The objective of this study was to determine the population distribution and some biological aspects for fish stock assessment of the greater forkbeard
Phycis blennoides
along the Algerian basin. The ...distribution of
P. blennoides
(3418 individuals) was studied using data collected between 170–779 m depth during two bottom trawl surveys developed on 2003 and 2004. Additionally, some biological parameters were obtained from 1050 individuals sampled from commercial fisheries in Algerian ports (i.e. Annaba, Azeffoun, Dellys, Cap Djinet, Zemmouri, Bouharoun, Algiers, La Madrague, Cherchell, Tenes and Mostaganem) during the period 2013–2017.
P. blennoides
sampled from bottom trawl surveys showed a depth related distribution with the largest individuals being found at 600–800 m depth and the smallest at shallower depths. Density and biomass varied with depth and density also with longitude, while biomass showed no pattern with longitude. Recruitment was recorded in the eastern sector of Algeria during winter, for individuals sampled by bottom trawl surveys. Young
P. blennoides
entered commercial fisheries in summer, with an overall sex ratio skewed towards males (1F:2.18M). The size at first maturity (
L
50
) was 24.30 cm and 30.39 cm for males and females, respectively. The age at 50% maturity was 2–3 years for specimens collected by a bottom trawl survey in 2003 and commercial fisheries, but 3–4 years for the bottom trawl survey in 2004.
The diet of the greater forkbeard
(Brünnich, 1768) of the Algerian coast was studied between December 2013 and June 2015, providing information on its ecology for a better understanding of the ...feeding strategy. A total of 956 individuals, whose total length (TL) varied between 9.7 and 54.5 cm and weight (W) between 2.80 and 1334.11 g, were examined. The index of relative importance (%IRI), combining the three main descriptors of the presence of different ingested prey (%F, %N, %W), was used to characterize the relative importance of different food taxa. Qualitative and quantitative variations in diet were studied according to sex, size and seasons. The average annual digestive vacuity index (%V) was 5.51. It did not vary between seasons (x
= 5.43, x
= 7.82, α = 5%) and size (x
= 2.08, x
= 5.99, α = 5%), but was different between male (%V = 4.94) and female (%V= 12.78). Qualitative analysis of stomach contents reveals a fairly diverse range of predation with 1342 preys counted for a total weight of 462.84 g, which corresponds to an average number (AN) and weight (AW) of 3.03 and 1.04 g, respectively. This species feeds on benthic preys, composed mainly of natantia crustaceans (%IRI = 44.84) and teleost fish (%IRI = 2.61) with intraspecific preys (%IRI = 6.15). This cannibalism was frequent in specimens with a TL that exceeds 20 cm; it was even more frequent in females as well as in winter. Significant differences in feeding habits of
occurred according to sex, fish size and between seasons. The trophic level (TROPH) was high (3.66 < TROPH < 3.97), corresponding to carnivorous character.
The aim of this paper was to report on an examination of the digestive organs in the deep-water fish
(Brünnich) from Algerian coastal waters. A total of 1,019 specimens (5.7–62.7 cm in total length) ...obtained from commercial fisheries were examined between December 2013 and May 2017. The anatomical study was conducted using morphometric measurements of different sections of the digestive tract of
. The histological features of the digestive tract were examined in the esophagus, stomach, intestine, and pyloric cecum. They were compatible with carnivorous feeding behavior and confirmed by a low intestinal quotient (IQ = 0.72 ± 0.13). The histopathological assessment highlighted the hepatic steatosis and parasitic infestation in its intestine from
, which also occurs in Algerian coastal waters. According to our knowledge, this paper reports for the first time the morphohistological analysis of the digestive tract of a Phycidae species in Africa and provides the first histopathological assessment of the digestive organs of the greater forkbeard in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea.
U razdoblju od prosinca 2013. do lipnja 2015. istraživan je sastav ishrane tabinje bjelice Phycis blennoides (Brünnich, 1768) na obali Alžira pružajući informaciju o ekologiji vrste te pridonoseći ...boljem razumijevanju strategije njenog hranjenja. Analizirano je ukupno 956 primjeraka čija je totalna dužina (TL) varirala između 9,7 i 54,5 cm i mase (W) između 2,80 i 1334,11 g. Za obilježavanje relativne važnosti različitih taksona u progutanoj hrani, korišten je indeks relativne važnosti (%IRI) kombinirajući tri glavna deskriptora prisustva različitog progutanog plijena. Kvalitativne i kvantitativne varijacije u ishrani proučavane su prema spolu, veličini i godišnjim dobima. Prosječni godišnji indeks praznine crijeva (% V) je bio 5,51. Nije varirao između sezona (χ²cal = 5,43, χ²th = 7,82, α = 5%) i veličine (χ²cal = 2.08, χ²th = 5,99, α = 5%), ali je bio različit između mužjaka (%V = 4,94) i ženki (%V= 12,78). Kvalitativna analiza sadržaja želudca otkriva prilično raznolik raspon predacije s izbrojana 1342 plijena ukupne mase 462,84 g što odgovara prosječnom broju (AN) i masi (AW) od 3,03 odnosno 1,04 g. Ova vrsta se hrani bentoskim plijenom, uglavnom sastavljenim od rakova plivača (natantia) (% IRI = 44,84) i riba košunjača (% IRI = 2,61) te s intraspecifičnim plijenom (% IRI = 6,15). Ova pojava kanibalizma je česta kod primjeraka s TL koja premašuje 20 cm a još je češća kod ženki u zimskom periodu. Značajne razlike u prehrambenim navikama P. blennoides javljaju se prema spolu, veličini ribe i godišnjim dobima. Trofička razina (TROPH) bila je visoka (3.66 <TROPH <3.97), što odgovara karnivornom karakteru vrste.
