Nard Bennas

• Professor
• Enseignant_chercheur at LESCB URL CNRST 18 FS Abdelmalek Essaâdi University

Although renowned for their abundance and diversity, Morocco's natural wetlands have declined by around half over the last 50 years. The assessment of their biodiversity is far from complete, due to a lack of coordinated and integrated research programs on the one hand, and scientific, technical, and financial difficulties on the other hand. The co...

Wetlands of the Sebou Basin (Morocco): Diagnosis for a Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Biodiversity is an essential component in planning and managing territories; when these issues concern inland and estuarine aquatic ecosystems, the most appropriate type of territory for their study is the river basin, insofar as most of its ecosystems are in...

Morocco, a subtropical country, experiences a temperate and warm Mediterranean-type climate, with variations across different regions: oceanic in the west, continental in the center and east, and arid in the south. Annual rainfall ranges from 500 to 1200 mm in the wettest northwestern areas influenced by the Atlantic, 200 to 1000 mm in the west and...

While natural ecosystems occur as a result of spontaneous natural reaction, agriculture is a manmade, production-driven system where men intervene to alter biological and physicochemical parameters through various practices, like irrigation, fertilization, and the control of bioagressors such as weeds, pests, and diseases. The goal of these practic...

Harvester ants, particularly the genus 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳, are widely studied due to their complex foraging behaviors and high traffic on trunk trails, although not all species in this genus utilize trunk trails. However, unlike some ant species with segregated lanes, most ants, exhibit bi-directional movement on foraging trails. This lack of lane segregation...

Harvester ants are one of the most extensively studied groups of ants, especially the group foraging ants, 𝘔𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴 (Linnaeus, 1767), which construct long-lasting trunk trails. Limited laboratory investigations have delved into head-on encounters along foraging trails involving workers moving in opposing directions, with fewer corresponding...

A checklist of water beetles of the family Hydrochidae from Morocco is presented. The study compiles data gathered from a deep literature review and field surveys at 397 freshwater localities between 1985 and 2023. The checklist also contains information concerning type localities and detailed distributions for the eight species found. We include a...

Morocco′s aquatic biodiversity remains insufficiently studied, especially in terms of invertebrates, with numerous gaps persisting, even in protected areas. This study combines our research with existing studies to provide a comprehensive list that encompasses both old and new faunistic and distributional records of three orders of aquatic insects...

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened worldwide. A great part of this threat comes from climate and land cover changes. This situation is specially worrying in areas and ecosystems that are highly relevant in terms of biodiversity but severely impacted by these two factors, such as water bodies in North Africa. Using water beetles as...

Aquatic insects play a crucial role in freshwater ecosystems, and their diversity and distribution are important indicators of ecosystem health. In this study, we present old and new faunistic and distributional data on three orders of aquatic insects (Odonata, Hemiptera, and Coleoptera) in the Tazekka National Park, located in the Eastern Middle A...

Harvester ants are known to be species that collect seeds of plants and store them in underground chambers. Workers forage solitarily or in groups, and the intensity of their foraging depends, among other things, on the rate of food intake. To evaluate the efficiency of foraging in response to food distribution, we studied the foraging rate on diff...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Martil River rehabilitation project and recently constructed dam infrastructures to reduce flood risks and to promote local socio-economic development on the ecological integrity of the river. The assessment focused on changes in fluvial landforms over time and the evaluation of aquatic ecosystems bas...

Cataglyphis otini Santschi, 1929 and C. cubica (Forel, 1903) are firstly reported as host ants for the myrmecophilous beetle species Thorictus buigasi Escalera, 1923 from Morocco, which expands its host list previously limited to Cataglyphis viatica (Fabricius, 1787). Its association with C. viatica widens its geographical distribution and it is re...

Freshwater biodiversity loss is of concern in the Mediterranean Basin, as one of the global hotspots of biodiversity. Despite a number of faunistic and taxonomic studies that have been conducted in the last years in the African part of the Mediterranean Basin, our knowledge on freshwater biodiversity patterns in this area is still very limited. In...

Potamophilus acuminatus (Fabricius, 1792) is here recorded for the first time from Morocco and the recent distribution in Slovakia is updated. The North African distribution was hitherto based only on two larvae from Tunisia. DNA-barcoding confirmed the identification of specimens from Morocco after comparing ten sequences of P. acuminatus from Ger...

The Mediterranean is one of the most biodiverse areas of the Paleartic region. Here, basing on large data sets of single copy orthologs obtained from transcriptomic data, we investigated the evolutionary history of the genus Dugesia in the Western Mediterranean area. The results corroborated that the complex paleogeological history of the region wa...

