Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solar orientation in Sphaeroma serratum from Ghar El Melh lagoon (Northern Tunisia)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Biologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Preliminary studies carried out on a population of Sphaeroma serratum have shown that this isopod uses the mechanism of sun compass to orient in the water. However, it appears that several environmental factors can influence this mechanism. The aim of this study was to check the sun compass in a population collected in the Ghar El Melh lagoon. Orientation experiments were realized in spring 2019: control experiments were carried out in the field, at the edge of the lagoon of Ghar El Melh lagoon (GMLE) and in an open space at the Faculty of Science of Tunis (FST). The experiments were carried out during three periods of the day: around 9:00, 12:00, and 15:00 using a circular arena filled with water, with (L) and without (S) the possibility of landscape view. Data analyses were performed using statistical tests of circular distribution data. To analyze the intervening factors in the solar orientation behavior of S. serratum a multiple regression analysis adapted to circular data (SPLM - spherically projected linear models) was used. Orientation angles were used as response variables, while factors as: landscape view (L or S), locality of the experiment (GMLE or FST), solar azimuth (azim), sky cloud degree (0–8), sun (visible, covered, shape, not visible) and time of the experiment, were used as influencing variables. The results showed that also the Ghar El Melh S. serratum use the sun azimuth to orient in the water. It resulted that the locality of the experiment significantly influenced their orientation, while the time of experiment had a minor effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amor KOB, Amor MMB, Rifi M, Souissi JB (2017) Diversity of crustacean species from Tunis Southern Lagoon (Central Mediterranean) after an ecological restoration. Cah Biol Mar 58:49–57. https://doi.org/10.21411/CBM.A.CC457186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bejaoui S, Bouziz M, Ghribi F, Chetoui I, M’hamed EL (2019) Assessment of the biochemical and nutritional values of Venerupis decussata from Tunisian lagoons submitted to different anthropogenic ranks. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27(2):1734–1751. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06851-y

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ben Souissi E, Hamaied S, Medini Bouaziz L (2016) Etude de la phénologie de la reproduction de Sphaeroma serratum de la plage de Menzel Abderrahmane. In: Bull Inst Nat Sci Tech Mer de Salammbô, N° special 19, Actes des Seizièmes Journées des Sciences de la Mer, Zarzis, Tunisie, pp 32–36

  • Bohli-Abderrazak D, Ayari A, Morgan E, Nasri-Ammar K (2012) Towards a characterization of the locomotor activity rhythm of the supralittoral isopod Tylos europaeus. Chronobiol Int 29(2):166–174. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2011.652327

  • Borgioli C, Martelli L, Porri F, Marchetti GM, Scapini F (1999) Orientation in Talitrus saltator (Montagu): trends in intrapopulation variability related to environmental and intrinsic factors. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 238(1):29–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-0981(99)00012-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bourguiba K, El Gtari M (2017) First study of the solar orientation behavior in the marine isopod Sphaeroma serratum (Fabricius, 1787). In: Proceedings TJASSST 2017, Water & Environment, pp 133-136

  • El Gtari M (2004) Éco éthologie comparée de quelques espèces clés d’arthropodes semis-terrestres et côtiers et systématique d’amphipodes littoraux de la Tunisie. Thèse de Doctorat.Université de Tunis, ELMANAR

  • El Gtari M, Akremi A, Tiri B, Zaatouri A, Bourguiba K (2017) Pollution’s effect on sun compass mechanism in Talitrus saltator (Montagu 1808) of the Corniche beach of Bizerte (North Tunisia). In: Proceedings TJASSST 2017, Water & Environment, pp 137-140

  • El Gtari M, Bourigua N, Bouslama MF, Charfi-Cheikhrouha F, Scapini F (2014) Experimental change of the orientation of two populations of Talitrus saltator (Crustacea Amphipoda Talitridae) from Cap Bon (North-Eastern Tunisia). Ethology 120(12):1155–1166. https://doi.org/10.1111/eth.12289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Gtari M, Bouslama MF, Charfi-Cheikhrouha F, Scapini F (2000a) Orientation solaire, Repères Visuels et Sensibilité à la Variation de la ligne du rivage de deux populations de Talitrus saltator (Crustacé, Amphipode, Talitridé) du Cap Bon (Tunisie). Bull Assoc Tunisienne Sci Mer 5:81–84

