Contribution to the knowledge of ecotones: impact of riverbank pollution on riparian communities in temporary environments in Eastern Morocco

Abstract

Riparian communities are made up of species that colonise the wet banks of different aquatic environments (ocean, river, torrent, water body, dayas) whatever their size and as long as they are being impounded. These are species that are highly dependent on their biotope, with very strict ecological and ethological requirements, and are vulnerable to any change or disturbance of the environment. Thus, depending on the type of contaminant, pollution can have different effects on this fauna: a lethal, repulsive, or attractive effect. The aim is to study the effect of pollution on the riparian community. We compare between the beetles fauna of banks of two hill dam reservoirs, one polluted and the other unpolluted. The study highlighted the attractive effect of pollution by domestic waste, particularly plastic bags, and other solid debris. Indeed, the latter, having the same physical characteristics (weight, size, thickness, etc.) as stones, leaves, and other microhabitats found in nature, have had the effect of attracting riparian species through the shelter, humidity, and shade they offer.