Conservation-planning approaches must be supported by a good understanding of the geographical distribution of species. Despite the efforts conducted so far to compile data on aquatic insects, the information on the distribution of water beetles in Morocco is scarce. In this study, we assess for the first time the degree of inventory quality of aqu...

ABSTRACT This work presents an updated list of water beetles of the Elmidae and Dryopidae occurring in Morocco. The study is based on an exhaustive review of literature (1914–2021) complemented with field and laboratory investigations on more than 2200 collected individuals between 1997 and 2019. As a result, 30 species belonging to nine genera of...

Several field surveys at 391 freshwater localities between 1985 and 2019 were undertaken in Morocco. Altogether, our field studies identified 67 species belonging to three genera (Hydraena, Limnebius, and Ochthebius), and representing 85.89% of the Hydraenidae fauna of the country. The species Hydraena exarata Kiesenwetter, 1866 is reported for the...

New records on aquatic insects (Coleoptera, Odonata and Hemiptera), collected seasonally from Autumn 2015 to Spring 2018 at a total of 20 sites in the Mediterranean Martil River basin in Northwestern Morocco are presented. An annotated list of 102 species identified from 6,596 individuals collected from recent investigations is provided. These spec...

This checklist summarises our present knowledge on Moroccan distribution of the water beetles of five families: Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Hygrobiidae and Dytiscidae. It includes all available faunistic data based on material collected by the authors and from the private collections, as well as from the literature, PhD theses, and other unpu...

Biodiversity loss is exceptionally greater in freshwater ecosystems. To preserve such biodiversity it is crucial to know what species and habitats require greater conservation efforts. In this study, we identify the most threatened endemic sensu lato water beetles found in Morocco (i.e., Moroccan, Maghrebian and Ibero-Maghrebian endemics) using six...

The invertebrate communities of running waters are known to be highly sensitive to environmental disturbances and have, therefore, high interest in bio assessment. The objective of this study is to reveal, through a case study (the Upper Sebou, Morocco), the trends of these communities in the South Mediterranean region in a context of global change...

A checklist of water scavenger beetles from Morocco and their distribution in the country and North Africa is presented. It is based on (1) an exhaustive review of the literature (time span: 1914–2018); (2) more than 3150 individuals collected during extensive campaigns (2003–2018); and (3) an intensive revision of private collections. We found 52...

The oases of Morocco, located between the Mediterranean and the Sahara ecoregions, constitute the main defence system of the temperate region against desert encroachment. This study aims to determine species richness and distribution of native and non-native ants in the oases of southern Morocco. Survey campaigns were conducted in 11 oases between...

La première partie de la présentation est consacrée à la synthèse des actions menées par les Départements des eaux et forêt et de l'environnement pour la mise en œuvre de la CDB au Maroc. La deuxième partie aborde le cas spécifique des écosystèmes aquatiques continentaux.

Biometric data of the exuviae of female larvae of the dragonfl y Cordulegaster boltonii collected in Portugal, Spain and Morocco were analysed to determine whether the size of three exuvial structures measured differed depending on the geographic localities of the populations. Based on the results recorded for the 16 populations studied, head width...

A new protocol for ecological restoration through harvester ant Messor barbarus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

This work presents a list of water beetles of the families Hydraenidae and Elmidae occurring in Kabylia (central-north of Algeria) based on an exhaustive review of literature (1872–2016) and on more than 2126 individuals collected during field campaigns (2013–2015). Twenty-five species belonging to nine genera of Hydraenidae and Elmidae are here re...

Pour contribuer à la connaissance de la biodiversité faunistique des eaux courantes du projet du Parc naturel de Bouhachem (PPNB), une étude hydrobiologique a été menée sur trois ordres d'insectes aquatiques: les Ephéméroptères, les Trichoptères et les Plécoptères. L'étude taxonomique de 7632 individus appartenant aux trois ordres susmentionnés et...

New reports of aquatic insects (Coleoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, Ephemeroptera and Trichoptera) from Medjerda river basin in Tunisia are presented. 61 species of aquatic insects belonging to 45 genera, 22 families, and 5 orders are listed. 5 species of Coleoptera (Gyrinus (Gyrinus) caspius Ménétries, 1832, Hydroporus marginatus (Duftschmid, 1805), D...

Africa has rich and varied biological resources forming the continent’s natural wealth on which its social and economic systems are based (well established). Most, if not all, terrestrial ecosystems in Africa have already experienced major biodiversity losses in the past 30 years, which has negative impacts on nature’s contribution to people. The p...

