Wintering Behaviour and Spatial Ecology of Eurasian Wigeon Anas Penelope in a Coastal Mediterranean Wetland Complex (Guerbes-Sanhadja) of Northeastern Algeria

Abstract

As rare and threatened species, ecological information about common waterbirds is needed to assess priorities for wetland management. In this study, we attempt to provide information about the spatial ecology and wintering behaviour of one of the most common species of the coastal Mediterranean wetland complex of northeastern Algeria, the Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope. Over the three winters of the study the maximum number of recorded Eurasian Wigeon across all sites rose from 1,096 in 2010/11 to 1,397 in 2012/13. This represents a 27% increase over three years in the Guerbes-Sanhadja region. Among these wetland complex sites abundance varied markedly during the three wintering periods of study, being highest in Garaet Hadj-Tahar and Garaet Beni Mhamed (ranging from 300–700 individuals), and lowest in the remaining sites, which never exceeded 150 individuals. Bird abundance often peaked in January of each year and decreased as winter progressed. Wigeon have similar patterns of migration phenology among years at Garaet Hadj-Tahar and Garaet Beni Mhamed. At the remaining sites, they exhibited a different pattern. The multiple regression analysis for all seasons showed a marginally significant correlation between Wigeon abundance changes and three environmental variables of the wetland complex exclusively in the spring seasons (depth, vegetation and temporariness). A roosting area is identified as a functional role of the Guerbes-Sanhadja wetland complex for this anatid, since they spent all of the daytime sleeping, swimming (ranged from 30 to 40%), and resting (from 15 to 25%) in all winters. Despite their semi-permanent and unprotected status (apart from only three sites), these patched wetlands provide suitable conditions for this sensitive species, and therefore should receive the attention of wetland management.

Are diurnal time-budgets and activity patterns density-dependent in the Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) wintering in Algeria? An analysis across multiple temporal scales

“…Good plumage maintenance provides good thermal insulation against the outside cold of winter and good insulation against water (Bezzalla et al 2019b). It also allows the Anatidae to be well prepared for the prenuptial migration (Bouchaala et al 2017).…”

“…Wildfowl Anatidae are the main species of waterbirds that use North African wetlands, especially Algeria, for wintering and reproduction (Samraoui and Samraoui 2008;Sayoud et al 2017). Several studies have surveyed the behavior of Anatidae in Algerian wetlands (Boulkhssaim et al 2006;Samraoui 2001, 2008;Bouchaala et al 2017). However, beyond the description of time budgets of bird activities, nothing has been done to explain ecologically behavioral changes and habitat use nor the environmental factors influencing the observed activity patterns.…”

Biodiversity and phenological status of the waterbirds of the Lac des Oiseaux (Northeast of Algeria)

“…, 2017,Bouchaala et al, 2017, Oudihat et al, 2017, Khemis et al, 2017a, 2017b, Charchar et al, 2019, Bezzala et al, 2019a, 2019b and in the lake(Figure 4). The Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca and the Whiteheaded Duck Oxyura leucocephala, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, are regular sedentary nesting species in the Lac des Oiseaux.…”

Seagrass meadow cover and species composition drive the abundance of Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope L.) in a lagoon ecosystem of the northern Adriatic Sea

“…Waterbirds are considered to be indicators of the quality and the importance of wetlands regarding both biodiversity and ecosystem functions (Farinós Celdrán, Robledano, Perona, & Soto, ; Ma et al, ; Sadoul, ); in particular, changes in the structure and function of waterbird communities have been linked to changes in the biological integrity of wetlands (Farinós Celdrán et al, ; Pöysä et al, ). Ducks (genus Anas ) are one of the most common inhabitants of wetland ecosystems in temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere (Bouchaala, Elafri, Charchar, Boukhemza, & Houhamdi, ). In the European wetlands, Eurasian wigeon (hereafter wigeon) Mareca penelope L. has a crucial role in food chain both as prey, for higher levels, and, as primary consumer, transferring energy up the food web (Jiménez‐Ramos et al, ).…”

“…Several authors already have studied the relationships between wigeon and seagrasses (Borum et al, ; Bouchaala et al, ; Nacken & Reise, ; Valentine & Heck Jr, ). For example, in Northern Sea, Vermaat and Verhagen () showed that the rapid decline in biomass from mid‐September onwards could be attributed to grazing by herbivorous migratory waterbirds and it was estimated that wigeon can remove 65 g ash‐free dry weight (AFDW) per bird per day.…”