Contribution to the Systematic and Biological Study of Macrozoobenthic Communities of Ghar El Melh Lagoon (Northern Tunisia)

This study presents a taxonomic and biological investigation of the macrozoobenthic communities in the Ghar El Melh lagoon. Samples were collected in 2019 (6 campaigns from April to September) from two various polluted and non-polluted stations. Identification was made using taxonomic keys for each group and a histological study was performed to determine the internal organization necessary for the identification of Rhabditophores Platyhelminths. Seven phyla were recorded: Annelida (class of polychaetes), Arthropoda (class of crustaceans), Mollusca (classes of gastropods, lamellibranchs and polyplacophores), Chordata (class of ascidiacea), Echinodermata (classes of ophiuridea and echinoidea), Platyhelminthes (class Rhabditophora) and Cnidaria (classes of Anthozoa and Scyphozoa). Fifty-one species belonging to 7 different phyla and 11 classes were recorded. Compared to previous studies, 15 species belonging to 6 identified phyla are considered new records for this lagoon ecosystem. Moreover, data dealing with ecology and biology of some reported species are given, and similarities and differences between the two areas of study are reported.