Africa has rich and varied biological resources forming the continent’s natural wealth on which its social and economic systems are based (well established). Most, if not all, terrestrial ecosystems in Africa have already experienced major biodiversity losses in the past 30 years, which has negative impacts on nature’s contribution to people. The p...

Naturally stressed ecosystems hold a unique fraction of biodiversity. However, they have been largely ignored in biomonitoring and conservation programmes, such as the EU Water Framework Directive, while global change pressures are threatening their singular values. Herewe present a framework to classify and evaluate the ecological quality of natur...

The first data on the diversity of the aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera of the Imlily sebkha are presented. Imlily is a relict Saharan wetland belonging to the Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab region. Eight species of Coleoptera and two species of Hemiptera are reported. One of the most important faunistic results is the discovery, not only for Morocco, but al...

This study provides the first biometrics analysis of exuviae from Moroccan populations of the Ibero-Maghrebian endemic dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii algirica Morton, 1916 collected in the Rif Mountains. Among the biometric variables that were measured, tibia length was highly correlated with the exuviae body length (BL), and can, therefore, be u...

Pour contribuer à la connaissance de la biodiversité faunistique des eaux courantes du projet du Parc naturel de Bouhachem (PPNB), une étude hydrobiologique a été menée sur trois ordres d'insectes aquatiques: les Ephéméroptères, les Trichoptères et les Plécoptères. L'étude taxonomique de 7632 individus appartenant aux trois ordres susmentionnés et...

Dans le cadre d’une étude portant sur l’évaluation de l’état écologique du bassin versant de Bouregreg en se basant sur le protocole PRECE (Protocolo Rápido de Evaluación de la Calidad Ecológica) des prospections saisonnières entre 2012 et 2013 pour récolter des macroinvertébrés aquatiques ont été réalisées dans 17 stations réparties sur les trois...

L'évaluation de l'état écologique des eaux de surface du haut bassin versant du Loukkos, qui est l'un des bassins les plus importants du Nord du Maroc, a été réalisé par le biais d'un suivi saisonnier durant l'année 2014. Le bassin versant est soumis à plusieurs impacts en mesure d'altérer la qualité des eaux, notamment la culture de l'olivier et l...

The assessment of the ecological status of the surface waters of the Upper Loukkos watershed, which is one of the most important basins in northern Morocco, was carried out through seasonal monitoring during 2014. The watershed is subject to several impacts in order to alter the quality of its waters, particularly the cultivation of the olive tree...

The first data on the diversity of the aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera of the Imlily sebkha are presented. Imlily is a relict Saharan wetland belonging to the Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab region. Eight species of Coleoptera and two species of Hemiptera are reported. One of the most important faunistic results is the discovery, not only for Morocco, but al...

The aggressive behaviour of Anochetus ghilianii (Spinola, 1851) was estimated in the laboratory by observing the outcome of individual confrontations between workers belonging to 17 colonies according to the geographical distance between these colonies. This study aimed to better understand the social organization of this species and its mode of re...

Afin de contribuer à la connaissance de la faune myrmécologique du Rif en général et de la Réserve de Biosphère Intercontinentale de la Méditerranée (RBIM) en particulier, une étude complète et intégrale sur ce groupe d‘insectes dans le Parc Nationalde Talassemtane (PNTLS), aire protégée, la plus originale de la partie marocaine de la RBIM, a été m...

L’étude taxonomique de 16859 individus adultes, récoltés dans 319 stations réparties dans l’ensemble du territoire marocain, a permis l’identification de 185 espèces et sous espèces. En plus des espèces capturées, le catalogue des coléoptères aquatiques du Maroc se complète par 103 espèces citées dans la littérature et non retrouvées durant nos pro...

Nychia marshalli (Scott, 1872) is recorded for the first time in Morocco. One male and one female of this species were found in a reach with shallow and moderately mineralized water of the river Grou located at the Zair Region (Rabat).

Afin de contribuer à l'évaluation de l'état de la biodiversité aquatique du projet du Parc Naturel de Bouhachem, dont l'état de connaissance est très fragmentaire, une étude hydrobiologique a été menée sur trois ordres d'insectes aquatiques: les colé-optères, les odonates et les hémiptères. L'étude taxonomique de 1810 individus appartenant aux troi...

Several field surveys between 2007 and 2014 were undertaken in Morocco. Altogether 54 species were observed during our studies, representing 86 % of the odonate fauna of the country. Orthetrum sabina is new for Morocco, increasing the number of species to 63. The species was found at Oued Ez-Zahar near Akhfenir, about 1 700 km off its nearest known...

ABSTRACT The aggressive behaviour of Anochetus ghilianii (Spinola, 1851) was estimated in the laboratory by observing the outcome of individual confrontations between workers belonging to 17 colonies according to the geographical distance between these colonies. This study aimed to better understand the social organization of this species and its m...

