EurAsian Journal of BioSciences

Eurasia J Biosci 14, 7439-7444 (2020)

Systematic study of the phytoplankton biodiversity of the

Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake of Sidi Bel Abbes (North-West
Algeria)
Baki Afaf 1*, Mhamdia Chafik 1, Belmamoune Ahmed Redha 2, Harizi Khaled 3,
Amar Youcef 1
1
Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Djilali Liabes University of Sidi Bel
Abbès, ALGERIA
2
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Djilali Liabes University of Sidi Bel
Abbès, ALGERIA
3
Department of Hydraulics, Hadj Lakhder University of Batna, ALGERIA
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract
The aim of our work is to study the systematics and phytoplankton biodiversity of the Sidi Mhamed
Benali lake during the study period (March-May 2020). The phytoplankton community of our site has
been studied under different taxonomic and structural aspects, the spatial distribution of taxa in the
studied stations as well as the diversity of phytoplankton stands has been estimated from the
Shannon diversity index and the equitability index. The observations of the morpho-anatomical
characteristics of the phytoplankton made it possible to identify 02 Kingdom, 02 Kingdom, 03 Phylum,
06 Classes, 17 Orders, 22 Families and 28 Genera. This study reveals that the diversity is distributed
unevenly, but only in a short interval and only equitability which explains the distribution of diversity
and settlement structure in the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake as much as aquatic ecosystem with a Total
H' diversity of 0.69 Bits. and an equitability of the order of 0.47.

Keywords: systematic, phytoplankton biodiversity, Sidi Mhamed Benali lake, diversity index,
equitability index

Afaf B, Chafik M, Redha BA, Khaled H, Youcef A (2020) Systematic study of the phytoplankton
biodiversity of the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake of Sidi Bel Abbes (North-West Algeria). Eurasia J
Biosci 14: 7439-7444.

© 2020 Afaf et al.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.

INTRODUCTION concentrations or chlorophyll-a concentration (Medupin

2011).
Phytoplankton not only play important role in aquatic the lake Sidi Mhamed Benali located in the wilaya of
ecosystems but also serve as key indicators for water sidi bel abbes, represents a natural wealth for the
quality assessment (Cadotte et al. 2011). Phytoplankton western region of Algeria, it is an important reserve of
is the primary producer in lake ecosystems, producing water for irrigation. In addition, this lake is an attractive
oxygen and organic matter through photosynthesis tourist site. However, the rapid increase in human
(jiang et al. 2014). activities has caused in recent years a remarkable
Seasonal changes in plankton communities have degradation of the water quality of this ecosystem. In
been found (Lv et al. 2011), which are performed not fact, this lake, through the MEKKERA wadi, receives on
only as changes in species number, density, biomass the one hand the discharges of several agglomerations
and diversity but also as seasonal changes in and on the other hand the agricultural fertilizers from the
community structure (Vallina et al. 2014). Moreover, the TASSALA watershed, which enriches it in nutritive
dominant species of phytoplankton may also change elements and favors the development of the lake flora.
between different seasons within a year (Ye et al. 2014). For these reasons, a study on the special and
Phytoplankton communities are sensitive to changes temporal distribution of phytoplankton was undertaken
in their environment and therefore phytoplankton total on this lake during a seasonal cycle to determine the
biomass and many phytoplankton species are used as systematics and phytoplankton biodiversity of the Sidi
indicators of water quality (Reynolds 1997 ; Reynolds et
al. 2002, Brettum and Andersen 2005).
Phytoplankton communities give more information Received: June 2019
on changes in water quality than mere nutrient Accepted: April 2020
Printed: December 2020

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Mhamed Benali lake during the study period (March- Table 1. Systematic list of Kingdoms inventoried at Lake
May 2020). Sidi Mhamed Benali (April - May 2020) (Abundance %)
Kingdom Abundance % number of genus
Eukaryota 78,28 20
MATERIALS AND METHODS Prokaryota 21,74 8

