Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.2.2
Ikram Douini, Mohamed Mounir, I. Mansouri, E. Benka, Abdessamad Ouibimah, Youssef Khachtib, Wafae Squalli, Soumaya Hammada, M. Dakki
Urban expansion leads to modifications of habitat features, organization, and resources. Bird assemblages are known to respond by escaping destructive changes and adapting to sustainable ones. In this study, we investigated for the first time the avian diversity and its variation following the rural-urban gradient in Beni Mellal (Morocco) from 2018 to 2021. We used the line-transect method and multivariate analysis to demonstrate the selection of breeding habitats. Our result revealed a total of 84 species divided into resident breeders (64.28%), passage migrants (17.85%), breeding migrants (26.19%), winter visitors (32.18%) and accidental visitors (1.19%). Two globally vulnerable species counting the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and the European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis were recorded. Breeding populations were concentrated in green spaces (9 species) located in the urban zone, compared with farmlands (7 species), peri-urban (3 species), and rural areas (3 species). Therefore, these results reverse the hypothesis that rural and farming lands are more species-rich because of a higher population size. This is due to the abundance of breeding and foraging resources in urban green spaces compared to arid lands surrounding cities in this North African area. Furthermore, our study provides a new opportunity for comparative studies of avian diversity in Morocco and Northwest Africa.
{"title":"Urban landscapes are richer in bird species when compared to farming lands: evidence from Morocco (Northwest Africa)","authors":"Ikram Douini, Mohamed Mounir, I. Mansouri, E. Benka, Abdessamad Ouibimah, Youssef Khachtib, Wafae Squalli, Soumaya Hammada, M. Dakki","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.2.2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.2.2","url":null,"abstract":"Urban expansion leads to modifications of habitat features, organization, and resources. Bird assemblages are known to respond by escaping destructive changes and adapting to sustainable ones. In this study, we investigated for the first time the avian diversity and its variation following the rural-urban gradient in Beni Mellal (Morocco) from 2018 to 2021. We used the line-transect method and multivariate analysis to demonstrate the selection of breeding habitats. Our result revealed a total of 84 species divided into resident breeders (64.28%), passage migrants (17.85%), breeding migrants (26.19%), winter visitors (32.18%) and accidental visitors (1.19%). Two globally vulnerable species counting the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and the European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis were recorded. Breeding populations were concentrated in green spaces (9 species) located in the urban zone, compared with farmlands (7 species), peri-urban (3 species), and rural areas (3 species). Therefore, these results reverse the hypothesis that rural and farming lands are more species-rich because of a higher population size. This is due to the abundance of breeding and foraging resources in urban green spaces compared to arid lands surrounding cities in this North African area. Furthermore, our study provides a new opportunity for comparative studies of avian diversity in Morocco and Northwest Africa.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.3
M. Kalboussi
Chalcides mertensi is an Algero-Tunisian endemic three-toed skink. It inhabits perennial meadows in north-western Tunisia. The main characteristics of its reproduction traits were studied in six populations, by counting the total number of embryos in pregnant females in relation to their snout-vent lengths (SVLs) and measuring the lengths of newborn individuals. The species is viviparous, with SVLs of gravid females ranging between 103.2 and 220.3 mm, making this species one of the largest among its congeners. The maximal number of embryos per gravid female was 28, ranging between zero and 15 in each of the right and left oviducts. Selection apparently favoured larger females to maximize the number of embryos since a correlation between the number of embryos and female SVL was found. Births occurred during the first week of July, one month earlier than dates given for three-toed Chalcides species in Europe. The species produced one clutch each year.
