Etude hydrobiologique d'un cours d'eau du Moyen-Atlas : l'oued Tizguit (Maroc)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the water quality and the benthic macrofauna of Moroccan rivers from the Moyen-Atlas. The Tizguit wadi was chosen for its accessibility and its environmental variability. Eight physical and chemical factors were measured and the fauna inventory was made at 11 sites during an hydrological cycle. The results showed that changes occurred along an upstream-downstream gradient. The number of sampled taxa was 167 belonging to different groups, where Coleoptera were dominant. The distribution of this fauna depends mainly on the environmental factors, and the originality of its composition depends on the water quality.