Habitats use and distribution of the Ruddy chelduck Tadorna ferruginea in the Wetland complex of oued Righ

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Habitat use and distribution of the Ruddy ShelduckTadorna ferruginea in the wetland complex of OuedRigh (Algerian Sahara)Yacine Nouidjemabc, Menouar Sahebb, Ettayib Bensaciac, Abdelaziz Bouzegagc, El YamineGuerguebc & Moussa Houhamdica Faculty of Sciences, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, University of M’sila,M’sila 28000, Algeriab Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Natural andLife Sciences, University of Oum El-Bouaghi, Oum El-Bouaghi 04000, Algeriac Biology, Water and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences andSciences of Earth and Universe, University of 08 May 1945, Guelma 24000, AlgeriaPublished online: 03 Feb 2015.

To cite this article: Yacine Nouidjem, Menouar Saheb, Ettayib Bensaci, Abdelaziz Bouzegag, El Yamine Guergueb & MoussaHouhamdi (2015): Habitat use and distribution of the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea in the wetland complex of OuedRigh (Algerian Sahara), Zoology and Ecology, DOI: 10.1080/21658005.2014.997995

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Habitat use and distribution of the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea in the wetlandcomplex of Oued Righ (Algerian Sahara)

Yacine Nouidjema,b,c, Menouar Sahebb, Ettayib Bensacia,c*, Abdelaziz Bouzegagc, El Yamine Guerguebc and MoussaHouhamdic

aFaculty of Sciences, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, University of M’sila, M’sila 28000, Algeria; bFaculty of ExactSciences and Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Oum El-Bouaghi, Oum El-Bouaghi04000, Algeria; cBiology, Water and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences and Sciences of Earth andUniverse, University of 08 May 1945, Guelma 24000, Algeria

(Received 23 June 2014; accepted 5 December 2014)

Our study conducted from August 2007 to May 2011 in the main wetlands of the Oued Righ complex (Eastern Saharaof Algeria) aimed to study the habitat use and distribution pattern of the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea. As thespecies was recorded breeding at most sites of the wetland complex, it was given the resident breeder status, which dif-fers from the one it had previously. The maximum number of Ruddy Shelducks (284 individuals) was recorded eachyear during the winter season (second half of December). The Ruddy Shelduck (60% of population) shows preferencefor shallow middle-sized salt ponds with a high proportion of open water (e.g. Chott Tindla and Chott Sidi Slimane). Nointerannual variations were observed in habitat use; moreover, seasonal variations in the use of shallow salt pond habitatmay be the outcome of hot and dry climate of this arid region.

2007 m. rugpjūčio – 2011 m. gegužės mėnesiais svarbiausiuose Oued Righ komplekso pelkynuose (Sacharos rytinė dalis,Alžyras) buvo tiriamas rudosios urvinės anties Tadorna ferruginea paplitimas ir buveinių naudojimas. Nustačius, kadšios antys peri daugumoje pelkynų komplekso vietų, rūšiai buvo suteiktas sėslios perinčios rūšies statusas, kuris skiriasinuo ankstesnio. Didžiausias rudųjų urvinių ančių skaičius (284 individai) buvo registruojamas kiekvienų metų žiemossezono metu (antra gruodžio mėnesio pusė). Šios rūšies antys (60% populiacijos) teikia pirmenybę vidutinio dydžio, se-kliems ir druskingiems vandens telkiniams su didele atvirų plotų dalimi, pvz., Chott Tindla ir Chott Sidi Slimane ežer-ams. Buveinių naudojimo skirtumų tyrimo metais nebuvo pastebėta. Seklių druskingų vandens telkinių sezoniniainaudojimo pokyčiai gali būti dėl karšto ir sauso šio regiono klimato.

