Significations ecologiques de la variabilite des polychetes dans le golfe de Tunis

Abstract

he coastal areas, like the gulf of Tunis, are more and more affected by the increasing anthropic activities and nutriment inputs coming from the catchments area. The polychaeta populations show different reactions in front of such conditions and constitute an effective biological tool to detect the first signs of disturbance. In total, nine stations in the north-east of the gulf, were sampled by the Van Veengrab. In this study, the model of ecological groups and biotic index was used. It appears that the general state in the studied area is overall satisfactory, except for some ones where a situation of beginning of imbalance or of transition, seems taking place