title: Spatio-temporal variability of faunal and floral assemblages in Mediterranean temporary wetlands.
abstract: Six temporary wetlands in the region of Sejenane (Mogods, NW Tunisia) were studied in order to characterize the aquatic flora and fauna and to quantify their spatio-temporal variability. Samplings of aquatic fauna, phytosociological relevés, and measurements of the physicochemical parameters of water were taken during four different field visits carried out during the four seasons of the year (November 2009-July 2010). Despite the strong anthropic pressures on them, these temporary wetlands are home to rich and diversified biodiversity, including rare and endangered species. Spatial and temporal variations affect fauna and flora differently, as temporal variability influences the fauna rather more than the plants, which are relatively more dependent on spatial factors. These results demonstrate the interest of small water bodies for maintaining biodiversity at the regional level, and thus underscore the conservation issues of Mediterranean temporary wetlands that are declining on an ongoing basis currently.
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie, faculté des sciences de Tunis, université de Tunis El-Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia; UR99/UR/02-04 biogéographie, climatologie appliquée et dynamique érosive, faculté des lettres, des arts et des humanités de Manouba, université de la Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia; Faculté des sciences de Bizerte, université de Carthage, 7021 Bizerte, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouissi
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Dani
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boix
authors.affiliation: Institut des sciences de l'évolution de Montpellier (ISE-M), université Montpellier-2/CNRS, case 061, 34095 Montpellier cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Serge D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruhí
authors.affiliation: Institut d'Ecologia Aquàtica, Universitat de Girona, campus Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: Service d'entomologie médicale, institut Pasteur, laboratoire d'épidémiologie et de microbiologie vétérinaire, université de Tunis El Manar, BP n° 74, 1002 Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouattour
authors.affiliation: UR99/UR/02-04 biogéographie, climatologie appliquée et dynamique érosive, faculté des lettres, des arts et des humanités de Manouba, université de la Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia; Institut supérieur des études préparatoires en biologie et géologie de la Soukra (ISEPBG) Choutrana II, université de Carthage, 2036 Soukra, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Imtinen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ben Haj Jilani
authors.affiliation: UR99/UR/02-04 biogéographie, climatologie appliquée et dynamique érosive, faculté des lettres, des arts et des humanités de Manouba, université de la Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia; Institut national agronomique de Tunisie, université de Carthage, 43, avenue Charles-Nicolle, 1082 Cité Mahrajène, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zeineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ghrabi-Gammar
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie, faculté des sciences de Tunis, université de Tunis El-Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia; UR99/UR/02-04 biogéographie, climatologie appliquée et dynamique érosive, faculté des lettres, des arts et des humanités de Manouba, université de la Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Saad-Limam
authors.affiliation: Département de biologie, faculté des sciences de Tunis, université de Tunis El-Manar, 2092 Tunis, Tunisia; UR99/UR/02-04 biogéographie, climatologie appliquée et dynamique érosive, faculté des lettres, des arts et des humanités de Manouba, université de la Manouba, 2010 Manouba, Tunisia. Electronic address: daoudamina200@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: Amina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daoud-Bouattour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms; D044822:Biodiversity; D056727:Endangered Species; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010944:Plants; D012621:Seasons; D014416:Tunisia; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D014867:Water
keywords: Aquatic fauna; Biodiversity; Biodiversité; Dynamique saisonnière; Faune aquatique; Hydrophytes; Northern Tunisia; Seasonal dynamics; Tunisie septentrionale