The occurrence, distribution and biology of invasive fish species in fresh and brackish water bodies of NE Morocco

A. F. Taybi1, Y. Mabrouki2, I. Doadrio3, Y. Mabrouki1, Montse Ferrer4

1 Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Dhar El Mehraz, Morocco; 2 Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, , Morocco; 3 Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, Spain; 4 Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona, Ps Picasso s/n, 08003, Barcelona, Spain

Corresponding author(s): A. F. Taybi (taybiaf@gmail.com)Y. Mabrouki (y.mabrouki@ump.ac.ma)I. Doadrio (doadrio@mncn.csic.es), Y. Mabrouki (y.mabrouki@ump.ac.ma)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

Taybi, A. F., Mabrouki, Y., Doadrio, I., 2020. The occurrence,  distribution and biology of invasive fish species in fresh and brackish water bodies of NE Morocco. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Dataset/Occurrence: https://doi.org/10.15470/2qed9o https://doi.org/10.15470/2qed9o

Abstract

Monitoring the presence and expansion of alien species and upgrading their biological and ecological knowledge seems crucial to mitigate their possible impact on native communities. Within inland superficial waters, alien fish represent an important threat to the biodiversity and studies on their impact on native communities have increased around the world in the last years. However, little is known about their occurrence, biology and influences in North Africa in general, and more specifically in Morocco. In the present work  we aimed to: 1) investigate the presence of any native Aphanius species, especially the Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus recorded from the lower basin of the Moulouya River (NE Morocco); 2) monitor the presence and expansion of two invasive species, the eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki and the mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus; and 3) contribute to the understanding of the ecological and abiotic affinities that govern the distribution of these alien fishes in North Africa. To achieve these goals, several field sampling campaigns were carried out between 2014 and 2018 across eastern Morocco, comprising the administrative Oriental Region and the Moulouya River Basin and covering an area of 119,268 km2. No native Aphanius species were found. The eastern mosquitofish has invaded the freshwater hydrosystems of the northern part of Morocco, including the study area, while the mummichog is currently limited to the brackish and salty wetlands of Lower Moulouya. Our

Keywords: Alien fishes, Mediterranean killifish, Eastern mosquitofish, Mummichog, Competition, Range expansion, Occurrence, Occurrence

Project details

Project title: The occurrence, distribution and biology of invasive fish species in fresh and brackish water bodies of NE Morocco
Personnel: Y. Mabrouki
Study area descriptions/descriptor: Morocco is currently divided into 12 administrative regions, including the Oriental Region (fig. 1), which occupies almost all the eastern side of the country and covers an area of 88,681 km2 (see Mabrouki et al., 2018 for details). The Oriental Region includes the wilaya of Oujda (Oujda–Angad prefecture) and the provinces of Berkane, Driouch, Figuig, Guercif, Jerada, Nador and Taourirt. The watershed of the Moulouya (fig. 1), which includes nearly 43,412 km2 of eastern Morocco, covers much of the Oriental Region. With a length of 600 km, the Moulouya is the longest Moroccan River flowing into the Mediterranean. Its main tributaries are the Oueds Ansegmir, Melloulou, Za and Msoun, all permanent. Other tributaries are presently intermittent (3–5 flash floods on average per year) (Bensaad et al., 2017; Mabrouki et al., 2017).
Design description: Field investigations (often in the framework of various hydrobiological studies) have been carried out since 2014 at 45 stations throughout the Moulouya River basin, including its main affluents: Oued Anzegmir (side of the High Atlas), Oued Melloulou (Middle Atlas slope) and Oued Za (High Plateau), and at about 60 stations spread throughout eastern Morocco from the northern regions of Nador and Saïdia, to Figuig in the southeast and Talessint and Bouanane in the southwest (fig.1). The stations that showed the occurrence of the mentioned fish species were re-examined between 2017 and 2018. Quantitative sampling of fish fauna was carried out using nets, searching in the most suitable places for the studied species. Sampling lasted an average of one hour over an area of 10 m2 at each station, sufficient time to trap and catch virtually all the fish in each area. Invasive species caught were preserved in formalin solution, while native fish (especially fry) were returned to the water. Permission to perform these studied was granted by the authorities.

