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Zitouni Boutiba

  • Biodiversity Journal, 8 (3): 807-818

    Bouhadiba Sultana, Belhoucine Fatma, Belhadj Hanane, Alioua Amel & Boutiba Zitouni
    Quantification of two metallic elements in the Mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Mugilidae), fished at the bay of Oran (NW Algeria)

    ABSTRACT
    Aware of the problem of marine pollution, the Algerian authorities and the national scientific community are increasingly interested in environmental studies, with a view to assessing risks and protecting our coastal ecosystem. For this reason, several studies are carried out on the studies of the degree of contamination of the Algerian coasts as well as the fishery products. This research is partly rooted in a monitoring mission to conduct an integrated study of the marine environment. The objectives of this work are oriented towards societal questions and to provide elements of assistance to the management of this environment for the local actors. This study focused on the evaluation of the concentrations of the two heavy metals Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) in Mullet, Mugil cephalus Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes Mugilidae), caught in the Oran bays. This fish reflects very well the quality of its biotope; it is a very abundant species in Algerian coastal waters and very appreciated by the Algerian consumer. The harvesting campaigns were carried out for fourteen months from February 2012 to March 2013, the quantification of heavy metal concentrations was carried out in three organs: liver (the detoxification organ), gonads ( the reproductive organs) and flesh (representing the part consumed by humans). Heavy metal concentrations were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry as a function of several parameters. The mean concentrations of Lead and Zinc in muscle, liver and fish gonads in Oran Bay are below standards, i.e. the grades are generally low in the two metals studied and do not exceed the normative limits required in fish. This study indicates a limited bioavailability of two metals (Lead and Zinc) in the fishery products. Results of biochemical analysis revealed metallic contents below the maximum allowable doses (D.M.A), which other studies have confirmed. These heavy metals are present at low concentrations in nature and in living organisms.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 7 (2): 233-240

    Amel Bellal, Naouel Amel Brahim Tazi, Zakia Hadjou & Zitouni Boutiba
    First records of digenean trematodes of two fishes (Teleostei Sparidae) from the West Algerian coast and comparative study with Tunisian coast (Mediterranean Sea West)

    ABSTRACT
    Two species of the Teleostean Diplodus Rafinesque, 1810 Sparidae fish, Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 134) and D. annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) (n = 60), from the Algerian west coast were examined with regards to Digenea parasites occurrence between March 2013 and December 2014. This investigation led to inventory 12 species of Digenea (Lepidauchen stenostoma, Arnola microcirrus, Magnibursatus bartolii, Proctoeces maculatus, Holorchis pycnoporus, Lepocreadium album, Wardula sarguicola, Monorchis sp., Macvicaria crassigula, Pseudopycnadena fischtali, Diphterostomum brusinae and Zoogonus rubellus). These species are reported in the selected locality situated in Oran bay for the first time. Furthermore, Lepidauchen stenostoma in D. annularis is reported for the first time in the western Mediterranean. The majority of the recorded digeneans colonize one or two parts of the host digestive tract, the intestine being the most parasitized site. The calculation of epidemiologic indices provides information on the occurrence of digeneans identified in these two hosts. The diversity of Digenea is compared with that of the Gulf of Tunis, the Bizerte lagoon and another locality in the western Mediterranean. The Algerian west coast shows the highest value in the species richness of digeneans as compared to that of all the Mediterranean coasts.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (3): 165-172

    Saliha Dermeche, Fayçal Chahrour & Zitouni Boutiba
    Evaluation of the toxicity of metal pollutants on embryonic development of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata Echinoidea)

    ABSTRACT
    Bioassays are frequently used to evaluate biological effects of pollutants on marine organisms. The objective of such tests is the detection of toxic effects on populations that are representative of a given ecosystem. Sea urchin is a model organism employed in the field of environmental toxicology due to its sensitivity towards various pollutants, particularly heavy metals. Preliminary bioassay tests on embryos and/or larvae of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamark, 1816) from Madagh (Oran, Algeria) were used to assess the potential toxicity and determine the LC50 of four metal pollutants, Cadmium, Copper, Lead and Zinc.

  • Biodiversity Journal, 3 (1): 041-048

    Ahlem Amina Taleb Bendiab, Salim Mouffok & Zitouni Boutiba
    Reproductive biology and growth of Lesser Spotted Dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758) in Western Algerian coasts (Chondrichthyes, Scyliorhinidae)

    ABSTRACT
    Elasmobranch fishes have a large distribution. At the level of the Mediterranean fisheries, a low density of elasmobranchs is noted at the assemblages, these fisheries appearing near to the point of best efficiency or even to over-exploitation. Indeed, a general decline of shark populations was observed over the last decade on the Mediterranean coast. The aim of this work was to evaluate different biological characteristics of the species Scyliorhinus canicula (Linnaeus, 1758). A sampling of 461 specimens was realized between September 2009 and August 2010 from the western coast of Algeria. The oviduco-somatic index OSI, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and the condition factor (Kn) were estimated monthly for 249 females to identify the reproduction period. Obtained results show a rapid maturation from September to November and from February to April when the Kn values are very low.