Posidonia oceanica meadows along the eastern coast of Tunisia : Feature and health status

Yassine Ramzi  SGHAIER; R.  ZAKHAMA-SRAIEB; F.  CHARFI-CHEIKHROUHA

doi:10.71754/instm.bulletin.v38.549

Authors

Yassine Ramzi SGHAIER Université de Tunis El Manar. Faculté des sciences de Tunis. Unité de Recherche de Bio-ecologue et Systematique Evolutive
R. ZAKHAMA-SRAIEB Université de Tunis El Manar. Faculté des sciences de Tunis. Unité de Recherche de Bio-écologue et Systématique Evolutive
F. CHARFI-CHEIKHROUHA Université de Tunis El Manar. Faculté des sciences de Tunis. Unité de Recherche de Bio-écologue et Systématique Evolutive

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71754/instm.bulletin.v38.549

Keywords:

Shoots, Coastal zone, Phenology, Rhizomes, Plant growth, Sea grass, Posidonia oceanica, Marine, Tunisia, East Coast

Abstract

The structure, phenology and shoot growth of Posidonia oceanica meadows were assessed in four sites along the
eastern Tunisian coast (Hergla, El Kantaoui, Monastir, Mahdia). The shoots densities, percentage of meadow
cover and phenological studied parameters differed significantly between localities and depths according to
human activities disturbances. P. oceanica developed the densest meadows (from 441 to 984 shoots m-²) and the
highest value of Leaf Area Index (8.5 to 13 m2 m - ²) in Mahdia. There was no significant difference on the annual
leaf production between the studied localities and sampling stations. Except at -2m depth, the rhizome growth
was significantly greater at Mahdia and Hergla than Monastir and El Kantaoui. The rhizome growth was
negatively related to the depth at El Kantaoui and Monastir. The study provides useful data on the state of health
of P. oceanica in an area of the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea still for long time unknown.