LITERATURE REVIEW
1.4. Posidonia oceanica: biological status indicators
Within the Mediterranean region, the Posidonia oceanica meadow serves as a robust
bioindicator for assessing the quality of coastal water due to its sensitivity to human impact
(Pergent-Martini et al., 1995; Pergent et al., 2005). The presence and vitality of the Posidonia
oceanica meadow reflect the quality of the waters. Many parameters can be recorded by the
meadow ( Pergent et al., 1995; Pergent-Martini et al., 2005; Boumaza et al., 2022):
• Water turbidity affects the position of the lower limit of Posidonia oceanica meadows and
the density of their shoots;
• The presence of erosive formations such as intermates within the meadow indicates the
presence of currents;
• Sedimentation rates are indicated by the growth rates of rhizomes;
• Lepidochronology emerges as a valuable tool for conducting temporal pollution studies,
enabling comparisons between past and present levels of specific pollutants, such as heavy
metals;
• Organic pollution and eutrophication are evidenced by the presence of epiphytes on leaves
and the chemical composition of the plant (nutrients, phenolic compounds,);
• The density of tannin cells, which are cells rich in phenolic acid, increases in response to a
state of plant stress.
1.5. Posidonia oceanica meadows in Algeria
A lot of data about the presence of P. oceanica in the Algerian coasts were recorded
(Table1). Whereas, our bibliographic research did not reveal a precise distribution map on these
coasts. In fact, studies have been concentrated in few parts of the Algerian coasts: Tipaza and
Algiers in the central coasts (Semroud et al., 1992; Boumaza and Semroud, 1995; Lamouti,
2010) Jijel, Bejaia, Annaba, Skikda and Ettaref in the eastern coasts (PNG/ISMAL. (2004);
Semroud et al., 2004; Derbal and Kara, 2010) and Oran, Mostaghanem and Ain
Temoouchent in the western coasts. These studies (Table1), aimed to characterize the meadows
throughout the morphometry of the species, the demography of the meadows, and the
physiological and morphological patterns of P.oceanica in response to environmental changes
1.4. Posidonia oceanica: biological status indicators
Within the Mediterranean region, the Posidonia oceanica meadow serves as a robust
bioindicator for assessing the quality of coastal water due to its sensitivity to human impact
(Pergent-Martini et al., 1995; Pergent et al., 2005). The presence and vitality of the Posidonia
oceanica meadow reflect the quality of the waters. Many parameters can be recorded by the
meadow ( Pergent et al., 1995; Pergent-Martini et al., 2005; Boumaza et al., 2022):
• Water turbidity affects the position of the lower limit of Posidonia oceanica meadows and
the density of their shoots;
• The presence of erosive formations such as intermates within the meadow indicates the
presence of currents;
• Sedimentation rates are indicated by the growth rates of rhizomes;
• Lepidochronology emerges as a valuable tool for conducting temporal pollution studies,
enabling comparisons between past and present levels of specific pollutants, such as heavy
metals;
• Organic pollution and eutrophication are evidenced by the presence of epiphytes on leaves
and the chemical composition of the plant (nutrients, phenolic compounds,);
• The density of tannin cells, which are cells rich in phenolic acid, increases in response to a
state of plant stress.
1.5. Posidonia oceanica meadows in Algeria
A lot of data about the presence of P. oceanica in the Algerian coasts were recorded
(Table1). Whereas, our bibliographic research did not reveal a precise distribution map on these
coasts. In fact, studies have been concentrated in few parts of the Algerian coasts: Tipaza and
Algiers in the central coasts (Semroud et al., 1992; Boumaza and Semroud, 1995; Lamouti,
2010) Jijel, Bejaia, Annaba, Skikda and Ettaref in the eastern coasts (PNG/ISMAL. (2004);
Semroud et al., 2004; Derbal and Kara, 2010) and Oran, Mostaghanem and Ain
Temoouchent in the western coasts. These studies (Table1), aimed to characterize the meadows
throughout the morphometry of the species, the demography of the meadows, and the
physiological and morphological patterns of P.oceanica in response to environmental changes