TY - JOUR AU - Saguem, SARA AU - Sahli, Abdelouahab AU - Jdi, EL Habib AU - Moutaouakil, Majida El Alami El PY - 2021/01/20 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - The Procambarus clarkii (red swamp crayfish) in Merja Zerga wetland in Morocco: Dynamic and impacts on aquatic vegetation JF - Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale JA - J Biol Res VL - 93 IS - 2 SE - Original Articles DO - 10.4081/jbr.2020.8778 UR - https://www.pagepressjournals.org/jbr/article/view/8778 SP - AB - <p><em>Procambarus clarkii,</em> one of the most invasive aquatic species in the world, is present in the Mediterranean estuarine regions. The invasion of this species in these wetlands has a multitude of impacts, including the impact on flora. This study examines the floristic diversity and abundance of <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> in this wetland, as well as whether the presence of this aquatic species affects the flora. The <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> sampling lasted three years (2016, 2017, 2018) in the Merja zerga wetland, using fishermen’s boats. Vegetation sampling was conducted during the same <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> capture period to assess the abundance of <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> at the same time and recover the effect of this aquatic species on the flora. To strengthen our study a survey was conducted among sinners to assess the impacts of <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> in its living environment. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the abundance of <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> sampled over the years (2016, 2017, 2018). The floristic diversity of the Merja zerga lagoon is very important. The effect of <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> on the flora was very remarkable. Thus, the floristic species exposed to this impact are the species of genus Potamogéton. These results show that <em>Procambarus clarkii</em> can be considered as a factor contributing to the decline of the floristic diversity of the aquatic areas where it lives.</p> ER -