Presentation of the study area

Lake Sidi M'hamed Benali is located 1.7 km Identification and counting of biological
northwest of the city of Sidi-Bel-Abbès (in Western parameters
Algeria), on a plateau at an altitude of 460 m (35°23' The analysis of phytoplankton is carried out in
North and 0°64' West) (bouzidi 2011), because of its accordance with the recommendations of the standard
biological richness and natural functions, it constitutes guide for counting phytoplankton by inverted microscope
an exceptional natural heritage of this city. (said inverted because the objectives pointing upwards);
This lake has a strictly anthropic origin. It is largely standard NF en 15204 of December 2006,
fed by the canal created in the 1940s between the corresponding to the Utermohl method (UTERMOH
Mekerra wadi and the Sarno wadi (Mhamdia 2016). 1958).
In open water, the lake extends over about fifty After the sedimentation, the quantitative and
hectares. Its maximum depth is about 30 m. with a qualitative examinations are made with an inverted
capacity of 3 million m3 and its depth reaches 30 meters microscope with a magnification X 40.
(Baki 2016). The qualitative study: the algal material is observed
The Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake is one of the most with the inverted microscope. Taxa are identified from
important natural reserves in Western Algeria which is the work of BOURRELLY (1972, 1981 and 1985)
subject to urban and rural impacts that cause a certain (AVANCINI et al. 2006), (BELLINGER and SIGEE
imbalance and visible degradation hence the interest 2010).
and choice of this study (El badaoui 2016). Quantitative study: counting is carried out according
The lake is surrounded by agricultural land that to the method of UTERMOHL (1958) using an inverted
receives high doses of fertilizers and has an abundant microscope. The results are expressed in number of
livestock. In addition to the pollution generated by these algae and cells per liter of raw water.
activities, there is also pollution linked to the lake's Organization and structure of the stand
tourist attractiveness (Chiali and Cherifi 2019). To evaluate the structure of the phytoplankton
Nevertheless, in recent years, the waters of dams community in the study area, the following ecological
and lakes have been threatened by problems of indices were used: abundance, Shannon diversity index
anthropogenic pollution (urban discharges, industrial H', equitability index E.
and agricultural activities, etc.) (Mc Kinney 2002).
Systematic study of phytoplankton
The phytoplankton community in Lake Sidi Mhamed
METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS USED Benali has been studied under different aspects: the
Phytoplankton sampling taxonomic composition and structure as well as the
The phytoplankton studied was harvested at the spatial distribution of taxa in the stations studied.
surface using a 20 µm phytoplankton vacuum net. Systematic study of phytoplankton
Conservation of samples At the five study stations in Lake Sidi Mhamed
The phytoplankton sample is fixed with a solution of Benali, several taxa belonging to different phytoplankton
lugol to obtain a final concentration of 1% in the sample. classes were identified. The observations of the morpho-
Preparation of the sample anatomical characteristics of the phytoplankton
The sample and the material used (sedimentation colonizing the waters of our ecosystem, allowed to
chamber) are put at the same ambient temperature in identify:
order to allow a random sedimentation of the 02 Kingdom 02 Kingdom 03 Branch 06 Classes 17
phytoplankton in the sedimentation chamber. The Orders 22 Families 28 Genera of Phytoplankton listed in
sample is then gently agitated about ten times to Table 1.
homogenize its contents and poured into the Wealth of the Kingdoms
sedimentation chamber. A 10 ml chamber is used, the See Table 1.
chamber thus filled is left in the dark, in a vibration-free Wealth of the Reigns
place to allow a correct sedimentation of the sample. Using Table 2 relative abundance of the
The sedimentation time is 4 hours per cm height of Phytoplankton Genus Kingdoms in Lake Sidi Mhamed
the sedimentation column for a fresh water sample fixed Benali also reveals an uneven distribution of abundance
to Lugol. A 10 ml sample should sediment for 4 hours among the 03 Kingdoms. Chromista is the most
(CEMAGREF 2011). dominant kingdom in numbers with a maximum
percentage of (40%) than Plantae with an average

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Table 2. Systematic list of kingdoms inventoried at Lake Class Wealth

Sidi Mhamed Benali (April - May 2020) (Abundance %) The identified genres are divided into 06 classes.
Reigns Abundance % number of genus
Chromista 40,3 12 Fig. 2 shows a dominance of the Bacillariophyceae
Plantae 37,98 8 class with a maximum percentage of (38%) followed by
Eubacteria 21,74 8 the Conjugatophyceae class (22%) then the
Cyanobacteria class with respectively (18%) and the
Table 3. Systematic list of branches inventoried at the level Trebouxiophyceae class (16%). The rest of the classes
of the Lac Sidi Mhamed Benali dam (April - May 2020) present a low taxonomic richness (4%) and (2%).
(Abundance %)
Branches Abundance % number of genus Wealth of Orders
Bacillariophyta 40,3 12 Fig. 3 shows that the richest order of genera is Are
Charophyta 37,98 8
Cyanobacteria 21,74 8 Zygnematales of maximum percentage (17%), followed
by the orders of Percentage Chlorellales (15%), then
Nostocales and Naviculales, containing 3 genera.The
percentage (38%) and Eubacteria with a minimum
remaining orders are each represented at rates of 1 to 2
percentage of (22%).
genera. Also the least rich order genus is Melosirales of
Wealth of the Branches minimal percentage (0.17).
According to Table 3 relative abundance of
phytoplankton genus phytoplankton phytoplankton
Wealth of families
According to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the family
phytoplankton in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali also reveals
richest in genera is Zygnematales of maximum
an uneven distribution of abundance among the 03
percentage (17%) containing 3 genera, followed by the
phytoplankton genera phytoplankton phytoplankton
families Oocystaceae of percentage (14%), then
phytoplankton in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali.

