biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART
biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART
biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART
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A. Fauna<br />
Ic the south <strong>and</strong> west parts of the lake there are about 40 isl<strong>and</strong>s<br />
vary<strong>in</strong>g ic size from several square meters to several hectares. The<br />
isl<strong>and</strong>s are used for nest<strong>in</strong>g sites by thous<strong>and</strong>s of avocets <strong>and</strong> hundreds of<br />
black-w<strong>in</strong>ged stilts, mak<strong>in</strong>g the sebkhet of national importance organ<br />
1982). Sed joumi is of <strong>in</strong>ternational importance for its overw<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g<br />
waterfowl (regularly supports more than 10,000) based on the Hesligenhafen<br />
criteria (Annex 4). Shelduck (4,000). p<strong>in</strong>tail (16,000) <strong>and</strong> shoveler<br />
(5,700) occur <strong>in</strong> large numbers <strong>in</strong> w<strong>in</strong>ter. Flam<strong>in</strong>gos occasionally nest on<br />
the isl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> up to 50,000 have been observed <strong>in</strong> the lake organ 1982).<br />
The importance of the site to flam<strong>in</strong>gos is significantly <strong>in</strong>creased when<br />
the sebkhets <strong>and</strong> chotts to the south dry up. Other birds recorded organ<br />
1982, Carp 1980, Van Di jk 1986) <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
Black-necked grebe<br />
Cattle egret<br />
Lapw<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Grey plover<br />
D~rlic<br />
Little st<strong>in</strong>t<br />
Redshar-k<br />
Curlew s<strong>and</strong>piper<br />
Marsh s<strong>and</strong>piper<br />
Wood s<strong>and</strong>piper<br />
Ruff<br />
Snkpe<br />
Quail<br />
Little owl<br />
Crag mart<strong>in</strong><br />
Skylark<br />
Water pipit<br />
Meadow pfpit<br />
Grey wagtail<br />
Rob<strong>in</strong><br />
Blackbird<br />
Song thrush<br />
Fan- tailed warbler<br />
Chif fchaff<br />
Greenf<strong>in</strong>ch<br />
Goldf<strong>in</strong>ch<br />
Chaff<strong>in</strong>ch<br />
Corn bunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />
B. Irfluences<br />
Humar <strong>in</strong>fluences <strong>in</strong> clude hunt<strong>in</strong>g, sewage discha rge, encroachment by<br />
cocstrdctior projects <strong>and</strong> a large rubbish dump, graz<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> disturbance<br />
caused by traffic on the adjacent roads. Encroachment is an especially<br />
detrimertal icfluence, s<strong>in</strong>ce it reduces the effective habitat area of the<br />
sebkhet.<br />
3.32. Sebkhet Kourzia<br />
Located 10 km northwest of le Fahs <strong>and</strong> 55 km soathwest of'Tunis,<br />
Kourzia has an area of over 1000 ha. The surround<strong>in</strong>g terra<strong>in</strong> is low,<br />
cultivated hills that dra<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>to Kourzia. Water remakns for most of the<br />
year, but dries <strong>in</strong> the summer, leav<strong>in</strong>g a salt crust. There is an eroded<br />
edge bar-k about 2 m high, <strong>and</strong> the bottom is clayey s<strong>and</strong>.<br />
A. Fauna<br />
A variety of ducks <strong>and</strong> waders feed on the the <strong>in</strong>vertebrate Artemka sp.<br />
orga gar 1982). The site is used by enough waterfowl to meet Heiligenhafen<br />
criteria for <strong>in</strong>ternational importance. In some years great numbers of<br />
flamirgos (up to 22,000) have beec recorded. Other species <strong>in</strong>clude:<br />
Shelduck Ruff Eagle owl Crested lark<br />
Pirtail Woodcock Kestrel Great grey shrike<br />
Avocet Qaail Merl<strong>in</strong>
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