Keywords: Ruddy Shelduck; habitat use; status; breeding; Algeria; Sahara

Introduction

The Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) is widespreadin South-east Europe and Central Asia (Mackinnon,Phillipps, and He 2000). This species was mentioned inNorth Africa by Vielliard (1970) as a breeder species,but with reduced numbers. Heim De Balsac and Mayaud(1962) considered the North African population as resi-dential, but not negligible. It is often reported as anoccasional breeder by local people (Jacob and Jacob1980; Ledant et al. 1981). The status of the RuddyShelduck in the Eastern Sahara of Algeria, particularly inthe Oued Righ region, remains unknown.

Breeding of this species was confirmed in the south-west of Algeria: in El Golea and Kerzaz in April 1966and in Beni Abbes in 1974 (Daly and Daly 1975), inBoughezoul in 1978 (Jacob and Jacob 1980), in Ain BenKhellil and in El Kala in 1992 (Boumezbeur 1993;Isenmann and Moali 2000).

Cramp and Simmons (1977) reported that the RuddyShelduck inhabits lakes, salt lagoons and marshes, hills,high plateaus and mountainous regions up to an altitude

of nearly 5000 m. However, in our study, the speciesused wetlands located at more than 41 m below sea level(Chott Merouane) (Bensaci et al. 2013).

Quan et al. (2001) and Chang, Yu, and Liu (1997)reported that shallow and deep water as well as farmlandformed the major part of the bird’s habitat.

Many habitat types with different morphologicalcharacteristics were distinguished in the wetland complexof Oued Righ. However, no study has been undertakeninto habitat typology of the whole complex as moststudies were conducted at different sites (Bensaci et al.2013; Chenchouni 2012).

Large surface area, differences in water quality andits availability are important characteristics of this arealocated in the heart of the Sahara.

This study aims to update the distribution and habitatpreferences of this species in the most important wetlandcomplex in the Sahara of Algeria (Oued Righ) duringdifferent seasons of the year (wintering and breedingseasons) from 2007 to 2011.

*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

© 2015 Nature Research Centre

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Materials and methods

Study area

The Oued Righ valley is located in the eastern part ofthe Algerian Sahara. This wetland complex is actually alarge oasis that stretches from the Saharan AtlasMountains in the north to Touggourt City in the south(Figure 1).

This region is an elongated depression with an alti-tude change to more than 41 m below sea level (ChottMerouane) (Bensaci et al. 2013). This wetland complexcomprises 10 wetlands (Chotts, Lake and Drainagecanal) (Table 1).

The area has hot and arid climate. Water bodies ofOued Righ represent an outlet receiving wastewater anddrainage from palm oases, where most of them are con-nected with the Oued Righ canal that carries drainedwaters for 144 km from south (Goug-Touggourt) to north(Chott Merouane-El Meghaier).

To reveal and to explain the distribution and habitatselection by breeding and non-breeding Ruddy Shelduckpopulations, habitat use surveys were conducted at the

main sites covering the three major habitat types in dif-ferent seasons of the year.

Data collection

Twice-monthly counts were done from August to Mayfor four consecutive years (2007/2008–2008/2009–2009/2010–2010/2011) in the main wetlands of Oued Righusing a 20 × 80 telescope. Surveys were conducted by ateam of 2–4 bird observers from different observationpoints located around the wetland, from which most ofthe surface area and its edges were visible and thus, itwas possible to identify and count all the birds present(Bibby et al. 2000). To study the variation in habitat useby the Ruddy Shelduck, regular counts of birds weredone in each habitat type. For that purpose, three differ-ent habitat types were distinguished in the study areawith different proportions according to their water qual-ity: (salt ponds 96%, brackish water 3% and fresh water1%). These habitats differ in such characteristics as waterdepth, substrate and vegetation cover rate (Table 2).

Figure 1. Location of the study area.

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Data analyses

One-way ANOVA was carried out using the SPSSprogram (version 19.0) with a significance level ofp ≤ 0.05 to determine whether habitat use patternsdiffered within (between wintering and breeding seasons)and among years. A simple linear regression was used todetermine the relationship between water depth and birdabundance.

