biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

B. Fauna
Mammals. Red fox, jackal, brown hare, Algerfan hedgehog, and Egyptian
mongoose are likely to be found in the area. Bernard (1969) reported the
presence of several rodents such as Shawls jird, gerbil Gerbillus
campestris and field mouse Apodemus sylvaticus in the area.
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Birds. The lake is too deep for extensive bird use, such as that
which occurs at Lake Ichkeul. Many of the species of waders, terns and
galls that use Ichkeul also occur in smaller numbers at Lake Bizerte.
Species noted on the east aide of the lake 3n August 1987 include herring
gull, white-winged black tern, little egret and swallow.
Marice Fauna. The marine fauna, as reported by Zaouli (1980),
consists of:
C . Influences
Sponges:
Polychetes:
Suberites domunicula
Nereis diversicolor
Clathria coralloides Perenereis cultrif era
Leuconia aspera Hermioce hystrix
Amphytechne auricoma
Cnidaires: Sabella pavonia
Anemonia sulcata
Bunodactis verrucosa
Ficopomatas enigmaticus
Hydroides elegans
H. dirampha
Vermf liopsis striaticeps
Pileolaria millitaris
Jania pseudocormgata
Extensive cultivation and development around Lake Bizerte has reduced
the available habitat. Fishing and boating activity disturb avifauna and
commercial fishing skews the fish population structure.
3.3.1.3. Lake Tunis 36'50' N 10°16* E
Between the capitol city-of Tunis and the sea lies Lake Tunis. The
lake is actually a large (4500 ha) shallow lagoon that formed when an
accreting sandy barrier spit separated an open bay from the Mediterranean
sea in the 16th century (Saubade and Rosso 1983). Lake Tunis is composed
of three distinct ecosystems: North Lake, South Lake, and Navigation
canal (~elkhir and Salem 1983). The North and South parts are always less
than 2 m deep and the majority is less than 1 m deep. The navigation
canal is c.5 m deep. Lake Tunis is connected to the sea by the Khereddine
cacal ic the corth and the Rades canal in the south. There is one small
island, Chikli, on which there are the remains of an old fortress.