Fig. 2. Presentation of the study area

Fig. 3. Richness of Phytoplankton Genus Classes in the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake

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Fig. 4. Richness of Families in Phytoplankton genera in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali.

Fig. 5. Relative abundance (%) of Phytoplankton Genera in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali. (2020)

Nostocales (10%) and Naviculales (9%), the remaining Frequency of abundance (centesimal
orders are represented each at rates of 1 to 2 genera. frequency)
Also the least rich order genus is Entomoneidaceae of According to Fig. 6 and Table 4 the majority of
minimal percentage (0.17%). genera are Ubiquitous (09 genera), of the 28 genera in
Representation of phytoplankton classes the dam followed by the Regulated (50%-75%) and
Using Fig. 5 In terms of abundance (number of cells Constant (75-100%) genera which are of the order of 06
per Litre or per mm3); and as shown in the histogram genera and 05 genera are Accidental (0-25 %) the rest
there is an important difference between the genera of 02 genera are Accidental.
phytoplankton, while the most abundant genus of Structure Indices of Phytoplanktonic
phytoplankton in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali. during the Populations of the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake.
period of our study is: Oocystis that represents almost Shannon-weaver index
(15%) of the total, followed by Anabaena (10%) and The diversity of phytoplankton stands is estimated
Spirogyra (9%) followed by the other genera up to from the Shannon diversity index, with a total species
Entomoneis which presents the lowest abundance value richness (S= 28).
(0.17%). According to Fig. 7 and Table 5 we observe that
According to the histogram the most frequent genera station S5 presents the highest diversity and the highest
are: gyrosigma, fragilaria, synedra, nitzschia, tabellaria, value of the Shannon index, followed by station S3
spirogyra, oocystis, anabaena, merismopedia in the five almost of the same order, followed by station S4 and S1
sampling stations, while for the rest of the genera there which present a similar diversity, and finally station S2
are significant variations from one genus to another which presents the lowest value and has a low diversity.
between 25 to 75%.

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Table 4. Centesimal Frequency Classes (%) of Phytoplankton Genera in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali
classes Accidental (0-25%) Accessoires (25-50%) Regular (50-75%) Constants (75-100%) Omnipresent (100%)
Number of genus 5 2 6 6 9
percentage % 17,85 7,15 21,42 21,42 32,14

Fig. 6. The centesimal frequency classes (%) of Phytoplankton Genera in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali

Table 5. Values of the Shannon-weaver Index at the stations of the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake. (April-May 2020) in Bits
Sidi Mhamed
Stations Station1 Station2 Station3 Station4 Station5
Benali Lake.
H' 0,14 0,12 0,15 0,14 0,15 0,69

Fig. 7. Diversity index (Shannon-weaver/ Bits) of stations in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali.

Table 7. Structure Index values for Lake Sidi Mhamed diversity value H max), but the H' values are different
Benali. (April-May 2020) between stations.
S 28
H' 0,69
The values of the diversity index in the stations are
H'max 1,44 not very different from each other, note that we have
Fairness 0,47 diverse stands but the species richness is higher in
station S3 and S5 which explains the presence of a more
Total diversity of the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake: H' = stable ecosystem.
0.69 Bits. The equitability varies between 0 and 1, tends
This study reveals that the diversity and distributed towards 0 when almost all the numbers are concentrated
unevenly, but within a short interval and only equitably on one species; it is 1 when all the species have the
which explains the distribution of diversity and same abundance.
settlement structure in Lake Sidi Mhamed Benali as The equitability index determines either the
much as the aquatic ecosystem. closeness or the distance between H' and H max. The
Structure indices equitability index in the Sidi Mhamed Benali Lake is of
From Table 7 it can be concluded that the H' diversity the order of 0.47 during the period of study (March-May
values are not compared to the theoretical maximum 2020) and this is due to the distance between the value
of diversity indices and the maximum theoretical value.

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