Results and discussion

Ruddy Shelduck status and distribution

The Ruddy Shelduck was observed at the main sites ofthe wetland complex of Oued Righ. Numbers of thisspecies recorded throughout both wintering and breedingseasons were fluctuating. The conducted monitoringshowed a variation in Ruddy Shelduck numbers over the2007–2011 period. In 2007/2008, its abundance reacheda low point, while in 2010/2011, it peaked (Figure 2).

In general, during the first visits to the field inAugust, Ruddy Shelduck numbers in the whole wetlandcomplex were fluctuating between 4 in 2007/2008 and15 in 2010/2011.

These numbers gradually increased to reach a maxi-mum of 248 individuals in the second half of December.After that, the number of Ruddy Shelducks began todecrease till the second half of June (Figure 2). TheRuddy Shelduck was usually observed in small flocks onthe borders of sites and on islets, it was also observedalong the borders of the Oued Righ canal, mainly inplaces where wetlands are connected with the main canal.

Chott Hamraia and Chott Sidi Slimane are the pre-ferred sites of this species in the study area, where morethan 60% of the total Ruddy Shelduck abundance wasrecorded. Despite its large surface, Chott Merouane isoccupied by a low number of Ruddy Shelducks. Overall,month-to-month fluctuations in bird numbers wererecorded at all study sites (Figure 3).

Table 1. Main wetlands of the Oued Righ valley used by Ruddy Shelduck T. ferruginea.

SitesGeographicposition Size

Conservationstatus

Type ofwetland Species recorded

Chott Merouane 34°02.433′N 337000 ha

Ramsar Site(2004)

Saltpond

Phoenicopterus roseus, Tadorna tadorna, Tadornaferruginea and Charadrius alexandrinus5°58.748′E

Lac Oued Khrouf 33°53.332′N 1200 ha

Ramsar Site(2004)

Brackishlake

Himantopus himantopus, Marmaronettaangustirostris and Tadorna ferruginea06°01.125′E

Chott Sidi Slimane 33°22.103′N 200 ha Ramsar Site(2004)

Saltpond

Himantopus himantopus, Charadrius alexandrinus,Tadorna ferruginea and Marmaronetta angustirostris06°04.569′E

Chott Tindla 33°39.503′N 150 ha – Saltpond

Tadorna tadorna, Himantopus himantopus,Charadrius alexandrinus and Tadorna ferruginea06°03.299′E

Chott-Hamraia 33°39.787′N 75 ha – Saltpond

Charadrius alexandrinus and Tadorna ferruginea06°02.815′E

Lac Ayata 33°29.867′N 30 ha – Brackishwater

Aythya nyroca, Himantopus himantopus, Anasplatyrhynchos, Marmaronetta angustirostris andTadorna ferruginea

05°59.403′E

Lac Merara 33°03.432′N, 65 ha – Freshwater

Recurvirostra avosetta, Himantopus himantopus,Pterocles orientalis, Merops apiaster and Pteroclesalchata

06°03.967′E

Lac Merdjadja 33°03.086′N 22 ha – Brackishwater

Tadorna ferruginea06°03.565′E

Chott Lgoug 32°53.576′N 78 ha – Saltpond

Anas platyrhynchos and Tadorna ferruginea05°59.330′E

Table 2. Characteristics of habitats used by Ruddy Shelduck.

Habitattype Characteristics

%Openwater

Waterdepth(m)

%Vegetationcover rate Dominant plant species

Salt ponds(Chotts)(SP)

Mostly used for salt extraction, characterized by salt soil(substrate). They are characterized by high concentration ofsalinity and many of them are temporary salt lakes, e.g.Chott Merouane and Chott Tindla

90 0.2–0.5 5 Zygophylum sp., Salsolafruticosa, Salocorniafruticosa

Brackishlakes(BL)

These sites of brackish water are mainly covered by plantsand characterized by salt soil. Most of them have a middle-sized surface, e.g. Lac Oued Khrouf and Lac Ayata