Algeria is strewn with the remains of multiple industries, but the significance of this industrial heritage, especially that belonging to the time of French colonisation, is under-appreciated, and ...the structures have no legal protection. This article examines this problem, taking the square grain silos of Setif as a case study. Historical and techno-architectural approaches are used to develop an understanding of both the historical context and the colonial agrarian strategy that led to the creation of these Algerian docks and grain silos. The architectural features and construction of the Hennebique reinforced-concrete structures and the grain-handling procedures are described. The article seeks to unveil the important historical, architectural and utilitarian values that justify the protection of these heritage features, as a first step towards their preservation and management.
The Algerian honey bee population is composed of two described subspecies A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis, of which little is known regarding population genomics, both in terms of genetic ...differentiation and of possible contamination by exogenous stock. Moreover, the phenotypic differences between the two subspecies are expected to translate into genetic differences and possible adaptation to heat and drought in A. m. sahariensis. To shed light on the structure of this population and to integrate these two subspecies in the growing dataset of available haploid drone sequences, we performed whole-genome sequencing of 151 haploid drones.
Integrated analysis of our drone sequences with a similar dataset of European reference populations did not detect any significant admixture in the Algerian honey bees. Interestingly, most of the genetic variation was not found between the A. m. intermissa and A. m. sahariensis subspecies; instead, two main genetic clusters were found along an East-West axis. We found that the correlation between genetic and geographic distances was higher in the Western cluster and that close-family relationships were mostly detected in the Eastern cluster, sometimes at long distances. In addition, we selected a panel of 96 ancestry-informative markers to decide whether a sampled bee is Algerian or not, and tested this panel in simulated cases of admixture.
The differences between the two main genetic clusters suggest differential breeding management between eastern and western Algeria, with greater exchange of genetic material over long distances in the east. The lack of detected admixture events suggests that, unlike what is seen in many places worldwide, imports of queens from foreign countries do not seem to have occurred on a large scale in Algeria, a finding that is relevant for conservation purposes. In addition, the proposed panel of 96 markers was found effective to distinguish Algerian from European honey bees. Therefore, we conclude that applying this approach to other taxa is promising, in particular when genetic differentiation is difficult to capture.
Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Owing to its ability to rapidly evolve and spread, the influenza virus is of global public health importance. Information on the ...burden, seasonality and risk factors of influenza in countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region is emerging because of collaborative efforts between countries, WHO and its partners over the past 10 years. The fourth meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance network was held in Amman, Jordan on 11–14 December 2017. The meeting reviewed the progress and achievements reported by the countries in the areas of surveillance of and response to seasonal, zoonotic and pandemic influenza. The first scientific conference on acute respiratory infection in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was held at the same time and 38 abstracts from young researchers across the Region were presented on epidemiological and virological surveillance, outbreak detection and response, influenza at the animal-human interface, use and efficacy of new vaccines to control respiratory diseases and pandemic influenza threats. The meeting identified a number of challenges and ways to improve the quality of the surveillance system for influenza, sustain the system so as to address pandemic threats and use the data generated from the surveillance system to inform decision-making, policies and practices to reduce the burden of influenza-associated illnesses in the Region.
Influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Owing to its ability to rapidly evolve and spread, the influenza virus is of global public health importance. Information on the ...burden, seasonality and risk factors of influenza in countries of the World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region is emerging because of collaborative efforts between countries, WHO and its partners over the past 10years. The fourth meeting of the Eastern Mediterranean Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance network was held in Amman, Jordan on 11–14 December 2017. The meeting reviewed the progress and achievements reported by the countries in the areas of surveillance of and response to seasonal, zoonotic and pandemic influenza. The first scientific conference on acute respiratory infection in the Eastern Mediterranean Region was held at the same time and 38 abstracts from young researchers across the Region were presented on epidemiological and virological surveillance, outbreak detection and response, influenza at the animal-human interface, use and efficacy of new vaccines to control respiratory diseases and pandemic influenza threats. The meeting identified a number of challenges and ways to improve the quality of the surveillance system for influenza, sustain the system so as to address pandemic threats and use the data generated from the surveillance system to inform decision-making, policies and practices to reduce the burden of influenza-associated illnesses in the Region.
PDF
