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Characterization of the waterbird communities wintering in Tunisian coastal lagoons

  • COASTAL LAGOON ECOSYSTEMS
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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 120,000 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 20,000 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 level.

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Acknowledgments

Our field survey activities were supported by MEDCORE (ICA3-2002-10003-INCO-MED-2003-2005) and PGAP (TF 051308-TUN-2007–2008) 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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Authors and Affiliations

  1. U/R: Biologie Animale et Systématique Evolutive, Faculté des Sciences de Tunis, Campus Universitaire, 2092 El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Nabil Hamdi & Fouzia Charfi-Cheikhrouha

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  1. Nabil Hamdi
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  2. Fouzia Charfi-Cheikhrouha
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Correspondence to Nabil Hamdi.

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Guest editors: R. de Wit, N. Mazouni & P. Viaroli / Research and Management for the Conservation of Coastal Lagoon Ecosystems: South – North Comparisons

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Hamdi, N., Charfi-Cheikhrouha, F. Characterization of the waterbird communities wintering in Tunisian coastal lagoons. Hydrobiologia 699, 111–118 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1157-2

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