biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

A. Vegetation
Wuch of Galite is covered by "diss" Ampelodesma tenax, a low grass
that is sometimes very dense on hills. Some valleys on the northwest aide
eupport shrubs so dense that they are impenetrable (Gaulthier 1978).
Those maquis are of the Olea-lentiscus type,-with some Tamarix and Laurus
mixed in.
The gentler slopes of the islets of Galiton and la Fauchelle also
support short and scrubby Olea-lentiscus formations, but the main
vegetation is diss. Two of the three Ieles de Chiens are very weather
beaten and produce very little vegetation, but that which does occur is
mainly grasses and annual herbs.
Domicant species of the archipelago include:
Ampelodesma tenax
Pistacia lentiscus
Olea europaea
Tamarix africana
Launs nobilis
Cistus sp.
Rosmarinus off icinalis
Scilla maritima
Cynara scolymus
Mammals. In 1986 only one monk seal Monachus monachus was observed at
~ a l i 1987). w ~ which seems to indicate a decrease in numbers as well
as a stronger tendency to rest inside caves with underwater entrances
i~stead of OK beaches. Reasons for the change in behavior are probably
relatid to iccreased human activity in the area. (especially recreational
activity) and it is essential to the conservation of the monk seal
popalatioc that disturbance be reduced to the minimum level possible
(~osser 1978).
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The North Africac subspecies of the European rabbit (0 ctola us
cuciculas) is found on Galite, Galiton and la Fauchelle (~nane 1977 . The
rabbits originated in North Africa and may have crossed to Galite when
the archipelago was connected to the mainland by a land bridge during the
Riss-glacial sea regression (IUCN 1987) or they may have been .introduced
during the Punic epoch as a food reserve (Gaulthier 1978). Current
residents make use of that food reserve, and although rabbits are usually
abundant on Galiton and la Fauchelle, ftshermen have hunted so frequently :
on Galite that they have almost eliminated the rabbits in the past. Bats
Pipistrellis sp. are common on the islands and common dolphins Delphinus
delphis are frequently seen offshore.
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Birds. A breeding colony of 60 - 70 pairs of endangered Eleonora's
falcocs Falco eleonorae nests on one of the islets (Gaulthier 1978). The
world popalatior, of Eleonora's falcon is less than 4000, so the 3% found
oc the Galite archipelag~ are of high international importance.