biological diversity and tropical forests in tunisia - PART

C. Influences
Influences include grazing, cultivation and development.
3.3.2.13. Chott Jerid
West of, and connected to, Chott Fejij is the largest chott of the
Uaghreb, Chott Jerid, which covers c.700,000 ha. The huge area ks never
completely inundated, even in wet years only 5% of the chott is covered by
water. Standing water occurs sporadically in the chott, depending on
where the rains fall, and movement due to the winds is common. The most
frequently inundated site is located just to the west of center organ
1982). Water in the chott is brackish to salty and leaves salt deposits
after evaporation.
Sparse icvertebrates include Artemsa sp., a Dytiscidae and a Corixidae
orga gar. 1982). Nesting flamingoi- pairs) were recorded in 1959
(carp 1980) and some waders may rest at Djerid during migration (Olney
19651, but it is cot a site of prime importance for birds. Threatened
houbara bustards cest ix the area.
B. Icfluecces
Grazing, vegetatson collectioc, cultivation acd manipulation of
ucdergroand water reserves for irrigatioc all affect the chott.
3.3.2.14. Chott El Gharsa
Tee kilometers to the northwest of Chott Jerid and disticctly
separated from it, Chott El Gharsa is cocnected to the belt of chotts
extecdicg westward icto Algeria. Covering c.60,000 ha, the chott has a
cecter altitude of 7 m below sea level. El Gharsa is similar to the other
chotts ic terms of water regime, flora, fauna and icfluences.
3.3.2.15. Artiffcsal Lakes Near Kebsli 33O37' N 8O53' E
Near the southeast edge of Chott Jerid, 15 km southwest of Kebili, is
a series of small brackish lakes averaging a few hundred hectares in size.
Lakes Nouiel, Graad, Taffaya, Menchia and Fatnassa are fed by excess
irrigatioc water from the adjacect oases and therefore are less salsne
thac nost sebkhets and are almost never completely dry.
The lakes are attractive to migraticg waterfowl acd waders, especially
since they are some of the last wetlacds before the birds cross the
Sahara, acd the first oces they reach whec they returc. Mary birds also