Diversity and Distribution of Characeae in the Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)

• Published in: Cryptogamie, Algologie
• Main Authors: Muller, Serge D., Rhazi, Laïla, Soulie-Märsche, Ingeborg, Benslama, Mohamed, Bottollier-Curtet, Marion, Daoud-Bouattour, Amina, Belair, Gérard De, Ghrabi-Gammar, Zeineb, Grillas, Patrick, Paradis, Laure, Zouaïdia-Abdelkassa, Hanene
• Other Authors: Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (UMR ISEM), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Institut de recherche pour le développement IRD : UR226-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Mohammed V de Rabat Agdal (UM5), Université Badji Mokhtar Annaba (UBMA), Université de Tunis El Manar (UTM), Université de la Manouba Tunisie (UMA), Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT), Institut de recherche de la Tour du Valat
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Chara strigosa
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-03137413; https://doi.org/10.7872/crya/v38.iss3.2017.201

International audience Characeae are macroscopic green algae present in the Maghreb (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia) that are known since the 19th century works of Desfontaines (1800) and Braun (1868). Feldmann (1946) published the first regional synthesis, and this study provides a new Maghreb-wide synthesis of all collections made since 1784 (570 observations distributed over 464 sites). Each of the 31 reported species is described in detail with its diagnostic features, ecology and distribution in the three Maghrebian countries. Distribution maps distinguish between the three collection periods: 1780–1939, 1940–1979, and 1980–2016. An illustrated key is provided to help botanists working in the Maghreb to identify the taxa. From a biogeographical perspective, the Characean flora of the Maghreb is dominated by elements originating from northern (European) countries (61.3%) that include regionally very rare species such as Chara strigosa and C. tomentosa. The Mediterranean-Atlantic element is also well represented (32.3%), with some Mediterranean endemics (Chara imperfecta, C. oedophylla, C. vulgaris var. gymnophylla). Finally, two taxa that have an affinity for tropical conditions (Chara zeylanica and Lamprothamnium succinctum) extend to the southern Sahara. In North Africa, 14 species (7 Chara, 2 Lamprothamnium, 4 Nitella and 1 Sphaerochara) are threatened and raise issues about their conservation; three of these are particularly endangered: Chara imperfecta, C. oedophylla and Lamprothamnium papulosum.