Structure and macroinvertebrate diversity in the Moulouya river basin, Morocco

Abstract

This study provides an update of the inventory of the benthic macrofauna based in sampling carried out in 16 sites in Moulouya river basin (Eastern region from Morocco) between March 2012 and April 2014. The result obtained show that qualitative analysis of the macrozoobenthos allowed the identification of 10120 individus including to 173 taxa: 65% insects belonging to 7 Orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Odonata and Diptera). The faunistic list identified in this paper has enriched the Moulouya basin biodiversity, by 11 species previously unknown are. The ecological analysis communities allowed to identify, the least number of species was observed in superior zones of the rivers areas. However, the highest number of species was recorded in lowland areas.