  • El Gtari M, Charfi-Cheikhrouha F, Marchetti G, Scapini F (2000b) Behavioural adaptation of Talitrus saltator populations to beaches with different dynamics and degree of human disturbance along Tunisian coasts. Pol Arch Hydrobiol 47:3–4

  • Jacobs BJM (1987) A taxonomic revision of the European, Mediterranean and NW. African species generally placed in Sphaeroma Bosc, 1802 (Isopoda, Flabellifera, Sphaeromatidae) No. 238. Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden

  • Khemaissia H, Nasri-Ammar K (2010) Caractérisation du cycle reproducteur des femelles de Porcellio lamellatus (isopoda, oniscidea) provenant des berges de la lagune de Bizerte (Tunisie). Crustaceana 83(3):1025–1034. https://doi.org/10.1163/001121610X510642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchetti GM, Scapini F (2003) Use of multiple regression models in the study of sandhopper orientation under natural conditions. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 58:207–215. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7714(03)00047-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardi L (1954) Über die Orientierung von Tylos latreillii Aud. & Sav. (Isopoda terrestria). Z Tierpsychol 11(2):175–181

  • Pardi L (1955) L’orientamento diurno di Tylos latreillii (Aud. e Sav.) (Crustacea Isopoda terrestra). Boll Ist Mus Zool Univ Torino 4:167–196

  • Rezig M (1975) Comparaison morphologique, biologique et génétique des espèces tunisiennes du genre Sphaeroma (isopodes flabellifères). Etude comparé du cycle biologique de quleques espèces du genre Sphaeroma (isopodes flabellifères) en Tunisie. Thèse de Doctorat, L’Université de Tunis

  • Rezig M (1979) Etude comparée du cycle biologique de quelques espèces du genre Sphaeroma (Isopodes flabelliferes) en Tunisie. Bull. Inst. Natn. Scient. Tech. Océanogr. Pêche Salammbô 6(1-4):93-121 

  • Rossano C, Di Cristina G, Scapini F (2013) Life cycle and behavioural traits of Dikerogammarus villosus (Sowinsky, 1894) (Amphipoda, Gammaridae) colonising an artificial fresh water basin in Tuscany (central Italy). Crustaceana 86(7–8):908–931. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685403-00003211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Said AB, Bohli-Abderrazek D, Jelassi R, Nasri-Ammar K (2018) Locomotor behaviour of three sympatric species Ligia italica, Armadillo officinalis and Chaetophiloscia elongata (Crustacea, Oniscidea) from Ghar El Melh lagoon (Northeast Tunisia). Biol Rhythm Res 51(3):338–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scapini F, Aloia A, Bouslama MF, Chelazzi L, Colombini I, El Gtari M, Marchetti GM (2002) Multiple regression analysis of the sources of variation in orientation of two sympatric sandhoppers, Talitrus saltator and Talorchestia brito, from an exposed Mediterranean beach. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 51(5):403–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scapini F, Audoglio M, Chelazzi L, Colombini I, Fallaci M (1997) Astronomical, landscape and climatic factors influencing oriented movements of Talitrus saltator in nature. Mar Biol 128(1):63–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scapini F, Gambineri S, Rossano C, El Gtari M, Fanini L, Nourisson DH (2015) Talitrid orientation as bioindicator of shoreline stability: Protected headland-bays versus exposed extended beaches. Ecol Indic 53:28–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.01.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scapini F, Pardi A (1979) Nuovi dati sulla tendenza direzionale innata nell’orientamento solare degli amfipodi litorali. Rendiconti delle Classe di Scienze fisiche mattematiche e naturale 66(8):592–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Ugolini A, Morabito F, Taiti S (1995) Innate landward orientation in the littoral isopod Tylos europaeus. Ethol Ecol Evol 7(4):387–391. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.1995.9522946

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by the Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems (LR18ES06), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, LR18ES06, Tunis, Tunisia

    Kaouther Bourguiba, Karima Nasri-Ammar & Mohamed El Gtari

  2. Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, via Madonna del Piano 6, Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy

    Simone Gambineri

  3. Higher Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture of Bizerte, University of Carthage, BP15, 7080, Menzel Jemil, Tunisia

    Mohamed El Gtari

Authors
  1. Kaouther Bourguiba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Karima Nasri-Ammar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Simone Gambineri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohamed El Gtari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kaouther Bourguiba.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bourguiba, K., Nasri-Ammar, K., Gambineri, S. et al. Solar orientation in Sphaeroma serratum from Ghar El Melh lagoon (Northern Tunisia). Biologia 76, 943–948 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00615-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00615-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation