Authors: Nabil Hamdi Fouzia CharfiCheikhrouha
Publish Date: 2012/05/17
Volume: 699, Issue: 1, Pages: 111-118
Abstract
This article aims at studying wintering waterbirds in Tunisian coastal lagoons in order to support effective conservation measures Species number and abundance of wintering waterbirds were assessed in January each year from 2002 to 2007 in 10 lagoon sites belonging to four different lagoon systems We counted 76 species and on average more than 120000 birds per year which represented more than 25 of the national population sizes The most abundant taxonomic groups were waterfowls and waders which also represented the highest species number In general the six most abundant bird species comprised collectively more than 77 of all birds counted Considering all the studied lagoon systems collectively for 13 species the lagoon systems should be considered as of international importance according the Ramsar Convention as they support regularly more than 1 of the populations Only the lagoon system of the North held regularly more than 20000 birds The species abundances and species richness varied significantly among year and among lagoon systems Based on our results we proposed priority conservation measures these ecosystems being of major importance for wintering birds at both national and international levelOur field survey activities were supported by MEDCORE ICA3200210003INCOMED20032005 and PGAP TF 051308TUN2007–2008 projects The authors acknowledge the assistance of all the partner institutions in the projects Many thanks to anonymous reviewers who provided very useful comments that greatly improved the article
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