50 1.2–1.8 30 Phragmites australis,Atriplex halimus

Freshwaterlake(FL)

Only one freshwater lake (Lake Merara) is characterized byclay soil (substrate). It mainly receives waters from Ouedssituated in the north of the wetland complex of Oued Righ

60 1.2–2 35 Tamarix articulata

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Apart from the study carried out by Vielliard (1970)on the distribution of the Ruddy Shelduck in the Palearc-tic and a few reports on this species in wetlands of thewestern part of Algeria, particularly during the breedingseason (Bensaci et al. 2011; Boumezbeur 1993; Dalyand Daly 1975; Jacob and Jacob 1980; Monval, Pirot,and Smart 1987), the present study is the first one topresent comprehensive survey data on the distributionand habitat use by the Ruddy Shelduck in Algeria,chiefly in the wetland complex of Oued Righ (EasternSahara).

On the distribution map published by Vielliard(1970), this species was restricted to western High pla-teaus and desert edges, but our study confirmed thesouthward expansion of the Ruddy Shelduck up to thewetland complex of Ouargla. This expansion can bepartly explained by the growth of the Western Palearcticpopulation due to conservation efforts undertaken overthe last years, which is the case with the Oued Righ pop-ulation observed during the study period (2007–2011)(Figure 4).

Like some species that do well in arid regions ofNorth Africa and have considerably increased over thelast decade (Greater flamingo, Common Shelduck, BlackWinged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Slender-billed Gull and Gull-billed tern), the Ruddy Shelduck could be a possiblemarker of climate change (Samraoui and Samraoui2008). On the other hand, past and present influxes ofRuddy Shelducks into north-west Europe have beenlinked to drought in southern Europe and North Africa(Holloway 1999).

Habitat use by Ruddy Shelduck

During the study period, the highest concentration of theRuddy Shelduck population in the wetland complex ofOued Righ was found in salt pond habitat (69.51± 1.47). It was followed by that in brackish lake habitat

(24.28 ± 2.15) and freshwater lake habitat (6.21 ± 3.61)(Figure 5).

These results indicate that this species prefers saltponds to other habitats in the Oued Righ complex.

The bird’s preference for salt ponds is possibly dueto the availability of feeding resources. Local salt lakesabound with Ruddy Shelduck food, especially in largebranchiopods such as Brine Shrimp Artemia salina(Bensaci 2011; Houhamdi et al. 2008) that are chieflyaccessible to these birds during wet years.

Safrane et al. (1997, 2000) suggested that waterdepth strongly influenced food availability to waterbirds.The difference in water depth among the three habitatscan be viewed as another reason for habitat preferencesof the Ruddy Shelduck (Figure 6).

Namgail et al. (2011) and Quan et al. (2001) reportedthat Ruddy Shelducks avoid woods, cropland habitatsand areas with dense vegetation, which is another possi-ble reason for this species to favour salt ponds becausemost of them have a large open water surface area witha small area covered by vegetation.

Interannual variations in habitat use by RuddyShelduck

Interannual variations in habitat use were not great: saltpond habitat (F1,7 = 5.98, p = 1.10), brackish lake habitat(F1,7 = 5.98, p = 4.31) and freshwater lake habitat(F1,7 = 5.98, p = 5.22) (Figure 7). The preference ofRuddy Shelducks for salt pond wetlands over other aqua-tic ecosystems in the wetland complex of Oued Righ canbe explained by the large surface area of these wetlandsas birds of this species prefer open landscapes(Johnsgard 1978), and also avoid sharing their habitatwith other species (Quan et al. 2001).

Most of freshwater lakes and brackish water bodiesin Oued Righ are situated in the middle of agriculturalfields (palm trees), which may be an important factor for

Figure 2. Mean counts of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea in the whole wetland complex of Oued Righ (2007–2011).