Abiotic factors 
For this study, ten environmental parameters were selected: sulfate (SO42–), biological oxygen demand after 5 days (BOD5), phosphate (PO43–) and nitrate (N-NO3) were measured in the laboratory. Conductivity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and the mean depth were measured in situ using a multiparametric measuring device (WTW, Multi-Line P4). Two replicas of water samples from each station were taken in 500 ml polyethylene bottles. The water samples were preserved with 2 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid (pH = 2). According to standards ISO 5667-6 (1990), ISO 5667-2 (1991) and ISO 5667-3 (1994), water samples were transported in a cooler at a low temperature (± 4 °C) to stop the metabolic activities of organisms in the water.
The current velocity, well known for its selective action on habitat and species distribution (Mabrouki et al., 2019a), was quantified by its mean value at three different locations of the same station. In the absence of a hydrometric reel to measure current velocity it was estimated using a stopwatch at various points of the watercourse by measuring the time it takes for a floating object to cross a given path. The average speed (converted to cm–1) was semi-quantitatively estimated, followed by a transformation into three modalities: 1, very low to no current < 5 cm–1; 2, low current 5 < 2 < 25 cm–1; and 3, average current 25 < 3 < 50 cm-1.

Data published through GBIF: https://ipt.gbif.es/resource?r=invasive_fish_species_morocco

Taxonomic coverage

Taxonomic ranks
Family: Aphanidae, Fundulidae, Poeciliidae
Species: Aphanius fasciatus, Fundulus heteroclitus, Gambusia holbrooki

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: Morocco is currently divided into 12 administrative regions, including the Oriental Region (fig. 1), which occupies almost all the eastern side of the country and covers an area of 88,681 km2 (see Mabrouki et al., 2018 for details). The Oriental Region includes the wilaya of Oujda (Oujda–Angad prefecture) and the provinces of Berkane, Driouch, Figuig, Guercif, Jerada, Nador and Taourirt. The watershed of the Moulouya (fig. 1), which includes nearly 43,412 km2 of eastern Morocco, covers much of the Oriental Region. With a length of 600 km, the Moulouya is the longest Moroccan River flowing into the Mediterranean. Its main tributaries are the Oueds Ansegmir, Melloulou, Za and Msoun, all permanent. Other tributaries are presently intermittent (3–5 flash floods on average per year) (Bensaad et al., 2017; Mabrouki et al., 2017).

Surveys
Field investigations (often in the framework of various hydrobiological studies) have been carried out since 2014 at 45 stations throughout the Moulouya River basin, including its main affluents: Oued Anzegmir (side of the High Atlas), Oued Melloulou (Middle Atlas slope) and Oued Za (High Plateau), and at about 60 stations spread throughout eastern Morocco from the northern regions of Nador and Saïdia, to Figuig in the southeast and Talessint and Bouanane in the southwest (fig.1). The stations that showed the occurrence of the mentioned fish species were re-examined between 2017 and 2018. Quantitative sampling of fish fauna was carried out using nets, searching in the most suitable places for the studied species. Sampling lasted an average of one hour over an area of 10 m2 at each station, sufficient time to trap and catch virtually all the fish in each area. Invasive species caught were preserved in formalin solution, while native fish (especially fry) were returned to the water. Permission to perform these studied was granted by the authorities.
Coordinates: 31°54'54''N and 35°53'20.4''N Latitude; 9°40'4.8''W and 1°8'34.8''W Longitude 

Temporal coverage: January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2018

