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Distribution and Biology of Amphipods on Two Geomorphologically Different Sandy Beaches in Tunisia

2011; Brill; Volume: 84; Issue: 5-6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/001121611x566776

1568-5403

Amel Ayari, Karima Nasri‐Ammar,

Mollusks and Parasites Studies

The spatio-temporal distribution and the biology of supra-littoral amphipods were studied in spring and autumn on two Tunisian beaches: Bizerte (northern Tunisia) and the central Gulf of Gabès (southern Tunisia); the latter is characterized by the most substantial tidal amplitude in the entire Mediterranean basin. Quadrats of 0.25 m 2 were used along a transect in order to determine both quantitative and qualitative ecological parameters. The results showed that, whatever the sampling season and apart from some beetles found in spring, the only species found on Gabès beach was the supra-littoral amphipod Talitrus saltator , while on Bizerte beach three species were identified: Talitrus saltator, Deshayesorchestia deshayesii , and Orchestia gammarellus . Furthermore, the density obtained in spring was significantly high, both in Bizerte (267 individuals/m 2 ) and Gabès (99 individuals/m 2 ). The distribution zone of Talitrus saltator on the second sampling site was wider in spring (12.5 m) than in autumn (2.5 m), whereas the difference in the distribution of the three species of amphipods on Bizerte beach was more limited in spring (5 m) than in autumn (7 m).