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(a)

(c)

(e)

(g)

(b)

(d)

(f)

Figure 3. Mean counts of Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea at the main sites of the wetland complex of Oued Righ (2007–2011): (a) Chott Sidi Slimane; (b) Chott Hamraia; (c) Lac Oued Khrouf; (d) Chott Tindla; (e) Lac Ayata; (f) Chott Merouane; and(g) Oued Righ Canal.

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Ruddy Shelducks to avoid these habitats. This assump-tion is in agreement with that made by Quan et al.(2001).

Seasonal variations in habitat use by Ruddy Shelduck

Distinction between wintering and breeding seasons wasbased on the change in the species biological function:

the breeding season starts with the first signs of courtshipbehaviour manifestation. The use of some habitat typesin the wetland complex of Oued Righ exhibited seasonalvariations, i.e. habitat use during the wintering seasondiffered from that during the breeding period. Mean-while, the use of other types of habitat was similarthroughout the study period. A significant difference wasdetermined between the use of salt pond habitats(F1,7 = 5.98, p = 0.04) in wintering and in breeding sea-sons. It was more extensive during the breeding seasonthan during the wintering season (Figures 8 and 9). Ourobservation is in line with the previously reported onefrom China (Quan et al. 2001) about significant seasonaldifferences in habitat use by Ruddy Shelducks.

The analyses of seasonal use of brackish lake(F1,7 = 5.98, p = 0.06) and freshwater lake habitats(F1,7 = 5.98, p = 0.057) revealed no significant differencebetween wintering and breeding seasons throughout thewhole study period.

This seasonal variation in salt habitat use may beexplained by water level variation in salt ponds that arestrongly affected by the local hot and dry climate of thearid region. Access to shallow and preferably saline

Figure 4. Dynamics of Ruddy Shelduck numbers from 1970to 2010 in the Oued Righ complex.

Figure 5. Mean percentage of habitat use by Ruddy Shelduckin the wetland complex of Oued Righ (2007–2011).

–

Figure 6. Relationship between Ruddy Shelduck abundanceand depth of water bodies inhabited by the species in thewetland complex of Oued Righ (2007–2011).

Figure 7. Interannual variations in habitat use by RuddyShelduck in the wetland complex of Oued Righ (2007–2011).

Figure 8. Mean percentage of habitat use by Ruddy Shelduckin the wetland complex of Oued Righ during the winteringseason.

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water is essential for most Anatidae, which depend onwater for resting and feeding.

Habitat selection has been also noted in other speciessuch as Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii)(Heezik and Seddon 1999), Red-Crowned Cran (Grusjaponensis) (Ma, Wan, and Tang 1999). Ruddy Shelducksshowed marked preferences for certain habitats in the wet-land complex of Oued Righ, particularly for middle-sizedsalt ponds with a high percentage of open water.

Conclusion

In the main wetlands of the Oued Righ complex, RuddyShelducks have the status of a resident breeder. Theyprefer salt ponds to other types of habitats available.

This species was often found in salt shallow waterbecause of easily accessible emergent aquatic vegetation.On the contrary, in deeper water bodies, it is difficult forRuddy Shelducks to feed on aquatic vegetation, which ismainly submerged.

Indeed, Ruddy Shelducks were mainly observed inhabitats far from any disturbance. They avoid wetlandsnear agricultural fields (palm trees) and urbanagglomerations.

As the present study is limited by the shortage ofdata on food resources, further studies are necessary toexplore the link between trophic resources, distributionand habitat use in order to provide a greater insight intothe Ruddy Shelduck’s ecological requirements, whichcan be used as markers of global changes.

AcknowledgementsAuthors are thankful to Mr Khaffou Mhamed for his assistancein compiling the bibliography, and Bouzegag, Bensaci andNouidjem families for their logistic support. We are most grate-ful to members of ECOLOGIA Association for Wetlands andEnvironment Preservation (Djamaa, Wilaya d’El Oued. Algeria)and Association Nationale Algérienne d’Ornithologie (ANAO)for their efforts to conserve bird species in Algeria.

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