RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1
1,2
0
0,1
0,2
0,3
0,4
0,5
0,6
EQR
PREI
Quotations
Larid (2002)
Figure 14. Relationship between EQR PREI and the anthropization quotation indexes
calculated according to Larid (2002).
Consequently, the assessment of anthropogenic pressure using the Lopez Y Royo et al.
(2009) approach with land use in the 500m X 500m squares shows the maximum of coherence
with the ecological status of Posidonia oceanica meadows based on the calculation of the PREI
index (P-value< 0.05), compared to the other approaches. This visual approach provides a
detailed picture of the anthropogenic pressures affecting Posidonia oceanica meadows than
other approaches due to data availability.
In previous studies (Boumaza et al. 2015; Sengouga et al. 2017), the EQR PREI showed
a high significant correlation with the Larid 2002 approach (without adjustment). This
discrepancy with our results may be attributed to the change in the parameters used, which may
be more descriptive. In particular, the volume of wastewater, which was not available in the
present study and may have influenced the results. Based on the results obtained in this study,
the approach of Lopez et al. (2009) that shows the best correlation with the EQR PREI, can be
suggested to rapidly assess human pressure that potentially impact the ecological status of
Posidonia oceanica meadows in the Algerian coasts. This approach classifies the studied sites
as impacted, with low pressure levels observed at three sites and moderate pressure levels
observed at six sites, (Figure 15).