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Entomological biodiversity of wet suberas in the El Kala region (extreme Northeast Algeria)

Fermentation ruminale et Composition chimique de quelques arbustes du Nord de la Tunisie.

 

S. TELAILIA*1

L. BOUTABIA1

M. MENAA2

M. C. MAAZI2

 

1 Laboratoire Agriculture et Fonctionnement des Ecosystèmes, Département des Sciences Agronomiques, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Chadli Bendjedid, El Tarf, Algérie.

2 Laboratoire des Ecosystèmes Aquatiques et Terrestes, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Nature et de la Vie, Université Mohamed Cherif Messaadia, Souk Ahras, Algéria.

 

 

Abstract - The study conducted on the entomofauna in the region of El Kala in the extreme Northeast Algeria proved interesting. The surveys carried out in the various plant successions of the cork oak forests in this region have made it possible to count more than one hundred species of arthropods divided into 3 classes: the Arachnids, the Myriapods and the Insects. The most important order is the Coleoptera with 13 families, the most important of which are the Scarabaeidae and the Carabidae. The different methods of insect capture used according to different biological strata have resulted in a significant number of species in the herbaceous stratum and the soil.

Keywords: Biodiversity, arthropods, wet cork forests, El Kala, Algeria.

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Study of the growth and development of Acacia Cyanophylla on different substrates from municipal solid waste.

Étude de la croissance et du développement d'Acacia Cyanophylla sur différents substrats provenant de déchets solides municipaux

 

W. OULED SEGHAIER*1,2

C. ABBES2

I. ZOUAOUI2

N. JDIDI2

B. HASNAOUI2

 

1 Faculty of Science of Bizerte, Jarzouna (Bizerte) 7021

2 Sylvo-Pastoral Institute of Tabarka, Jendouba University. BP. n ° 345, 8110 Tabarka (Jendouba), Tunisia

 
Abstract - Our work aims at the application of several biological and chemical parameters in order to determine the impact of variation in the levels of heavy metals and mineral elements in the soil for the growth of a forest plant Acacia cyanophylla since plants are good indicators of environmental pollution. We studied the impact of heavy metals on the germination and growth of Acacia cyanophylla cultivated in the soil of the three-controlled municipal solid waste of the Northwest of Tunisia and compared with plants of the same species cultivated in non-contaminated soil and soil receiving a mixing of a contaminated soil and a nursery soil. Morphological Parameters (stem height, root length, leaf area, the ratio of the stem / root and biomass) was measured. In the different substrates used, the morphological parameters vary significantly for the different criteria studied. 

Keywords: municipal solid waste, heavy metals, morphological parameters, forest.

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The use of satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems in monitoring the dynamics of alfatières aquifers. Case of the delegation of Hassi el Frid of the governorate of Kasserine in Tunisia.

L'utilisation de la télédétection satellitaire et des systèmes d'informations géographiques dans le suivi de la dynamique des nappes alfatières. Cas de la délégation de Hassi el Frid du gouvernorat de Kasserine en Tunisie

 

 

S. JARRADI1*

K. TOUNSI 2

1Organisation des Nations Unies pour l'Alimentation et l'Agriculture - Bureau sous régional de Tunis

2 Institut Sylvo-Pastoral de Tabarka


Abstract - Esparto grassland in Tunisia covers approximately 452.000 ha, mainly located in central Tunisia. Esparto grassland provides numerous goods and environmental services like fodder production for the livestock, fighting desertification and climate change mitigation. Esparto grassland are threaten by the up-growing anthropogenic pressure (overgrazing, farming…). Local managers need an efficient tool to monitor ecosystems that are managing. This study provide a methodological approach based on easy and free GIS and Remote Sensing data and tools that could be easily handled by local managers to asses land use changes. In our case, we applied this methodology in Hassi El Frid, Kasserine, to assess changes in Esparto grassland. We have found that areas initially covered with Esparto grassland were converted in Olive trees plantation, cereals fields and Cactus respectively 55%, 35% et 7%.

Keywords: Remote Sensing, Land Use Change Assessment, Esparto Grassland, Kasserine.