{"title":"Data on the female reproduction of Chalcides mertensi Klausewitz, 1954 (Reptilia: Scincidae) from Tunisia","authors":"M. Kalboussi","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.1.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.1.3","url":null,"abstract":"Chalcides mertensi is an Algero-Tunisian endemic three-toed skink. It inhabits perennial meadows in north-western Tunisia. The main characteristics of its reproduction traits were studied in six populations, by counting the total number of embryos in pregnant females in relation to their snout-vent lengths (SVLs) and measuring the lengths of newborn individuals. The species is viviparous, with SVLs of gravid females ranging between 103.2 and 220.3 mm, making this species one of the largest among its congeners. The maximal number of embryos per gravid female was 28, ranging between zero and 15 in each of the right and left oviducts. Selection apparently favoured larger females to maximize the number of embryos since a correlation between the number of embryos and female SVL was found. Births occurred during the first week of July, one month earlier than dates given for three-toed Chalcides species in Europe. The species produced one clutch each year.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.10
N. Matvienko, V. Nedosekov, Mykhailo Koziy, A. Kravchenko
Fish welfare is a very important aquaculture criterion that is affected by various factors. In Ukraine, fish welfare is unregulated, except for certain aspects of fish keeping, fishing rules and sanitation requirements. In general, legislation is too general and concise. Therefore, we carried out a study on several critical aspects of fish welfare in Ukraine: 1) fish farming management, 2) environmental factors and parameters of the aquatic environment in fish farming, 3) staff, 4) feeding, 5) fish behaviour and stocking density, 6) fish health, 7) impact of stressors on fish reproduction, and 8) antimicrobial resistance. The analysis shows problems in specialized fish farms, such as non-compliance with rearing technology, lack of quality feed and high feed cost. Analysis of the epizootic situation regarding fish diseases during the last 10 years shows that invasive and infectious diseases are recorded in almost all fishpond farms. Nosological profile pathogens were bacteria of genera Aeromonas (40%), Pseudomonas (28%), and Edwardsiella, Proteus, Yersinia, Flavobacterium, and Micrococcus (all five accounting for 32%). Analysis of the state of welfare indicates the need to develop an evaluation system of fish welfare and its implementation in Ukraine. We consider that it is necessary to develop an algorithm for implementing the best practices of fish welfare based on assessment and research, improvement of legal framework, and implementation of effective programmes for the control of aquatic animal welfare.
{"title":"Fish welfare in Ukraine","authors":"N. Matvienko, V. Nedosekov, Mykhailo Koziy, A. Kravchenko","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.1.10","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.1.10","url":null,"abstract":"Fish welfare is a very important aquaculture criterion that is affected by various factors. In Ukraine, fish welfare is unregulated, except for certain aspects of fish keeping, fishing rules and sanitation requirements. In general, legislation is too general and concise. Therefore, we carried out a study on several critical aspects of fish welfare in Ukraine: 1) fish farming management, 2) environmental factors and parameters of the aquatic environment in fish farming, 3) staff, 4) feeding, 5) fish behaviour and stocking density, 6) fish health, 7) impact of stressors on fish reproduction, and 8) antimicrobial resistance. The analysis shows problems in specialized fish farms, such as non-compliance with rearing technology, lack of quality feed and high feed cost. Analysis of the epizootic situation regarding fish diseases during the last 10 years shows that invasive and infectious diseases are recorded in almost all fishpond farms. Nosological profile pathogens were bacteria of genera Aeromonas (40%), Pseudomonas (28%), and Edwardsiella, Proteus, Yersinia, Flavobacterium, and Micrococcus (all five accounting for 32%). Analysis of the state of welfare indicates the need to develop an evaluation system of fish welfare and its implementation in Ukraine. We consider that it is necessary to develop an algorithm for implementing the best practices of fish welfare based on assessment and research, improvement of legal framework, and implementation of effective programmes for the control of aquatic animal welfare.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.2.6
H. Barman, P. Paul, G. Aditya
The life history features of the pestiferous slug Mariaella dussumieri (L. Pfeiffer, 1855) (Gastropoda: Ariophantidae) were studied in the laboratory. The growth and reproduction of M. dussumieri were studied using multiple cohorts of juveniles hatching from the eggs of field-collected and laboratory-reared individuals. About 18 out of 215 hatchlings survived to sexual maturity with a maximum life span of 401 days. The growth pattern was assessed for compliance with the von Bertalanffy growth equation for body weight, expressed as BWt = 9*(1-exp-0.09(t-0.11)). At the juvenile stage, mortality of the studied slugs was high and growth was rapid. However, when the individuals attained sexual maturity, growth slowed down and mortality decreased. The post oviposition period was very short, indicating semelparity. The characteristic life history features exhibited by M. dussumieri reflected its adaptation as a pestiferous slug.
