Zoobenthos associe aux dictyoceratidae (Spongiaires, Demospongiae) des côtes tunisiennes.

Abstract

This study is part of a contribution to the inventory of سthe macrofauna associated to sponges Dictyoceratidae. Investigations conducted in eight stations spread over three sites in case the Hallouf banc; Sidi Daoud and the Kerkennah Island allowed the ecological study of 26 sponges to assess the qualitatively and quantitatively this associated fauna aspects. Thirty-three species associated with the Dictyoceratidae were inventoried. Twenty four (24) Annelid Polychaete, Seven (7) Arthropods, one (1) Mollusc and one (1) Echinoderm. This associated fauna appears to be governed primarily by the structure of the sea ground on which lives the sponge. No species from associated fauna has a specific association with a particular sponge. Furthermore, the dimension of sponge channels, the presence of sand inside the sponge and depth seem to be crucial both for species richness and density of associated fauna