sized body (55.55%), zoophagous (72.22%), hygrophilous (61.11%) and macropterous species (94.44). Most of them were Mediterranean (77.77%). The use of GLMM showed significant effects of the environmental factors on the Carabidae communities. The CCA demonstrated that mesophilous and zoophagous as well as small- and medium-sized species were positively correlated with the environmental factor except the soil pH.

A comparative study of the arthropod fauna in stork, barn swallow and common pigeon nests

An analysis was conducted on the arthropod fauna collected from stork, swallow, and pigeon nests during summer 2018 in three regions of north-eastern Algeria (Guelma, El-Tarf, and Annaba). A total of 40 nests was examined, of which 58% were infested with arthropods. Arthropods were less abundant and species rich in swallow nests than in pigeon or stork nests, where a greater dominance of mesostigmatic mites (78.71% and 72.41%, respectively) was found. Dermanyssus gallinae was the most abundant (33.05%) and most frequent (73.33%) mesostigmatic mite in pigeon nests, while uropodina mites were dominant (41.37%) in white stork nests with a frequency of 76.92% of the nests analysed. In swallow nests, the following arthropods were found: Psocodea, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera belonging to the class Insecta and Isopoda belonging to the class Malacostraca. This is the first comparative survey of arthropods occupying the nests of these bird species in northern Algeria. It is anticipated that these data, that highlight the richness of the arthropod fauna in the nests of these bird species, will motivate further research aimed at characterising the arthropod community in different bird nests and determining the nature of the relationships between them.