{"title":"Observations on the growth and life table estimates of the slug Mariaella dussumieri (L. Pfeiffer, 1855) (Gastropoda: Ariophantidae)","authors":"H. Barman, P. Paul, G. Aditya","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.2.6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.2.6","url":null,"abstract":"The life history features of the pestiferous slug Mariaella dussumieri (L. Pfeiffer, 1855) (Gastropoda: Ariophantidae) were studied in the laboratory. The growth and reproduction of M. dussumieri were studied using multiple cohorts of juveniles hatching from the eggs of field-collected and laboratory-reared individuals. About 18 out of 215 hatchlings survived to sexual maturity with a maximum life span of 401 days. The growth pattern was assessed for compliance with the von Bertalanffy growth equation for body weight, expressed as BWt = 9*(1-exp-0.09(t-0.11)). At the juvenile stage, mortality of the studied slugs was high and growth was rapid. However, when the individuals attained sexual maturity, growth slowed down and mortality decreased. The post oviposition period was very short, indicating semelparity. The characteristic life history features exhibited by M. dussumieri reflected its adaptation as a pestiferous slug.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69857370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.9
Houria Nekhla, I. Mansouri, Aziz Zahri, Wafae Squalli, Hamid Achiban, M. Hmidani, Abdelbari El Agy, A. Harrach, Lahsen El Ghadraoui
Analysis of biological diversity in woody habitats is crucial for the implementation of suitable conservation policies. We carried out monthly field visits using the point count method for avian species and walked-transect surveys for mammals and reptiles from January 2018 to December 2021 in Fez, El Hajeb and Sefrou, central Morocco. The studied sites were steppes dominated by Chamaerops humilis. A total of 90 bird, 12 mammal and 8 reptile species were documented. Furthermore, two species of conservation concern, i.e., the vulnerable European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur, and the endangered Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus were recorded. The documented species use Chamaerops humilis for breeding (support for nesting birds), foraging (via fruits) and wintering purposes. These findings are the first results related to animal biodiversity in Chamaerops humilis shrublands in Morocco. However, other aspects, including the nutritive quality of Chamaerops humilis fruits for wintering animals, need further studying. Likewise, the threatening factors that might negatively influence North African forests require urgent studying.
{"title":"The ecological importance of Chamaerops humilis steppe for animal biodiversity in Northwest Africa (Morocco)","authors":"Houria Nekhla, I. Mansouri, Aziz Zahri, Wafae Squalli, Hamid Achiban, M. Hmidani, Abdelbari El Agy, A. Harrach, Lahsen El Ghadraoui","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.1.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.1.9","url":null,"abstract":"Analysis of biological diversity in woody habitats is crucial for the implementation of suitable conservation policies. We carried out monthly field visits using the point count method for avian species and walked-transect surveys for mammals and reptiles from January 2018 to December 2021 in Fez, El Hajeb and Sefrou, central Morocco. The studied sites were steppes dominated by Chamaerops humilis. A total of 90 bird, 12 mammal and 8 reptile species were documented. Furthermore, two species of conservation concern, i.e., the vulnerable European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur, and the endangered Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus were recorded. The documented species use Chamaerops humilis for breeding (support for nesting birds), foraging (via fruits) and wintering purposes. These findings are the first results related to animal biodiversity in Chamaerops humilis shrublands in Morocco. However, other aspects, including the nutritive quality of Chamaerops humilis fruits for wintering animals, need further studying. Likewise, the threatening factors that might negatively influence North African forests require urgent studying.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"5 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.2.3
N. Oussad, P. Queney, Abdelmadjid Chelli, Zohra A. Lounaci, Malika S. Aouar, Fatiha S. Bendali
The present paper aims at evaluating the distribution pattern of Culicidae immature stages and the relationship with their potential insect predators in the Taksebt Dam, Algeria. The surveys in the temporary and permanent habitats of this dam using the dipping technique allowed us to identify 13 mosquito species belonging to four genera with a clear dominance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. perexiguus. Predators of mosquito larvae were abundant in permanent habitats with 11 families belonging to three orders: Hemiptera (57.7%), Odonata (28.5%) and Coleoptera (13.9%). Hemipteran predators were the most important and abundant with a dominance of the Naucoridae and Notonectidae families. All mosquito larvae abundance was negatively related with the Hemipteran species abundance, while the abundance of Odonata spp. showed a significant effect on Anopheles spp. abundance. The results are relevant for future research in conservation biological control of vector mosquitoes employing predatory insects.
