Ms
Amal NADRI
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco.)
This study investigates the diversity and seasonal dynamics of macro-epifaunal communities associated with the non-native red alga Agarophyton vermiculophyllum and two native fucoid species, Fucus sp. and Fucus vesiculosus f. volubilis, in the muddy substrates of the Oualidia lagoon along the Atlantic coast of northwestern Morocco. Seasonal sampling over one year revealed that the epiphytic macrofauna was predominantly composed of gastropods and crustaceans, with Idotea granulosa and Peringia ulvae being the most frequently encountered species. Community structure and diversity parameters varied significantly between the introduced red alga and the native brown algae, as well as across seasons. Functional analysis showed that trophic composition was consistently dominated by micrograzers and detritivores. Both seasonality and habitat complexity emerged as key drivers shaping the composition and distribution of macro-epifaunal assemblages. Overall, the findings suggest that A. vermiculophyllum provides a complementary habitat that supports additional epifaunal diversity, potentially enhancing structural complexity and available niches for local macro-epifauna. The results emphasize the combined influence of habitat type and seasonal environmental variation on epiphytic macrofaunal communities in semi-enclosed lagoon ecosystems.
Keywords: Non-native Rhodophyta; Native Phaeophyceae; Seasonal variability, Epiphytic macrofauna; Atlantic coast.
Ms
Amal NADRI
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco.)
Prof.
Brahim SABOUR
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, PO Box 20, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco.)
Prof.
Zahira BELATTMANIA
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, PO Box 20, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco.)
Mr
Zakaria EL-AZZOUZI
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, PO Box 20, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco.)
Prof.
Abdellatif CHAOUTI
(Phycology, Blue Biodiversity and Biotechnology RU, Laboratory of Plant Biotechnology, Ecology and Ecosystem Valorization – LB2VE / URL CNRST 10, Faculty of Sciences El Jadida, Chouaib Doukkali University, PO Box 20, 24000 El Jadida, Morocco.)
