Does increased connectivity with the Mediterranean Sea improve the ecological status of the macroinvertebrates in the lagoon of Boughrara (SW Mediterranean)

摘要: The lagoon of Boughrara is an almost closed system, with limited hydrological connections the sea. Over past several decades, has been exposed to increased pollution due growing human activities in surrounding area. From 2004–2007, channel “El-Kantra” connecting sea extended mixing marine waters. In this work, we monitored ecosystem after its rapid exposure development and associated pollution. Two surveys were carried out winter 2010 then 2013; sediment was sampled principal physical chemical parameters measured at 13 stations. Results show that aspects environmental quality have improved from 2013, most likely extension whereby waters are better mixed resulting physico-chemical conditions over timeframe. Nevertheless, study macrobenthic community did not any improvement. On contrary, species richness abundance macrofauna decreased, some tolerant such as bivalves (Abra alba Cerastoderma edule) abundance. This demonstrates continued impacts on ecosystem.