First Report of the Invasive Marine Flora of Oran Coast, Northwestern Algeria (Western Mediterranean)

Abstract

The Mediterranean flora and fauna are changing. The warming of marine waters leads to changes and modifications in the distribution of species within the Mediterranean. Due to disturbance, more and more species of the tropical Atlantic migrate to the North and some enter the Mediterranean through Gibraltar strait. The objective is to provide a first black list of invasive flora in the marine environment at the regional and national levels by in situ observations made by diving focusing on the presence of the different Exotic Flora of Oran coastline (EFO) these last twenty years. We report a total of 6 species (Macrophyta with 3 Chlorophyceae and 3 Rhodophyceae). Some species are appearing on the Westside of Oran coastline, via the Strait of Gibraltar (for species coming from the Atlantic) and others mark their origin on the East side of the coast, via the Suez Canal (for species coming from the Red Sea) like sea grapes Caulerpa racemosa var cylindracea. This black list of non-native flora, which has invaded Oran coasts in recent years, must be completed by works on the 14 coastal wilayas (district) in order to draw up a national blacklist and this for contributing to a national and Mediterranean strategy for monitoring and managing non-native species that threaten the marine coastal environment, resources and users.

 Key words:

Flora, Exotic, Non-native, Alien species, Oran, Western Mediterranean.