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The objective of this work is the survey of terrestrial gastropods (snails and slugs) at several sites in the Northeast Algeria: Guelma, Nechmaya, Sidi Ammar, El Bouni and El Kala (National Park of El Kala, NPK). Therefore, random sampling was performed monthly during the period extending from November 2012 to June 2013. The inventory revealed the...
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... are located along a gradient (South-West North-East) according to their proximity of factories and other potential sources of pollution (Fig. 1). The studied area has a Mediterranean climate with monthly variations in climate parameters (temperature, rainfall and humidity) ( Table 1). ...
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Citations
... Distribution: common slug in the Mediterranean region (GIUSTI et al., 1995) and its presence in North Africa is certain (WIKTOR, 1987). In Algeria, M. nigricans has been recorded from the extreme East of the country to the west by several authors (DOUAFER & SOLTANI, 2014 ;DAMERDJI, 2018 ;RAMDINI et al., 2021aRAMDINI et al., , 2021bSADOUK et al., 2023). ...
The current study is a qualitative inventory as it aims at assessing the diversity of terrestrial gastropods in the Souk Ahras region of Eastern Algeria, and to help update our knowledge of the distribution of terrestrial gastropod species in Algeria. The research sample was carried out at four sampling stations using hand sampling. The researcher came up with that a species richness of nine snail and slug species belonging to four different families. The Helicidae family is the most represented, with six species: Cornu aspersum, Cantareus koraegaelius, Helix melanostoma, Eobania vermiculata, Eobania constantina and Theba pisana. The other families are less rich in species. Résumé-Cette étude, qui constitue un inventaire qualitatif, vise à évaluer la diversité des gastéropodes terrestres dans la région de Souk Ahras, dans l'est de l'Algérie, et à actualiser nos connaissances sur la répartition de ces espèces en Algérie. L'échantillonnage a été réalisé à la main dans quatre stations d'échantillonnage. Les chercheurs ont identifié une richesse spécifique de neuf espèces d'escargots et de limaces appartenant à quatre familles différentes. La famille des Helicidae est la plus représentée, avec six espèces : Cornu aspersum, Cantareus koraegaelius, Helix melanostoma, Eobania vermiculata, Eobania constantina et Theba pisana. Les autres familles sont moins riches en espèces.
... Several studies on land snail inventories have been carried out in several biotopes of Algeria, notably in the northwestern (Damerdji, 2008(Damerdji, , 2013, and northeastern regions (Larbaa and Soltani, 2013;Douafer and Soltani, 2014;Belhiouani et al., 2019 andZaidi et al. 2021). Recently, a survey of gastropods was conducted in many areas of northeastern, western Algeria (Bouchiba et al., 2021). ...
Understanding both the genetic diversity and geographical distribution of animal genetic resources is essential for their sustainable utilization, improvement, and conservation. Land snails that have adapted to arid conditions confront imminent threats such as habitat loss stemming from urbanization, agriculture, pollution, and the ever-growing impacts of environmental and climate change. The present study was undertaken to explore the current morphological variability within the land snail's population in Algeria. From November 2022 to June 2023, 4 quantitative body measurements (shell size and live weight) and 2 qualitative traits (shell and flesh color) were recorded on 211 adult land snails from the 4 geographic provinces that comprise different climate zones of Algeria. The collected data were first analyzed using multiple comparisons of least-square means (LSmeans), followed by generalized linear model (GLM) procedures, to explore the relationships among the measured morphometric traits and the 4 geographic zones. Univariate analyses indicated that all quantitative linear body measurements varied significantly (P < 0.05) across the phytogeographical zones. The covariance analysis using the sampling month to illustrate the heat stress effect shows a significant difference of body weight among land snails' population from 4 regions. In addition, multivariate analysis shows that individuals from Ain Temouchent province are distinguished by their small shell size and low weight. These results need to be investigated further to clarify this biodiversity among land snails and their environmental adaptation.
... Cornu aspersum have shown to accumulate pollutants from contaminated soils (Bourioug et al., 2015). However, a limited number of studies exist supporting land snails as a potential bioindicator species for assessing the risk of environmental contamination (Abdel-Halim et al., 2013;Douafer et al., 2014;Itziou et al., 2018;Bairi et al., 2020;Baroudi et al., 2020;, and more specifically C. aspersum as a sentinel organism for both trace metals and organic pollution (Leomanni et al., 2015(Leomanni et al., , 2016. This land snail integrates three pathways of exposure: digestive (ingestion of soil particles, up to 40% to satisfy its physiological needs), cutaneous (transfer from the soil to the snail foot), and pulmonary (inhalation of soil particles) (de Scheifler et al., 2006;Gimbert et al., 2008a;de Vaufleury, 2015). ...
