biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

center and the lake edge is highly developed. There is a salt processing .
area near Tunis where a sizable area has been sectioned off, but it is
still used by waders and waterfowl.
The most serious influence on the lake is a development project that
has already filled 900 ha and is projected to fill at least 1,500 ha for a
new section of the city of Tunis. The project will reduce the area
available to waterfowland increase disturbance in the unfilled portion of
the lake. This development is occuring in spite of the fact that Lake
Tunis was designated a Protected Wetland in 1980 (see Section 5.4).
3.3.1.4. Lake Monastir
On the coast just south of Monastir and 160 km south of Tunis is Lake
Monastir. More properly called a coastal lagoon, Lake Monastir is the
site of the former Monastir salt ponds; abandonned ic 1952 ort tier 1977).
The lagoon is formed by a sandy barrier spit that extends for 2.5 km along
the coast and a final 0.5 km artificial rock bank that has been
constructed at the south end to complete the barrier acd close off a 175
ha water body. Canals at the north and south ends providi communication
with the sea. Most of the lagoon is less thac 2 m deep, b~t the Office
National des Peches (~ational Fisheries office) has dragged channels 2.5 -
3.5 m deep to improve fssh production. The channels allow water to
circulate betweec the 2 canals to the sea, and in good weather a current
provides partial water replacement every 6 hours.
A. Vegetation
Mortier (1977) described 5 zones in the lagoon:
1. Cymodocea zone.
stagnant waters.
Dense Cymodocea nodosa dominates the shallow non-
2. Caulerpa zone. In the deeper, more turbid and less frequently
recewed waters and in parts of the canals the more tolerant
Caulerpa prolifera grows.
3. Greec filamentous algae - zone. Some parts attain extreme levels of
temperature and salinity during periods, restricting growth of
Cymodocea and resulting in the formation of algae mats.
4.
5.
Shallow muddy-sand zone. Unvegetated.
Deep stagnant zone. Turbid and unvegetated canals.
B. Fauna
Little information is published regarding the vertebrate fauna of the
lagoon, but it is probably similar to the rest of the coastline of the
Gulf of Hammamet. Terns, grebes and other fish eating birds are attracted
by the fish being raised in the lagoon.
Marice Fauna. The marine fauna o or tier 1977) is composed of:
Nereis sp. (~olychete) Cmstaceacs
Ceriithium vulgatum (~astero~od) Isopods
Clibacarias misanthropus " Amphi pods
Lucicia lactea (pelecypod) Kaldacid Polychetes
. ..