REFERENCES
ABSTRACT
The present study aims to define a straightforward and cost-efficient method for evaluating the
impact of human activities on the Posidonia oceanica meadows along the Algerian coast.
employing a combination of visual and quantitative methods. The study evaluates multiple
pressures including urbanization. industrial activity. port proximity. fishing activity. wastewater
discharge and the presence of invasive species. Satellite imagery was used for the visual
assessment and quantitative data were collected from various sources such as governmental
websites. academic databases. and administrative bodies. for the calculation of an integrated
exposure indexes. These indexes standardize the pressure values to facilitate comparison and
estimation of total human impact. Pearson’s coefficient. were applied to correlate these
pressures with the ecological status of Posidonia oceanica meadows represented by the
ecological quality ratio values of the multiparametric index Posidonia Rapid Easy Index. The
findings reveal a high significant correlation between the assessment of anthropogenic pressure
using the visual approach and the ecological status of Posidonia oceanica meadows. This
visual approach provides a detailed picture of the anthropogenic pressures affecting Posidonia
oceanica meadows than other approaches. The absence of more relevant and updated data that
can adequately reflect the human impact on these marine ecosystems can explain the low
correlation obtained with the quantitative approach.
Keywords: Posidonia oceanica, anthropogenic pressures, ecological status,
urbanization, Algerian coast.