... Cornu aspersum (O.F. Müller, 1774) (Mollusca Gastropoda Helicidae) are among the most common land snails in the Mediterranean (Larba & Soltani 2013;Douafer & Soltani 2014;Belhiouani et al., 2019), West Europe, Northwest Africa, and eastern Asia, while they also appear in North and South America and Oceania. The wide range of its spread is related to human activities, as it has been introduced by humans in the continent and some islands. ...
The study aimed to determine concentrations of some trace elements (Fe, Mn, and Pb) in soils of five sites in Northeast Algeria (Sidi Ammar, Drean, Chatt, Besbes, and El-Kala) during the spring and autumn of 2019. All of the sites were chosen due to their proximity to industrial factories. In addition, the activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), indicators of oxidative stress and neurotoxicity respectively, were measured in land snail Cornu aspersum (O.F. Müller, 1774) (Mollusca Gastropoda Helicidae) collected from all studied sites. The concentration of heavy metals in these soils decreases as follows: Fe > Mn > Pb. GST and AChE activities were found to vary between sites and by season. The highest levels of GST activity were registered during the spring at sites closest to potential sources of pollution. AChE values showed inhibition in spring as compared to autumn. In ad¬dition, the highest inhibition values were recorded at the Sidi Ammar site. These increased levels of bioindication stress responses correlated significantly with increasing metal con¬centration in soil samples collected at each site. The differences recorded between the sites studied are related to their level of pollution, while the seasonal variations were due to the ef¬fect of heavy metals leaching in autumn.
... In other hands, the Geomitridae has been identified as the most abundant family with eight species (34.78%) in all the study area, followed by Helicidae with five species (21.74%), these results are in agreement with the finding of Rour et al. (2002), and contrast with the previous results reveled by Barker and Mayhill (1999) in Northeastern of New Zealand, and Douafer and Soltani (2014) in the North-East of Algeria. ...
Guennoun et al.: Biodiversity assessment of terrestrial snails (mollusca, gastropoda) of Essaouira' dunes of Morocco: testing factors affecting the distribution of terrestrial molluscs-1957-APPLIED ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 21(3):1957-1978. Abstract. Essaouira dunes of Morocco is a Biological and Ecological Interest Site (BEIS) that is recently impacted and threatened by human activities and climate change. Hence, this dune ecosystem needs thorough attention to preserve its biodiversity. Our study was carried out to assess the terrestrial mollusc diversity of this BEIS, and to figure out the relationship between environmental factors and terrestrial gastropods distribution. Six stations were chosen according to the variation of ecological factors, such as: type of soil, presence of limestone rocks, type of vegetation, and wind speed. The sampling was adopted using both visual search and quadrat approach. The results revealed the existence of 23 species of terrestrial molluscs; belonging to 18 genera and 11 families. Geomitridea and Helicidae are the most dominant families (56.52%). The highest specific richness was recorded in Ounagha' station, with 17 species. The malacofaunal diversity between stations was also determined by: Constancy, Shannon, Equitability, Simpson and Jaccard indices. The relationship between the distribution of terrestrial snails and abiotic factors were involved using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). The results showed that wind speed and type of soil represent those relevant factors affecting the distribution patterns of terrestrial gastropods.
... 1., 2.). Based on this (Douafer & Soltani 2014), the debris material of the memorial complex could be used to fill the moat up, and the site was utilized as pasture and arable land and for horticulture (Georgiev & Georgiev 2002). ...
