Diversity and distribution of Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) of the Oued Charef basin,North-Eastern Algeria

Summary. As part of the study of the Chironomidae fauna in lotic waters of North-Eastern Algeria, nine sampling stations in the Oued Charef basin were visited monthly during a study cycle. This work collected 7615 specimens forming a list of 75 species divided into four subfamilies. For North Africa, 23 species are reported for the first time, including six species of Tanypodinae (Paramerina vaillanti, P. berkana, Procladius lugens, Thienemannimyia zousfana, Trissopelopia longimana, Trissopelopia sp. and Zavrelimyia berberi), eight species of Chironominae (Cladotanytarsus vanderwulpi, Cryptochironomus obreptans, C. supplicans, Cryptotendipes usmaensis, Polypedilum sordens, Micropsectra fallax, M. contracta and Tanytarsus sylvaticus), and nine species of Orthocladinae (Cricotopus tibialis, Chaetocladius insolitus, C. piger, Tokunagaia rectangularis, Heterotrissocladius subpilosus, Limnophyes gurgicola, Nanocladius bicolor, Rheotanytarsus distinctissimus and Smittia sp.). In Algeria, 34 species are reported for the first time: seven Tanypodinae, 15 Chironominae and 12 Orthocladinae. In addition to the species reported as new for North Africa, the following ones can be added: Macropelopia nebulosa, Harnischia curtilamellatus, Microtendipes chloris, M. confinis, Polypedilum convictum, Stictochironomus sp., Paratanytarsus dissimilis, Cricotopus fuscus, C. trifascia and Pseudosmittia sp. This study has highlighted factors that control the distribution of the Chironomidae depending on characteristics of each site and the study season. The results have shown that the occurrence and diversity of chironomid species in these streams are significantly influenced by conductivity, temperature, current velocity and the type of substratum, while altitude had no significant effect on chironomid occurrence and distribution. The Motomura analysis and the ecological indices comparison have shown that the sampled stations are widely different. Despite the extreme environmental conditions undergone by streams of this area (eutrophication, high temperatures, drought in summer and water abstraction), Oued Chaniour was the richest and most balanced community, comprising 40 mostly stenotopic species, which require undisturbed conditions.     

Infestation and seasonal activity of Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) on the Maghreb mouse‐eared bat,Myotis punicus Felten, 1977, in northeastern Algeria

Infestation of Ixodes vespertilionis Koch, 1844 on Myotis punicus Felten, 1977 from two sites (Trios Tunnel and Sidi Trad cave) in northeastern Algeria was studied. An overall infestation of 41.4% for all stages was found among bats collected from both sites. By stage, a total of eight females, 70 nymphs, and 107 larvae were recovered from both populations. The number of females recovered per bat at Sidi Trad ranged from 0‐1, for nymphs 0‐2, and for larvae 0‐2. While no female ticks were collected at Trios Tunnel, the number of nymphs ranged from 0‐2 and for larvae 0‐2. At Trios Tunnel, the number of nymphs was significantly higher during April and June but not for July and September. On the other hand, the number of larvae increased from July to November, while at Sidi Trad cave, female ticks were recovered during April and May and then disappeared until the end of the study period. Significant differences were noted during all the months when compared with all stages. Nymphs infested bats significantly during April and May, declined in June and July, and then became steady until October. Larvae peaked in July, with low frequency in April, and then fluctuated from August to November.     

Peroxidase-producing actinobacteria from Algerian environments and insights from the genome sequence of peroxidase-producing Streptomyces sp. S19

International Microbiology - Unique environments often serve as a source of novel microorganisms with novel chemistries. In this study, telluric samples collected from different regions of Algeria...     

Bat ectoparasites (Nycteribiidae,Streblidae, Siphonaptera,Heteroptera, Mesostigmata,Argasidae, and Ixodidae) from Algeria

Twenty two species of ectoparasites (Family Nycteribiidae: Nycteribia (Listropoda) schmidlii schmidlii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) latreillii, Nycteribia (Nycteribia) pedicularia, Penicillidia (Penicillidia) dufourii, and Phthiridium biarticulatum; Family Streblidae: Brachytarsina (Brachytarsina) flavipennis and Raymondia huberi; Order Siphonaptera: Rhinolophopsylla unipectinata arabs, Nycteridopsylla longiceps, Araeopsylla gestroi, Ischnopsyllus intermedius, and Ischnopsyllus octactenus; Order Heteroptera: Cimex pipistrelli, Cimex lectularius, and Cacodmus vicinus; Class Arachnida: Order Mesostigmata: Spinturnix myoti and Eyndhovenia euryalis; Order Ixodida: Family Argasidae: Argas transgariepinus and Argas vespertilionis; Family Ixodidae: Hyalomma dromedarii, Ixodes ricinus, and Ixodes vespertilionis) were recovered from 19 bat species in Algeria. New host records for bats are recorded for the first time: N. schmidlii from Rh. clivosus and R. cystops; N. latreillii from Rh. blasii and P. gaisleri; R. huberi from Rh. clivosus; C. pipistrelli from E. isabellinus and H. savii; C. vicinus from E. isabellinus; S. myoti from P. gaisleri; E. euryalis from P. gaisleri and Rh. blasii; A. vespertilionis from P. gaisleri; I. ricinus from T. teniotis and Rh. hipposideros and H. dromedarii from P. kuhlii. Raymondia huberi is recorded for the first time from Algeria.