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Medusae (Scyphozoa and hydrozoa) from the Moroccan Mediterranean coast: abundance and spatiotemporal dynamics and their economic impact

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Abstract

Pelagic cnidarians have been observed stranding annually in the Tetouanise Sea, a site of intense human recreation in northwest Morocco. The abundance and size of jellyfish stranded, between January 2018 and December 2020, on the beaches of the Moroccan Mediterranean were investigated. We present data on the temporal and spatial distribution of the species in relation to environmental variables (e.g., sea surface temperature, salinity, chlorophyll and wind direction). We also examined the negative impacts of jellyfish on human activities in the Moroccan Mediterranean. Five species that represented three scyphozoans and two hydrozoans were frequently observed: Pelagia noctiluca, Velella velella, Physalia physalis, Rhizostoma pulmo and Chrysaora hysoscella. Three different models of seasonal occurrence of jellyfish were identified in this study: (1) P. noctiluca appears throughout the year but with a higher frequency during the summer, (2) P. physalis and V. velella appear in March–May and (3) the late appearing R. pulmo and C. hysoscella from July to August. The abundance of jellyfish varied from season to season, but did not differ between sampling sites. Interannual variations in the abundance of jellyfish were not significantly correlated with the environmental factors examined. However, the east wind played an important role in the stranding and formation of hotspots for jellyfish in the Moroccan coast. Continuous monitoring is needed for a more profound knowledge on the jellyfish bloom dynamics and their potential impacts on ecosystem functioning and socioeconomic activities in the Moroccan Mediterranean.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Soufaine Hasni (Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier) who downloaded the data of the environmental variables from the "Copernicus Marine Service".

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  1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, M’Hannech II, P O Box 2121, 93030, Tetouan, Morocco

    Bilal Mghili, Mohamed Analla & Mustapha Aksissou

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  1. Bilal Mghili
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This study was designed by MAK. BM collected data. The data analysis was conducted by MAN. BM wrote the main sections of the manuscript with input from MAN and MAK. All authors contributed to the manuscript text, reviewed and edited, and gave final approval for publication.

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Correspondence to Bilal Mghili.

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Mghili, B., Analla, M. & Aksissou, M. Medusae (Scyphozoa and hydrozoa) from the Moroccan Mediterranean coast: abundance and spatiotemporal dynamics and their economic impact. Aquat Ecol 56, 213–226 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-021-09910-0

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