A total of 25 samples were taken from the section of the moat bordering the former türbe of Sultan Suleiman in Szigetvár. Altogether 5 713 identifiable mollusc remains that cover 20 terrestrial snail species were found. Based on the dominance changes of species and palaeoecological groups and the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), three malacological zones (Türbe Malacological Zone: TMZ) could be separated in the profile of the moat. In the first malacological zone (between 250 and 140 cm) the high number of Eurosiberian species (hygrophilous and cold resistant species, Succinea: amber snail) were found. Their presence and significant amount are in relation with the colder meso- and microclimate of the 17th century. As a result, it can be assumed that the climate of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in the Carpathian Basin changed according to the micro-topography and vegetation cover, and was not uniform. In the second malacological zone (between 140 and 50 cm) the number of cold-tolerant and hygrophilous, Eurosiberian fauna elements decreased, and gradually disappeared from the profile. In parallel, mesophilous and thermophilous, open-vegetation favouring Central and South-eastern European taxa became dominant. So, the moat filled up and a dry habitat with more open vegetation, which was no longer favourable for moistureloving (and shade-loving) species developed. The third malacological zone (from 50 cm towards the surface) indicated a major transformation in the fauna composition. The ratio of mesophilous species decreased drastically. Central and South-eastern European thermophilous species, favouring open vegetation dominated in this level of the profile. Very likely, the upper 40–50 cm part of the profile was filled up at the end of the 17th century, or at the beginning of the 18th century. The changes in the malacofauna composition indicate mesoclimatic and microclimatic alterations and strong human impact. Based on our data, we need to treat climate change and its effects on agriculture in the Carpathian Basin in a more differentiated way for the 17th century, and we cannot and should not extend the negative effects of the North Atlantic to the Carpathian Basin. Since, on the basis of former malacological studies, the mosaic-like nature of the Carpathian Basin was able to compensate for the unfavourable climatic changes of the Little Ice Age.
... It is native from the Mediterranean region to Turkey (Carr 2002;Reyna and Gordillo 2018). It was recorded from northeastern Algeria by Larbaa and Soltani (2013), Douafer and Soltani (2014) and Belhiouani et al. (2019). This species has also been introduced into America and Argentina (Selander and Kaufman 1973;Reyna and Gordillo 2018). ...
... This species is ubiquitous, found in rocks and bushes even in areas of human settlement (Belhiouani et al. 2019) and adapts easily to climatic variations (Nicolai 2010;Gaitán-Espitia et al. 2013). It was recorded from northwestern Algeria in Tlemcen (Damerdji 2018) and in northeastern Algeria (Larbaa and Soltani 2013;Douafer and Soltani 2014;Belhiouani et al. 2019). ...
... Cernuella virgata is widespread in southern Europe north to the British Isles and the circum-Mediterranean area (Noël and Bichain 2018). It has also been recorded from northeast Algeria (Larbaa and Soltani 2013;Douafer and Soltani 2014). It is probably autochthonous to northern Africa, but has become an invasive species on a worldwide scale (Coupland et al. 2007;Mienis and Rittner 2010 In the Kebir-Rhumel basin, this species has been detected at the following stations: Beni Fouda (1), Bakhbakha (2), Dehamcha (3), Minar Zarza (4), Elayadi Barbes (5), Rouached (6), Zéghaia (7), Tadjenanet (9), Chelghoum Laïd (10), Sidi Khelifa (11), Oued Seguen (12), Ain Smara (13) ...
This study constitutes a first attempt at a qualitative and quantitative inventory of land snails from the Kebir-Rhumel basin, in the northeast of Algeria. Sampling was carried out by hand from February to March in 2018 and 2019. Live snails and shells were collected from 30 stations along wadi banks. Identification followed the most recent specialized taxonomic literature and revisions. A total of 6531 specimens were collected, representing 25 species: Tudorella sulcata (Draparnaud, 1805), Rumina decollata (Linnaeus, 1758 Linnaeus, C. 1758. “Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis.” Holmiae: Stockholm. [Google Scholar]), Rumina saharica (Pallary, 1901), Ferussacia carnea (Risso, 1826), Ferussacia folliculum (Schröter, 1784), Mauronapaeus terverii (Dupotet in E. A. Forbes, 1838), Mastus pupa (Linnaeus, 1758 Linnaeus, C. 1758. “Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis.” Holmiae: Stockholm. [Google Scholar]), Cantareus cf. koraegaelius (Bourguignat in Locard, 1882), Cornu aspersum (O. F. Müller, 1774), Cornu sp., Eobania constantina (E. Forbes, 1838), Eobania vermiculata (O. F. Müller, 1774), Helix melanostoma (Draparnaud, 1801), Massylaea massylaea (Morelet, 1851), Cernuella cf. virgata (da Costa, 1778), Cochlicella acuta (O. F. Müller, 1774), Cochlicella barbara (Linnaeus, 1758 Linnaeus, C. 1758. “Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis.” Holmiae: Stockholm. [Google Scholar]), Trochoidea pyramidata (Draparnaud, 1805), Xerosecta cespitum (Draparnaud, 1801), Xerosecta sp., Ganula flava (Terver, 1839), Sphincterochila candidissima (Draparnaud, 1801), Sphincterochila otthiana (E. Forbes, 1838), Sphincterochila sp. and Caracollina lenticula (Michaud, 1831). Typical specimens are illustrated and described with a detailed report of their distribution along the basin’s wadis.