Thèse de Doctorat d’Etat. Faculté des Sciences de Tétouan, 383 pp.

Freshwater biodiversity is currently threatened worldwide. In North Africa, 24.4% of Odonata are regionally threatened with extinction. In this region, freshwater resources are particularly scarce and an increasing shortage of water is expected. To better understand the current threats to the endangered North African damselfly Coenagrion mercuriale...

Afin de contribuer à la connaissance de la faune myrmécologique du Rif en général et de la Réserve de Biosphère Intercontinentale de la Méditerranée (RBIM) en particulier, une étude complète et intégrale sur ce groupe d’insectes dans le Parc National de Talassemtane (PNTLS), aire protégée, la plus originale de la partie marocaine de la RBIM, a été...

La biodiversité des écosystèmes aquatiques continentaux est menacée, spécialement dans le bassin méditerranéen, considéré comme l’un des hotspots mondiaux de la biodiversité. Le risque d’extinction serait beaucoup plus important durant les prochaines décennies, d’autant plus que les pressions humaines sur les ressources aquatiques ne cessent d’augm...

A total and thorough characterization of the physicochemical and microbiological quality of surface waters of the two hydrographic networks Laou and Tahaddart was carried out by the means of a follow-up which was spread out over three consecutive years (from April 2007 to July 2009). The total physicochemical and microbiological quality was evaluat...

Le Parc National de Talassemtane (PNTLS), considéré comme le plus original de tout le Maroc, se singularisant par la beauté exceptionnelle de ses paysages et par la biodiversité remarquable qu'il recèle. Sa position stratégique de carrefour entre deux continents (l’Europe et l’Afrique), ses caractéristiques climatiques, ses particularités géologiqu...

A total and thorough characterization of the physicochemical and microbiological quality of surface waters of the two hydrographic networks Laou and Tahaddart was carried out by the means of a follow-up which was spread out over three consecutive years (from April 2007 to July 2009). The total physicochemical and microbiological quality was evaluat...

In this study we compared streams crossing serpentinized outcrops with others on normal soils. Four rivers (Amazithen, Sidi Yahya Aarab, Jenane Nich, Aarkob) in the Beni Bousera serpentinized region and four (Laou, Bouhaya, Amsa, Amahrous) in neighbouring areas with normal soil were compared. Physico-chemical parameters of the water were measured,...

Liste actualisée des fourmis du Maroc ÉLÉMENTS DE STRATÉGIE POUR LE RENFORCEMENT DES CAPACITÉS NATIONALES EN TAXINOMIE

Ce travail est destiné à compléter et actualiser les informations sur la biodiversité des coléoptères aquatiques des écosystèmes salins continentaux du Maroc. Une série de prospections hydrobiologiques dans différents habitats aquatiques salins du Maroc faisant parties aux régions suivantes : Ouezzane (Rif méridional) ; Tissa (pré-Rif) ; sources Ou...

Les zones humides possèdent une originalité profonde déterminée par la nature des processus hydro chimiques et la composition de leurs communautés faunistique et floristique ; elles constituent dans leur grande majorité une importante biodiversité rarement rencontrée dans d’autres types de milieux. Ainsi, les zones humides du Bas Loukkos correspond...

La présence d'un taxon néarctique, Trichocorixa verticalis verticalis (Fieber, 1851) (Hemiptera, Corixidae) originaire du California, est découverte pour la première fois au nord de l'Afrique et ce au nord-ouest du Maroc. Une description détaillée de sa morphologie, de ses habitats aquatiques ainsi que de ses exigences écologiques est exposée. Les...

Ce travail porte sur l’usage des indices biotiques dans l’évaluation de l’état de santé des bassins versants. Il s’agit de l’étude de la qualité biologique de l’eau par le biais des macroinvertébrés benthiques d’un bassin versant rifain (Nord du Maroc) Laou, en appliquant comme indice biotique l’IBMWP. Afin d’évaluer la fiabilité de cette indice bi...

editors), Sustainable management of Mediterranean coastal fresh and transitional water bodies: a socioeconomic and environmental analysis of changes and trends to enhance and sustain stakeholder benefits, ISBN 978-88-6453-015-4 (online) Abstract: Macroinvertebrates are an important link in the food chain of aquatic species. They are a primary food...

Editors Felicita Scapini, Jean-Marc Boffa, Louis F. Cassar, Elisabeth Conrad and Mariella Nardi

There is a widespread agreement that rates of biodiversity loss are greater in freshwater systems than in other ecosystems. To be able to protect adequately the freshwater biodiversity, it is crucial to know what species and habitats require greater conservation effort. In this study, we identify the most threatened species of water beetles from th...

