Ecology, phenology and wintering behavior of Anatidae in the wetlands of Souk-Ahras (north-eastern Algeria)
Citation
Baaloudj A, Bouali N, Touarfia M, Houhamdi I, Maazi M C, Houhamdi M (2024). Ecology, phenology and wintering behavior of Anatidae in the wetlands of Souk-Ahras (north-eastern Algeria). Version 1.6. Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15470/fozdot accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-09-01.Description
Understanding the spatial and temporal niche of waterfowl is essential for effective management and conservation. To determine the ecology and phenology of Anatidae in North Africa, we carried out a 12-month study (2019-2020) in three wetlands that constitute a winter refuge for waterbirds in the Souk-Ahras region in north-east Algeria. We surveyed species richness, the seasonal pattern of the number of Anatidae, and their wintering diurnal behavior using regular counts and scans. We recorded thirteen species: six wintering species (Anas clypeata, Anas penelope, Anas strepera, Tadorna tadorna, Aythya ferina, Anas crecca crecca) and three sedentary nesting species ( Anas platyrhynchos, Oxyura leucocephala, and Aythya nyroca), the latter two having national and international protection status. The survey showed that the wintering behavior of all these species is dominated by sleep, which on average accounts for almost half of the total time (48.91%). Our results indicate that the three wetlands host a complex waterfowl community that includes species of conservation concern and that these sites likely play an essential role in providing the essential resources for wintering.Sampling Description
Study Extent
The wilaya of Souk-Ahras (4,365.59 km2) is located in north-eastern Algeria, at the limit of the Tunisian border on a strip of 88 km. It is bound to the northeast by the wilaya of El-Taref, Guelma in the northwest, Oum El-Bouaghi in the southwest, Tébessa in the south, and Tunisia in the east. The region has a Mediterranean climate; it is subhumid in the north and semi-arid in the south with cold winters and scorching summers in the south. Most wetlands in the region depend on the climatic conditions for their water supply, mainly rainfall. Our work covered three natural wetlands: Tiffech and El-Kaf hill reservoirs and the marsh of Madjen Djedj.Sampling
The phenology and structure of the Anatidae population was monitored bi-monthly over 12 months, from September 2019 to August 2020. Our counts allowed an individual count when the flock of waterbirds was close to the point. When the number of individuals was less than 200, we counted them individually. When the number of individuals was greater than 200 or at a greater distance, we made a visual estimate (Lamotte and Bourlière, 1969; Blondel, 1975; Houhamdi, 2002). The counts were carried out by direct observation using a KONUSPOT 20-60x80 telescope. The estimated total number represents the sum of all flock snumbers (Houhamdi and Samraoui, 2001, 2003, 2008; Aissaoui et al., 2011). This method often has an estimated margin of error among professionals of 05-10%. It also depends on the observers' experience and the quality of the optical equipment used (Legendre and Legendre, 1979; Tamisier and Dehorter, 1999). To characterize the waterbird community, a few ecological indices were calculated, namely the total abundance, species richness, the Shannon and Weaver diversity index (H') and the index of fairness (E) (Chessel et al., 2004). The second part of our study consisted of monitoring the rhythm of the daily activities of Anatidae. We used the the SCAN method, carried out every hour, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Baldassare et al., 1988; Losito et al., 1989; Tamisier and Dehorter, 1999; Boulekhssaim et al., 2006). The activities monitored were feeding, sleeping, swimming, grooming, flight, courtship, and antagonism (Houhamdi and Samraoui, 2001, 2003, 2008; Metallaoui et al., 2009).Method steps
- We used R 3.5.2 (R Development Core Team 2019) ) provided with the FactoMineR package. Data were expressed as mean ± SD for analysis. The Shannon and Weaver diversity index (H ') and equitability index (E) were calculated using ADE software (Chessel et al., 2004). Species are presented in the systematic order of Sibley and Monroe (1990). To conduct comparisons of diversity indices across the three sites, we applied the Kruskal-Wallis test (nonparametric alternative to ANOVA), first because our data did not meet the normality and homoscedasticity assumptions, and second to assess the difference in abundance across sites.
Taxonomic Coverages
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Anseriformesrank: order
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Anatidaerank: family
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Anas clypeatarank: species
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Anas peneloperank: species
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Anas platyrhynchosrank: species
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Anas acutarank: species
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Anas streperarank: species
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Oxyura leucocephalarank: species
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Aythya nyrocarank: species
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Aythya ferinarank: species
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Marmaronetta angustirostrisrank: species
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Anas crecca creccarank: species
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Anas querquedularank: species
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Tadorna tadornarank: species
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Aythya fuligularank: species
Geographic Coverages
The wilaya of Souk-Ahras (4,365.59 km2) is located in north-eastern Algeria, at the limit of the Tunisian border on a strip of 88 km. It is bound to the northeast by the wilaya of El-Taref, Guelma in the northwest, Oum El-Bouaghi in the southwest, Tébessa in the south, and Tunisia in the east
Bibliographic Citations
- Bouali, N., Baaloudj, A., Touarfia, M., Houhamdi, I., Maazi, M. C., Houhamdi, M., 2021. Ecology, phenology and wintering behavior of Anatidae in the wetlands of Souk-Ahras (north-eastern Algeria). Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, 19: 135- , https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2021.19.0135 - https://doi.org/10.32800/amz.2021.19.0135
Contacts
A. Baaloudjoriginator
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ
email: aaloudj.affef@univ-guelma.dz
N. Bouali
originator
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
DZ
M. Touarfia
originator
LEAT Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
I. Houhamdi
originator
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ
M. C. Maazi
originator
LEAT Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
DZ
M. Houhamdi
originator
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ
N. Bouali
metadata author
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
DZ
Montse Ferrer
publisher
position: Managing Editor
Arxius de Miscel·lània Zoològica, Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona
Ps Picasso s/n
Barcelona
08003
Barcelona
ES
email: montseferrerf@gmail.com
N. Bouali
administrative point of contact
Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
DZ
A. Baaloudj
administrative point of contact
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ
email: baaloudj.affef@univ-guelma.dz
M. Touarfia
administrative point of contact
LEAT Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
I. Houhamdi
administrative point of contact
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ
M. C. Maazi
administrative point of contact
LEAT Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Souk-Ahras
Souk-Ahras
DZ
M. Houhamdi
administrative point of contact
LBEE, Faculty SNV-STU, University 8 May
Guelma
DZ