| Abstract: | The impact of the wastewater input of Médiouna agglomeration (southeastern area of Casablanca) on the diatom flora and water quality of Oued Hassar stream (Morocco) was studied from July 1997 to August 1998. This wastewater effluent, which was highly loaded with ammonia, orthophosphates and organic matters, had disturbed the diatom assemblages structure and water quality of this stream.The study of the epilithic algal assemblages revealed the presence of 130 taxa of diatoms, 21 of which, according to the available literature, were recorded for the first time in the Moroccan inland waters. Almost all the latter taxa are mesohalobic or oligohalobic-indifferent. Nitzschia inconspicua Grun. was the most abundant species (47.7%) and grows particularly at the source of the stream. Navicula subminuscula Manguin, Nitzschia capitellata Hust. and Nitzschia desertorum Hust. have their dominance in the highly polluted zones, especially downstream the wastewater input. |
