Phenological status of Anatidae in the lake of Ayata- El-Oued (Algeria)

Abstract

The ecological study of Anatidae carried out during an annual cycle (2019/2020) in the Lake of Ayata in the South-East of Algeria, constitutes a winter refuge for a great diversity of waterbirds. The specific richness and the evolution of the numbers of Anatidae were helpful to define the status and the phenology of eleven species, including 5 species wintering namely (Anas acuta, Anas clypeata, Aythya nyroca, Anas crecca crecca, Tadorna tadorna) and 3 sedentary nesting species (Anas platyrhynchos, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Tadorna ferruginea). The daily activity rhythm of all species is dominated by sleep, which accounts for more than half of the total time, (56.62%). The Lake of Ayata acts as a stopover site for migratory species during their trans-Saharan migrations. Keywords: Anatidae, South-eastern Algeria, Specific wealth, Phenology, The Lake of Ayata, Diurnal behavior.