Scientific Publications

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Abstract

Despite the widespread distribution of species of waterbirds such as the Common Coot Fulicaatra, several characteristics of its wintering ecology are relatively unknown. We have analyzed for three consecutive winters (from September 2010 to April 2013) the spatial distribution and basic needs of this species in several wetlands of the complex of Guerbes-Sanhadja (Northeast Algeria). The maximumnumber of Coots counted is more or less identical, during the three wintering seasons. Maxima of 3 624 individuals were recorded in 2010/2011, 3702 in 2011/2012 and 3185 in 2012/2013. Among the studied thirteen wetlands, the winteringCoots are not uniformly distributed. More than 80% of all birds were recorded only on three sites, 50% in GaraetHadj-Tahar and 30% on two sites GaraetBeniM'Hamed and Garaet El-Haouas. ACP analysis showed that wetland size and vegetation cover are the main discriminating between high occupied and low occupied sites for Coots distribution.
Inregards to the basic wintering needs, we found that this Rallidae feeds mainly and uniformly on all the sites that were studied. Surface feeding is the main activity in this complex (84%). It is followed by feeding through diving (9%), feeding on banks (4%) and the feeding by Emersion of the neck and head (3%). The abundance of submerged plants and especially their green parts in autumn, winter and early spring strongly explains the low utilization rates of other feeding modes. As a result, these ecosystems are used as a daytime-earning ground for this species.
Key words:Common Coot, Fulicaatra, Rallidae, Wintering, Spatial distribution, Day-time budget.


BibTex

@phdthesis{uniusa1970,
    title={Phénologie et structure de la Foulque macroule Fulica atra pendant son hivernage dans les écosystèmes aquatiques de Guerbes-Sanhadja (Skikda)},
    author={Amina AOUISSI},
    year={2019},
    school={University of Souk Ahras}
}