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Interspecific variability in leaf morphology between adult trees and seedlings of two species of oak (Quercus canariensis Willd.) and (Quercus suber L.) and their hybrid (Quercus afares Pomel) in NorthWestern Tunisia

Variabilité interspécifique de la morphologie des feuilles entre les arbres adultes et les semis de deux espèces de chêne, (Quercus canariensis Willd.) et (Quercus suber L.) et leur hybride (Quercus afares Pomel) au Nord-Ouest de la Tunisie

 

S. MHAMDI1, 2, 3*, K. BEN YAHIA1, 2, P. MONTPIED3, O. BRENDEL3, E. DREYER3, B. HASNAOUI1

 

1 Laboratory of the Sylvo-pastoral resources, ISP Tabarka, Tunisia.

2 Laboratory of Ecophysiology and Reforestation (National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forest Research, INRGREF) Ariana, Tunisia. 

3 French National Institute for Agricultural Research, INRA, Nancy-Université UMR 1137, 54280 Champenoux. France. 

 

 
Abstract- The variability of the leaves has been studied by many authors for the identification of forest species among themselves as in the genus Quercus. In this genus, several taxonomic groups are known by their complex patterns of variation that lead to problems in identifying taxa at the species level. In Tunisia the genus Quercus is the major constituent of the forest, represented by five species. In order to characterize the morphology of the hybrid Quercus afares Pomel with respect to parental species (Quercus canariensis willd and Quercus suber L), we studied the morphological variability of leaves in the adult stage and to progress in understanding the differences between the hybrid and parents, it was important to check whether morphological discrimination was still possible at the planting stage. The leaves were sorted by plant and then scanned. The images were thresholded and processed with Image J software (1.43). Morphological variables of size and shape were evaluated, we described the variability using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a Multiple Component Analysis (MCA). The results revealed a high level of diversity in both the adult and seedling stages, with a higher overlap between Q. afares and Q. canariensis than between Q. afares and Q. suber. The hybrid was different from parents for most traits and positioned intermediate for size traits, whereas it was different for shape traits. Q. suber and Q. canariensis remained morphologically distinct. The study resulted in interspecific discrimination with three distinct groups corresponding to the species and forming a gradient. They are arranged from small circular and round leaves (Q. suber) to elongated, slightly lobed leaves (Q. afares) and finally large, lobed leaves corresponding to leaves of Q. canariensis.

Keywords: Foliar morphology, variability, Quercus, hybrid.

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Comparison of the chemical composition and the antioxidant activity of the leaves of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) collected in three sites of Djebel Zaghouan (Tunisia)

Comparaison de la composition chimique et de l’Activité antioxydante des feuilles de Caroubier (Ceratonia siliqua L.) collectées dans trois sites de Djebel Zaghouan (Tunisie)

 

S. Dallali1, 2*

F. Aloui1

H. Selmi1

H. Sebei2

 

1Sylvo-Pastoral Institute of Tabarka Laboratoire des Ressources Sylvo-Pastorales, 8110Tabarka, Tunisia

2Ecole Supérieure d’Agriculture de Mograne, Département des Productions Agricoles, Laboratoire de Recherche « Systèmes de Production Agricole et Développement Durable » 1121, Zaghouan, Tunisie.

Abstract - The carob tree leaves (Ceratonia siliqua L.) collected from National Park of Djebel Zaghouan in three different sites are analyzed for their fatty acid composition, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Total lipids were extracted by an organic solvents mixture. The fatty acid composition was determined using gas chromatography (GC-FID). The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of dry extract of leaves was evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activity was tested by the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Results showed that total fatty acid content varied from 45.22 to 21.33 mg/g dw. Twelve fatty acids were identified and linolenic acid is the predominant fatty acid (29.40–35.78%), followed by linoleic acid (14.02–15.88%), stearic acid (14.03–14.98%) and palmitic acid (5.24–13.87%). The oil contains from 54.68 to 62.52% unsaturated fatty acid. The contents of total phenols ranged from 2.50 to 6.45mg EGA/g dw. The amount of flavonoids varies from 3.42 to 7.42 mg EQ/g dw. Moreover, the evaluation of antioxidant methanolic extract showed a very important activity expressed (70.29–83.70%). These results indicated that the leaves of carob tree have different richness in unsaturated fatty acids following sites and the extracts tested have an antioxidant effect.