Methods

Method step description: For this study, ten environmental parameters were selected: sulfate (SO42–), biological oxygen demand after 5 days (BOD5), phosphate (PO43–) and nitrate (N-NO3) were measured in the laboratory. Conductivity, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and the mean depth were measured in situ using a multiparametric measuring device (WTW, Multi-Line P4). Two replicas of water samples from each station were taken in 500 ml polyethylene bottles. The water samples were preserved with 2 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid (pH = 2). According to standards ISO 5667-6 (1990), ISO 5667-2 (1991) and ISO 5667-3 (1994), water samples were transported in a cooler at a low temperature (± 4 °C) to stop the metabolic activities of organisms in the water.
The current velocity, well known for its selective action on habitat and species distribution (Mabrouki et al., 2019a), was quantified by its mean value at three different locations of the same station. In the absence of a hydrometric reel to measure current velocity it was estimated using a stopwatch at various points of the watercourse by measuring the time it takes for a floating object to cross a given path. The average speed (converted to cm–1) was semi-quantitatively estimated, followed by a transformation into three modalities: 1, very low to no current < 5 cm–1; 2, low current 5 < 2 < 25 cm–1; and 3, average current 25 < 3 < 50 cm-1.
Study extent description: Morocco is currently divided into 12 administrative regions, including the Oriental Region (fig. 1), which occupies almost all the eastern side of the country and covers an area of 88,681 km2 (see Mabrouki et al., 2018 for details). The Oriental Region includes the wilaya of Oujda (Oujda–Angad prefecture) and the provinces of Berkane, Driouch, Figuig, Guercif, Jerada, Nador and Taourirt. The watershed of the Moulouya (fig. 1), which includes nearly 43,412 km2 of eastern Morocco, covers much of the Oriental Region. With a length of 600 km, the Moulouya is the longest Moroccan River flowing into the Mediterranean. Its main tributaries are the Oueds Ansegmir, Melloulou, Za and Msoun, all permanent. Other tributaries are presently intermittent (3–5 flash floods on average per year) (Bensaad et al., 2017; Mabrouki et al., 2017).
Sampling description: Field investigations (often in the framework of various hydrobiological studies) have been carried out since 2014 at 45 stations throughout the Moulouya River basin, including its main affluents: Oued Anzegmir (side of the High Atlas), Oued Melloulou (Middle Atlas slope) and Oued Za (High Plateau), and at about 60 stations spread throughout eastern Morocco from the northern regions of Nador and Saïdia, to Figuig in the southeast and Talessint and Bouanane in the southwest (fig.1). The stations that showed the occurrence of the mentioned fish species were re-examined between 2017 and 2018. Quantitative sampling of fish fauna was carried out using nets, searching in the most suitable places for the studied species. Sampling lasted an average of one hour over an area of 10 m2 at each station, sufficient time to trap and catch virtually all the fish in each area. Invasive species caught were preserved in formalin solution, while native fish (especially fry) were returned to the water. Permission to perform these studied was granted by the authorities.
Quality control description: Statistical analyses were carried out using software R package version 3.3.1. (R Core Team, 2019). In the modelling of counting processes, here the abundance of a species, two kinds of models are commonly implemented, namely the Poisson model and the negative binomial model (Hilbe, 2011). Frequently, counting data is characterized by overdispersion, whereby the sample variance is greater than its average. In the case where the anomalous dispersion is proved, the Poisson regression is no longer suitable for modelling this distribution, and the negative binomial regression model, allowing more flexibility in the dispersion, should be used. The relevance of Poisson regression or negative binomial models was evaluated by the Pearson Residue Test (Plackett, 1983).

Datasets

Dataset description
Object name: Darwin Core Archive The occurrence, distribution and biology of invasive fish species in fresh and brackish water bodies of NE Morocco
Character encoding: UTF-8
Format name: Darwin Core Archive format
Format version: 1.0
Distribution: https://ipt.gbif.es/archive.do?r=invasive_fish_species_morocco
Publication date of data: 2022-06-08
Language: English
Licences of use: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2020-05-13
Hierarchy level: Dataset

References
Taybi, A. F., Mabrouki, Y., Doadrio, I., 2020. The occurrence,  distribution and biology of invasive fish species in fresh and brackish water bodies of NE Morocco. Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, 18: 59-73, Doi: https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2020.18.0059 https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2020.18.0059