... Consequently, such transfer along food chains is an important eco-toxicological aspect (Laskowski & Hopkin, 1996). Several studies on land snail inventories have been carried out in several biotopes of Algeria, notably in the north-western (Damerdji, 2008(Damerdji, , 2013 and north-eastern regions (Larbaa & Soltani, 2013;Douafer & Soltani, 2014). Recently, a survey of gastropods was conducted in five areas of north-eastern Algeria (Belhiouani et al., 2019). ...
... Many researchers have demonstrated that climatic factors, soil physicochemical factors and plant communities affect the distribution and abundance of terrestrial gastropods (Gärderforns et al., 1995;Lewis Najev et al., 2020;Nekola, 2003). In Algeria, several studies have been conducted on the effect of environmental factors on the diversity and abundance of land snails (Belhiouani et al., 2019;Douafer & Soltani, 2014). The present study aims to (1) identify and investigate the abundance and diversity of terrestrial gastropod species (snails and slugs) in three sites located in Skikda province, and (2) investigate the relationship between terrestrial gastropod diversity and soil physicochemical factors using statistical analysis (correlation analysis). ...
... The results suggest that these parameters are important in determining the richness of terrestrial gastropods in Skikda province, and we do not rule out that other environmental factors may also be important. The biodiversity and distribution of land snails depend on several factors, such as soil characteristics (André, 1982;Douafer & Soltani, 2014;Ondina et al., 1998), climatic factors (Ameur et al., 2019;Hermida et al., 1994), anthropogenic disturbances (Belhiouani et al., 2019) and vegetation (Damerdji, 2013;Damerdji & Amara, 2013;Ondina & Mato, 2001). Several studies have evidenced the need to protect mollusc biodiversity on a global scale (N'dri et al., 2016;Hallgass & Vannozzi, 2016;Nicolai & Ansart, 2017;Heiba et al., 2018;Desoky, 2018;Dedov et al., 2018;Borreda & Martinez-Orti, 2017). ...
Background
The inventory process is the first method to protect and safeguard animal biodiversity. This study carries out a quantitative and qualitative inventory of terrestrial gastropods at three sites in Skikda province (north-eastern Algeria). The relationship between terrestrial gastropod diversity and soil physicochemical factors was investigated using statistical analyses.
Results
The inventory data reveals the presence of four families and eight species showing varied predominance rates of Cornu aspersum species according to each site in the city of Skikda (Azzaba 53.88%; Ben-Azzouz 56.12%; El-Hadaiek 37.92%). The maximal specific richness was registered in the El-Hadaiek site (seven species), and the highest mean richness was noted in the Ben-Azzouz site (392 individuals). Of the eight gastropod species identified, three species ( Cornu aspersum, Cantareus apertus and Rumina decollate ) were classified as constant species. The Shannon–Weaver diversity and equitability indices vary by site.
Conclusion
The presence of certain species in one site and their absence in other sites, as well as the variation in ecological indices, could be attributed to the effect of soil-physicochemical factors.
... After that early period, research into the terrestrial gastropods of Algeria remained suspended, leaving a gap in the knowledge of the Algerian malacofauna. However, in the last decade, molluscs once more attracted attention of several researchers (douaFeR & Soltani 2014, bouaziz-yahiatene et al. 2017, dameRdji 2018, ameuR et al. 2019, belhiouani et al. 2019, holyoak et al. 2020, Ramdini et al. 2020, 2021. In the Kabylia region of Algeria, few studies focused on terrestrial molluscs (aucaPitaine 1862, bouaziz-yahiatene & medjdoub-benSaad 2016. ...
The goal of this study was to record the malacofauna of the Kabylia region, Tizi-Ouzou, in Northern Algeria, at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and to report the distribution pattern of terrestrial gastropod diversity in five different types of habitat (dune, agricultural fields, rural sites, forests, and mountain locations). A total of 33 species of terrestrial snails and slugs were recorded, which represented 27 genera of 19 families, mainly Geomitridae and Helicidae. The rural habitat was the richest, with 23 species, while the mountain habitat yielded 20 species. The dune and forest habitats showed the smallest species richness.
