biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

3.3.2.8. Mnor Sebkhets of the Low Steppea
h e to the flat topography and the runoff from the adjacent mountains,
the Low Steppes are spotted with aebkhets. In addition to those already
described (~elbia, Sidi el Hani, El Djem, Sidi Mansour, En ~oual) there
are several other less important eebkhets worth mentioning. Sebkhet
Mokrine is about 35 km southeast of Sousse and ia less than 5 km from the
coast. Usually dry in the summer and not very full in the winter, Moknkne
offers a safe haven for birds migrating down the coast. Sebkhet Menzel
Dar Elel Ouar is 20 km S-SW of Enfida. It is a relattvely salty lake, dry
in s*mmer, but used by migrating birds in winter.
Sebkhets Ech Cherita, El Gherra, Mecheguig El Bahira and Menzel Chaker
are all similar temporary salt lakes southwest of Sousse, northwest of
Sfax acd east of Sbeitla. These and many other small sebkhets enhance the
biological diversity of the region by increasing the interspersion of
habitat types and providing cover in heavily cultivated areas.
Soath of Chebba and a few hundred meters in from the coast is Sebkhet
Baradaa. The main standing water body is about 40 ha and the surrounding
halophilc vegetated floodplain is c.500 ha. Close proximity to the sea
makes the wetla~d attractive to waterfowl and waders migrating along the
coast. Some birds, such as black terns, also nest there.
Aboat 20 km north of Kairouan and just south of the town of Metbasta
is a vast vegetated floodplain. Relatively low salinity makes this
wetlacd nore of a temporary freshwater lake than a sebkhet and therefore
the local populatioc calls it Lake Metbasta. Although it only holds water
for a short period during and after the winter rains, the vast extension
of the floodplain makes it a valuable site for migrating waterfowl and
waders, resting sedentary birds (including the threatened houbara bustard)
acd mannals.
3.32. Jeffara Complex
At the Libyac border is a complex of salt lakes and saline river beds
coveri~g over 160.000 ha on the Tunisian side. The complex includes
Sebkhet el Melah and Bou Djemel - large coastal salt lakes by Bahiret el
Bibane; Sebkhet Tader, which extends inland 70 km along the border;
Sebkhet Oum el Krialate; Garaet Djedid; Sebkhet Areg el Makriene; and
Garaet ez Zets. Although the complex is dry for most of the year it
provides important diversity in the habitats of animals such as dorcas
gazelles, brom hares and houbara bustards. It is also a potentially
valuable rest stop for migrating birds. Relatively little research has
beer do~e on the complex and further study is needed.
3.3.2.10. Sebkhet El Guettar
Sebkhet El Gzettar, also called Chott El Guettar, is 15 km southeast
of Gafsa and 120 km northwest of Gabes. Since the lake is in ac arid
rcgioc, it dries early ic the summer and sometimes remains dry throughout
the year. The salt lake covers 7,400 ha, with an additional 5,000 ha Of
halophile vegetatioc. There are 2 other smaller sebkhets 10 a ~ d 25 km
rorthwest of Gabes covericg about 4,000 ha each.