Keywords: Ceratonia siliqua L., Phenolic compounds, Flavonoids, Total lipids, Antioxidant activity, Tunisia.

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Larvicidal activity of essential oil of Mentha pulegium on larvae of Orgyia trigotephras Boisduval, 1829 (Lepidoptera, Erebidae)

 

 

O. EZZINE*1

S. DHAHRI1

H. AKKARI2

M.L. BEN JAMÂA1

 

1Institut National des Recherches en Génie Rural, eaux et forêts ; Laboratoire de Gestion et Valorisation des Ressources Forestières ; BP. 10, 2080 Ariana, Tunisia ;

2Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Université de la Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia ;

 
Abstract - To ensure better intervention and, in order to contribute to sustainable management of the environment, natural substances such as essential oils are used as insecticides. In this context, Mentha pulegium was used for its insecticidal activity against larvae of Orgyia trigotephras. Essential oil was diluted in ethanol (96%) to prepare 3 test solutions (S1=0.05%, S2=0.10%, and S3=0.50%). The essential oil was tested by contact action. Larvicidal effect of essential oil was appreciated by comparison to Decis (positif test) and ethanol (negatif test). For each instar a total of 300 larvae were used for the testSix replications were performed, in each 10 larvae were used. One larva was placed in a Petri dish and 10 µl of each oil solution prepared. The effects of the essential oils, Decis and ethanol were evaluated by measuring the mean mortality time of larvae (MMT). Results showed a highly significant difference between the three concentrations. The 3rd concentration of M. pulegium is the most effective of the other concentrations. MMT was 15 min for the 3rd instar, 27 min for the 4th instar and 1 h 15 min for the 5th instar. Larvicidal activity of M. pulegium was more efficient on the 3rd instar than the others. A total of 23 compounds of the essential oil of flowers of M. pulegium were identified. Polegone was the dominant one at 56.22% seems to be responsible for the larvae mortality. This work should be complemented by histological sections of the caterpillars to identify the insecticidal effect of M. pulegium essential oil.

Keywords: contact action, 3 test solutions, chemical composition, mean mortality time, positif test, negatif test.

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Method of Decision Making For Flood Management of Medjerda High Valley

 

 

S. ABIDI1*

M.EL AYARI2

O. HAJJI3

H. HAMADI4

 

1University of Jendouba, Sylvo-Pastoral Institute of Tabarka, Department of Protection and Development of Agroforestry Resources and Areas, Tabarka8110,Tunisia,

2University of Debrecen, Doctoral school of Informatics, Department of Applied Mathematics and Probability Theory, Debrecen 4032, Hungary,

3University of Jendouba, Higher School of Engineers of Medjez El Beb, Medjez El Beb 9070, Tunisia,

4University of Carthage, Department of Rural Engineering; Water and Soil, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, Tunis 1082, Tunisia.

 Abstract - During a flood event, the decision maker needs a simple and closer to reality tool to make the proper decisions, such as; the release of dams, the risk knowledge to protect the villagers from the floods. This article presents the construction of a simple flood-forecasting tool at the main stations of the Medjerda, upstream Sidi Salem dam, which will serve for the management of dams and floods of the Medjerda.The phenomenon of floods is seriously arising in the upper Medjerda valley, precisely in Bensalem’s plain upstream Sidi Salem’s dam. To be able to manage the risk of flooding, decision-makers need a simple and rapid tool. Flood prediction results with propagation models are satisfactory. Therefore, we have created an application under MATLAB based on these models. This application requires only upstream’s instant flows to predict downstream’s flows while the coefficients basis of the models, are made from the reconstruction of historical floods. The calculation delay time is evaluated from 2 to 8 hours with a step of 2. The application has been validated using the flood of February 2015. The results were satisfactory with significant Nash coefficients. It has been stated that as the delay is low, the Nash coefficient is better. Propagation models are effective as a tool for flood forecasting, although the Medjerda basin is heterogeneous in terms of the physical characteristics as soil. This application will be connected to the data collection system for real-time forecasting.

Keywords: Flood forecasting, flow propagation model, MATLAB programming, alert system.

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Copyright

This article is published under license to Journal of New Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

CC BY 4.0