Preliminary Assessment of the Ecological Quality of the Moulouya and Kert River Mouths

Abstract

The Moulouya and Kert Rivers discharge into the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Morocco, where their mouths form ecologically sensitive transitional ecosystems frequently exposed to growing anthropogenic pressures such as urbanization, intensive agriculture, and industrial and domestic discharges. This study focuses on the physicochemical characterization of water and the quantitative and qualitative analysis of benthic macrofauna within these two ecosystems. It proposes an integrated methodological approach to evaluate these pressures and analyze their potential impacts on the ecological status of these underexplored estuarine areas. Two monitoring campaigns conducted during the wet season enabled the collection of water and sediment samples for laboratory analyses. In situ physicochemical measurements of water included temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and electrical conductivity. A preliminary inventory of benthic macrofauna was also performed based on abundance and dominant species, which are used as bioindicators of ecological quality. Preliminary results reveal spatial variations in abiotic and biotic parameters linked to local human activities, while observed differences in macrofaunal assemblages suggest varying levels of environmental disturbance. This study highlights the relevance of an integrated approach combining chemical and biological indicators to characterize environmental gradients and support sustainable management policies. Final analyses currently in progress, will help confirm these trends and refine the ecological health assessment of these river mouths in the eastern Rif region.