... Monitoring the malacofauna of Algeria began in the early years of French colonisation (michaud 1833, teRVeR 1839); later, bouRGuiGnat (1864), letouRneux (1870), and PallaRy (1901) After that early period, research into the terrestrial gastropods of Algeria remained suspended, leaving a gap in the knowledge of the Algerian malacofauna. However, in the last decade, molluscs once more attracted attention of several researchers (douaFeR & Soltani 2014, bouaziz-yahiatene et al. 2017, dameRdji 2018, ameuR et al. 2019, belhiouani et al. 2019, holyoak et al. 2020, Ramdini et al. 2020, 2021. In the Kabylia region of Algeria, few studies focused on terrestrial molluscs (aucaPitaine 1862, bouaziz-yahiatene & medjdoub-benSaad 2016. ...
The goal of this study was to record the malacofauna of the Kabylia region, Tizi-Ouzou, in Northern Algeria, at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and to report the distribution pattern of terrestrial gastropod diversity in five different types of habitat (dune, agricultural fields, rural sites, forests, and mountain locations). A total of 33 species of terrestrial snails and slugs were recorded, which represented 27 genera of 19 families, mainly Geomitridae and Helicidae. The rural habitat was the richest, with 23 species, while the mountain habitat yielded 20 species. The dune and forest habitats showed the smallest species richness.
... Land snails have also been widely used as a sentinel species for the assessment of metallic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems (Itziou and Dimitriadis 2011;Abdel-Halim et al. 2013;. C. aspersus is the most abundant and widespread gastropod species in Northeast Algeria (Larba and Soltani 2013) and has been successfully used as a bioindicator for soil pollution (Douafer and Soltani 2014;Larba and Soltani 2014;Bairi et al. 2018). They accumulate various contaminants in their soft tissues, especially the digestive gland, and they are helpful species in monitoring the exposure to trace metals, agrochemicals, urban pollution, and electromagnetic agents (Berger and Dallinger 1993;Gomot 1997;Regoli et al. 2005Regoli et al. , 2006. ...
... Cantareus aspersus (Müller 1774) (syn. H. aspersa) known as the most abundant and widespread gastropod species in Northeast Algeria (Larba and Soltani 2013;Douafer and Soltani 2014) were tested as bioindicator. Adult specimens of land snails, weighing 10.94 ± 2.27 g and with a shell diameter of 33.51 ± 9.55 mm, were collected during winter and spring seasons, i.e., from November 2015 to June 2016 from sampling sites of Northeast Algeria. ...
... As far as known, snails can accumulate great amounts of metals in their soft tissues, and consequently, they become hyperaccumulator of metallic elements (Gomot-de Vaufleury and Pihan 2002). Here, several studies have defined C. aspersus as a sentinel species in Northeast Algeria (Douafer and Soltani 2014;Larba and Soltani 2014). In this study, GSH content in C. aspersus was determined in digestive gland, known as a main target organ for biochemical assessment (Radwan et al. 2010a, b;Nowakowska et al. 2012). ...
This study belongs to the biomonitoring program of soil qualities using a land snail, Cantareus aspersus, as bioindicator. The metal-soil contamination in some sites (National Park of El Kala (NPK), El Bouni, Sidi Amar, Nechmaya, and Guelma) located in Northeast Algeria were determined during two seasons (winter and spring 2015, 2016). Glutathione (GSH) content and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were significantly decreased in snails collected during spring as compared with those noticed during winter under bioclimate change. In addition, a significant difference between various sites was observed, depending on the proximity to pollution sources. The significant variation of biomarker levels is a function of the physic-chemical properties of soils when they positively correlated with EC, H, and OM, and negatively correlated with all metallic elements. Moreover, Fe and Al2O3 are the most abundant in all the sites, and the most polluted site was found as that of El Bouni, followed by Sidi Amar, Nechmaya, and Guelma, since NPK is the less polluted site and considered a reference site. The tested biomarkers are sensitive oxidative parameters in snails exposed to pollution correlated significantly with the soil physic-chemical properties and metallic element contents in soil. Indeed, C. aspersus could be used as sentinel species in field monitoring of Mediterranean climate regions.