Ce travail porte sur l’usage des indices biotiques dans l’évaluation de l’état de santé des bassins versants. Il s’agit de l’étude de la qualité biologique de l’eau par le biais des macroinvertébrés benthiques de deux bassins versant rifains (Nord du Maroc) Laou & Tahaddart, en appliquant comme indice biotique l’IBMWP. Afin d’évaluer la fiabilité d...

Abstract. Analysis of the vulnerability of the aquatic beetles in the South Mediterranean side: the case of the Rif region (Morocco). There is a widespread agreement that rates of biodiversity loss are greater in freshwater systems than in other ecosystems. To be able to protect adequately the freshwater biodiversity, it is crucial to know what spe...

Ce travail porte sur l’étude de la qualité biologique de l’eau par le biais des macroinvertébrés benthiques de deux bassins versant rifains (Nord du Maroc) Laou & Tahaddart, en appliquant comme indice biotique l’IBMWP. Afin d’évaluer la fiabilité de cette indice biotique, nous avons réalisé en parallèle une étude sur la qualité physico-chimique et...

Aim To examine how the employment of both community- and population-level approaches can provide a wider view of the importance of contemporary and historical factors on current species distribution. We posit that community ecology should provide more information about contemporary factors, whereas population genetics should provide better informat...

Résumé. La prospection de 17 localités du bassin versant de Oued Laou a permis l'identification de 22 espèces d'Odonates, parmi lesquelles, Coenagrion scitulum (Rambur, 1842), Pyrrhosoma nymphula nymphula (Sulzer, 1776) et Onychogomphus costae Sélys, 1885 sont de nouvelles citations pour ce bassin versant. Les récentes recherches menées dans le cad...

Ce travail porte sur l’étude de la qualité biologique de l’eau par le biais des macroinvertébrés benthiques de deux bassins versant rifains (Nord du Maroc) Laou & Tahaddart, en appliquant comme indice biotique l’IBMWP adopté par la péninsule iberique. Afin d’évaluer la fiabilité de cette indice biotique, nous avons realisé en parallèle une étude su...

This study is intended to analyse the current situation and trends in terms of services and environmental goods availability and use in the Oued Laou river basin, with a focus on water availability and use. These issues were investigated considering since the very beginning the different categories of inhabitants: as a matter of facts, some categor...

Résumé. L'étude de 504 individus d'Hétéroptères aquatiques, capturés dans 16 localités du réseau hydrographique Laou, a permis l'identification de 22 espèces. Naucoris maculatus Fabricius, 1798, Corixa affinis Leach, 1817 et Parasigara rivularis Baena, 1997 sont de nouvelles citations pour le domaine rifain et 21 espèces le sont pour le bassin vers...

During faunistic survey at different localities in the Rif mountains (Northern Morocco), a new species of the genus Limnebius Leach, 1815 was captured which we have named Limnebius kamali. In the present paper, the new species is described, illustrated and notes on ecology and distribution are provided. Based on similarities in the aedeagus and the...

Une etude sur 4041 individus adultes de Coleopteres aquatiques Adephaga recoltes dans diverses localites de la chaine rifaine marocaine a permis l’identification de 61 especes dont une ( Hydroporus memnonius ) s’avere nouvelle pour le Maroc et 6 pour le territoire rifain. Les donnees obtenues lors des prospections et la compilation des citations bi...

RESUME : Les coléoptères aquatiques du Rif sont utilisés comme indicateurs pour l’identification des espaces et des écosystèmes aquatiques prioritaires de conservation. La méthodologie appliquée est l’algorithme itératif de complémentarité basé sur la richesse spécifique. Seules les espèces dont le statut taxonomique, la présence et la distribution...

Au Maroc le genre Hydrochus Leach, 1817, est représenté par 6 espèces : Hydrochus angustatus Germar, 1824 citée de quelques localités dispersées du nord, centre et sud du pays (Escalera, 1914 ; d'Orchymont, 1935 et Kocher, 1958) ; Hydrochus flavipennis Küster, 1852 connue de Tanger (Fairmaire, 1858) et de Tétouan (Angus, 1976) ; Hydrochus foveostri...

Une étude sur 3646 exemplaires de Coléoptères Hydraenidae collectés dans diverses localités de la chaîne rifaine du Nord du Maroc a permis l’identification de 37 espèces dont une nouvelle pour le Nord de l’Afrique, 3 pour le Maroc et 16 pour le territoire rifain. Ces données avec la révision des citations bibliographiques concernant ce groupe d’ins...