Écologie trophique de la Cigogne blanche (Ciconia ciconia) et du Héron garde-boeufs (Bubulcus ibis) en Kabylie (Algérie)

Boukhemza, Mohamed; Boukhemza-Zemmouri, Nabila; Voisin, Jean‐François; Baziz, Belkacem

doi:10.3406/ecmed.2006.1415

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

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“…However, information on the White Stork diet in Algeria is generally scarce, and mostly highlighted the diet plasticity and its role in the current expansion of the species in the country (Boukhemza, 2001;Moali-Grine, 2007;Djerdali, 2010). Several studies over the Palaearctic have investigated the variation of the species' diet based on environmental variables such as climatic conditions (Jovani and Tella, 2004;Tryjanowski et al, 2009;Chenchouni and Si Bachir, 2014), feeding habits (Mužinić and Rašajski, 1992;Boukhemza et al, 2006), age of the chicks (Djerdali et al, 2008), habitat type (Tsachalidis and Goutner, 2002), seasons and foraging habitat selection (Alonso et al, 1991). Furthermore, results of the key studies on the White Stork diet show that the species is mainly an opportunistic insectivore (Vrezec, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover the White Stork attempts to balance the intake of foods high in biomass with foods high in energy (Kosicki et al, 2006), which contributes to its selection of heterogeneous productive habitats (Boukhemza et al, 2006). Other studies highlighted the impact of climate and food variability on reproductive parameters (Tortosa et al, 2003;Tryjanowski et al, 2005;Denac, 2006;Kosicki, 2012;Si Bachir et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trophic Niche and Feeding Strategy of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) during different Phases of the Breeding Season

Chenchouni

Bachir

AlRashidi

2015

Avian Biology Research

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Assessing feeding conditions and variations of diet composition over the breeding season is of great help in the understanding of the ecological niche of species. In meeting this aim, the White Stork's (Ciconia ciconia) diet was studied based on the analysis of 87 regurgitation pellets collected from Batna (Northeast Algeria). A set of 2138 prey-items were identified and classified into 61 different prey-species belonging to seven classes, 13 orders, 29 families and 51 genera. The White Stork has a diverse diet (food niche breadth, FNB = 14.5, Shannon index H' = 4.4 bits), mainly composed of arthropods, of which 94% of prey-items are insects that represent 8% of total prey biomass. The White Stork constantly fed on the remains of chicken foraged from rubbish dumps (biomass = 68.74%) and small mammals (biomass = 14.41%) as these prey categories constitute a source of high energy, particularly during the period of chick rearing. GLMs applied for diet characteristics revealed a significant variation in numbers of prey individuals between breeding phenological stages. While variations of other diet parameters (biomass, species richness, FNB, H', H' max and evenness) were not statistically influenced by breeding phenology. All diet characteristics were significantly correlated with the period of chick development, which is the key period for breeding success; suggesting an increase in parental investment and feeding effort. Our findings suggest that the White Stork performs a balance in order to satisfy its food requirements by compensating reciprocally between intake of prey numbers and their biomass regardless of the phenological stage of reproduction.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic Niche and Feeding Strategy of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) during different Phases of the Breeding Season

Chenchouni

Bachir

AlRashidi

2015

Avian Biology Research

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“…The results of the current study showed that the Cattle Egret can nest at relatively low heights of 4 to 5 m, sometimes less depending on the height and shape of the canopy. Previous studies have reported nests between 8 and 18 m on Phoenix canariensis and Schinus molle in the Hadjout area (Setbel, 2008) and on ash trees in El Kseur (Si Bachir et al, 2000) and over 18 m in Kabylie region on Eucalyptus sempervirens (Boukhemza et al, 2006). In addition to choosing the place for security, in an arid zone of Nigeria, herons have a predilection for thorny trees such as Acacia albida, A.…”

Section: Nest Locationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…(Si Bachir et al, 2000), on Eucalyptus sempervirens, Platanus orientalis, Fraxinus angustifolia, Cupressus macrocarpa and Araucaria sp. (Boukhemza et al, 2006).…”

Section: Number Of B Ibis In the Heronrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecological and Biological Behaviorof Nesting Colony of Bubulcus ibisin North-Western Algeria

Mohammedi¹,

Kouidri²,

Mahmoudi³

et al. 2020

LSJ

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We studied a colony of the Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis located in the public garden on the northern outskirts of Chlef, north-western of Algeria, a site with 13 tree species; in this locality Cattle Egrets nested only on Ficus elastica, Jacaranda mimosifolia and Pinus halepensis. We observed the birds, each two weeks during the wintering period and weekly during the breeding season (February to August). To count the colony population, we used the method described by Dragonetti & Giovacchini (2009), called perimeter counts. Egg and nestling were recorded on 20 randomly selected nests and from different locations in each ofthe three nesting trees until all fledging. The number of Cattle Egrets at this site varied according to season, and was higher during the breeding season (1902 individuals) than during the wintering period (1210 individuals). Depending on the morphology of the trees hosting this colony, numbers of these birds varied from one tree to another. The nests observed are placed at relatively low heights, contrary to what has been described by some authors. Reproductive success is affected by the environmental conditions of the area and also by the physical and perhaps biochemical characteristics of the nest trees, but no difference in the location or orientation of the nests was noticed.

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Variation in White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) diet along a climatic gradient and across rural-to-urban landscapes in North Africa

Chenchouni

2016

Int J Biometeorol

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Assessing diet composition of White Storks (Ciconia ciconia) breeding under North African conditions provides key information to understanding its trophic niche for conservation purpose. Since, climate controls productivities of foraging habitats and thus food availability for predators, this study examines how Storks' diet parameters varied following a climate gradient along with rural-to-urban landscapes in north-eastern Algeria. Feeding strategies to cope with severe conditions were discussed in light of climate aridity and urbanization and how these influence reproduction, population dynamics and distribution. While invertebrate prey accounted for 94 % of ingested individuals, the biomass intake was dominated by chicken remains scavenged from rubbish dumps (67 %) and small mammals (14 %). Generalized linear models revealed that prey numbers varied significantly between climatic regions and landscapes types, but no significant differences were observed for other dietary parameters, including prey biomass. The study showed high dietary similarity between study climates and landscapes, mainly among rural and urban colonies located in semi-arid and sub-humid areas, which differed from those in suburban and arid climate. Rarefaction and extrapolation curves indicated that prey species richness in White Stork diets was expected to be higher in urban colonies located in sub-humid climate. Despite low prey species diversity in arid regions, the White Stork demonstrates a broad trophic niche, which could be due to supplementary feeding from human refuse. This study suggests that regardless of the climate or landscape, White Storks ensure a constant food intake, despite prey biomass fluctuations, by adapting their diet. Foraging in diverse habitats, including trash dumps, ensures a sufficiently balanced diet to meet nutritional requirements.

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Écologie trophique de la Cigogne blanche (Ciconia ciconia) et du Héron garde-boeufs (Bubulcus ibis) en Kabylie (Algérie)

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Trophic Niche and Feeding Strategy of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) during different Phases of the Breeding Season

Trophic Niche and Feeding Strategy of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) during different Phases of the Breeding Season

Ecological and Biological Behaviorof Nesting Colony of Bubulcus ibisin North-Western Algeria

Variation in White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) diet along a climatic gradient and across rural-to-urban landscapes in North Africa

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