biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

B. Fauna
Fauna of special interest are the many species of raptors that Rest on
ledges and in cliff cavities oc Dj. Zaghozac, such as egyptiar vulture,
golden eagle, peregrire acd kestrel (see Section 4, Gouvernorat of
~aghouar)
.
C. Influences
There have been some problems in the past with people collecting
raptor eggs at Dj. Zaghoaac. A special guardian is now assigned to the
major cest sites during the breeding season. Small fires occur almost
every year, bat they are qaickly located acd extinguished, so they do
little damage. The forest as classified as unmacaged, which means no
exploitation or improvemert cuts. Ic pricciple a large part of the north
slope is closed to grazing, which reduces the grazicg impacts, but does
not eliminate them. Some members of the local ornithological association
feel the site is importact ecoiigh to be desigcated a natiocal park.
3.4.3.1C. Djebel Marchana, Dj. Zit, Dj. Bou Safra
Northeast of Zaghoaac, jast before the Tacisiac Dorsal extecds into
Cap Bor, is a trio of moxtairs 350 - 500 m high. The mountains are
characterized by moderate slopes with numerous rock ostcrops. Substrates
are diverse, incladirg limestore, marce acd gypsum covered by shallow,
well draired soils.
A. Vegetatior
A t the ssrnmit of Dj. Zit, the vegetatioc is characteristic of holm oak
stacds. The maritime icflaecce or the vegetatioc associatioc has resulted
ic thuga ard kerrnes oak replacicg aleppo pice as the domicact tree species
ic most of the forests. A maritime irfluecce is also icdicated by the
preserce of Erica maltiflora. The thuya forest or Dj. Zit coctaics many
of the species associated with aleppo pire forests (as described for Dj.
~acsoar) as well as Lavardzla stoechas ard Erfca arborea.
Djebel Karchaca has a large Olea-lectiscus maquis oc the soath side
(~asser acd Vercet 1958) acd at Bou Safra the thuya forest is accompacied
by:
B. Faara
Rosmariras of ficinalis Phala ris bulbosa
Calycotome villosa Genista aspathaloides
Globalaria alypam Cistus monspeliensis
Ampelodesma maaritarica C. villosus
Stipa teccacissjma Lygeum spartum
Faxa of the 3 mozrtaics is typical of that listed for mo.xtaicoas
areas ir. the Gozverr3rat of Zaghnzar (~ectior.
4).