{"title":"Assessment of mosquitoes larvae and their predatory aquatic insects in Taksebt Dam, Algeria","authors":"N. Oussad, P. Queney, Abdelmadjid Chelli, Zohra A. Lounaci, Malika S. Aouar, Fatiha S. Bendali","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.2.3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.2.3","url":null,"abstract":"The present paper aims at evaluating the distribution pattern of Culicidae immature stages and the relationship with their potential insect predators in the Taksebt Dam, Algeria. The surveys in the temporary and permanent habitats of this dam using the dipping technique allowed us to identify 13 mosquito species belonging to four genera with a clear dominance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. perexiguus. Predators of mosquito larvae were abundant in permanent habitats with 11 families belonging to three orders: Hemiptera (57.7%), Odonata (28.5%) and Coleoptera (13.9%). Hemipteran predators were the most important and abundant with a dominance of the Naucoridae and Notonectidae families. All mosquito larvae abundance was negatively related with the Hemipteran species abundance, while the abundance of Odonata spp. showed a significant effect on Anopheles spp. abundance. The results are relevant for future research in conservation biological control of vector mosquitoes employing predatory insects.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69857040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.2.9
Surrya Khanam, S. Akhtar, Saha Bukhari, Abra Sheema, M. Mushtaq, A. Azam, G. Parveen
Rodents are considered to be one of the most important pests in the agricultural system of Pakistan. The present study was conducted to assess the pre-harvest damage to maize and sugarcane crops. Also, a survey of farmers was conducted to assess their knowledge and understanding about rodent pest species. For estimation of crop damages, we selected 40 maize fields in two villages and 30 sugarcane fields in three villages of district Swabi. In maize fields, the average damage was found to be higher in village Guloo Deri as compared to village Baikot. In the case of sugarcane fields, the average damage was higher in the village Menai as compared to villages Ghoati and Jandaboka. However, these differences were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05) in both crops. In maize crops, two rodent species, including Rattus rattus (7) and Mus musculus (4) and one insectivorous species house shrew (Suncus murinus) (6) was captured. In sugarcane crops, there were three rodent species including R. rattus (2) and M. musculus, (2) Bandicota bengalensis (2) and a single insectivorous species house shrew (S. murinus) (5) caught. The results of the farmers’ survey shows that farmers consider insects to be the major pest in both crop fields and storage structures. Among the crops affected by rodents, wheat was reported to be the major crop followed by maize. Most of the farmers believed that rodent control is required and that crop losses can be minimized through pest control. In conclusion, for the effective management of rodent pests in the area, further investigation into rodent ecology and their damage to different growth stages of crops is necessary.
{"title":"Pre-harvest rodent-inflicted damage to maize and sugarcane crops in Swabi, Pakistan","authors":"Surrya Khanam, S. Akhtar, Saha Bukhari, Abra Sheema, M. Mushtaq, A. Azam, G. Parveen","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.2.9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.2.9","url":null,"abstract":"Rodents are considered to be one of the most important pests in the agricultural system of Pakistan. The present study was conducted to assess the pre-harvest damage to maize and sugarcane crops. Also, a survey of farmers was conducted to assess their knowledge and understanding about rodent pest species. For estimation of crop damages, we selected 40 maize fields in two villages and 30 sugarcane fields in three villages of district Swabi. In maize fields, the average damage was found to be higher in village Guloo Deri as compared to village Baikot. In the case of sugarcane fields, the average damage was higher in the village Menai as compared to villages Ghoati and Jandaboka. However, these differences were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05) in both crops. In maize crops, two rodent species, including Rattus rattus (7) and Mus musculus (4) and one insectivorous species house shrew (Suncus murinus) (6) was captured. In sugarcane crops, there were three rodent species including R. rattus (2) and M. musculus, (2) Bandicota bengalensis (2) and a single insectivorous species house shrew (S. murinus) (5) caught. The results of the farmers’ survey shows that farmers consider insects to be the major pest in both crop fields and storage structures. Among the crops affected by rodents, wheat was reported to be the major crop followed by maize. Most of the farmers believed that rodent control is required and that crop losses can be minimized through pest control. In conclusion, for the effective management of rodent pests in the area, further investigation into rodent ecology and their damage to different growth stages of crops is necessary.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"167 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69857162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.4
M. Zakia, K. Mohamed, Zerouali-Khodja Fatiha
The diet of adult specimens of black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) and small red scorpionfish Scorpaena notata (Rafinesque, 1810), collected from the Algerian coast was studied using different coefficients and trophic indexes. The inventory of ingested prey indicates that the focal species have a diverse diet that covers different zoological groups. Their feeding spectrum is mainly composed of brachyuran crabs and other crustaceans such as isopods and shrimp. Fish and molluscs are only occasionally ingested. The vacuity coefficient average exceeded the estimated rate of 40%. The observed monthly fluctuations revealed a seasonal alimentary rhythm. The foraging activity of the two scorpionfish decreases in summer, during gonad maturation. This decrease is highlighted by the increase in the vacuity coefficient and the decrease in the repletion index. Despite a similarity in the food bolus, the two co-occurring fish exhibit a specialized diet. This was observed especially in mature individuals. In conclusion, our results demonstrated a very strong overlap of niches between two scorpionfish species.
{"title":"Trophic niches of two predator fish cohabiting in the Algerian coastal ecosystem: Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Scorpaena notata (Rafinesque, 1810)","authors":"M. Zakia, K. Mohamed, Zerouali-Khodja Fatiha","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.1.4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.1.4","url":null,"abstract":"The diet of adult specimens of black scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) and small red scorpionfish Scorpaena notata (Rafinesque, 1810), collected from the Algerian coast was studied using different coefficients and trophic indexes. The inventory of ingested prey indicates that the focal species have a diverse diet that covers different zoological groups. Their feeding spectrum is mainly composed of brachyuran crabs and other crustaceans such as isopods and shrimp. Fish and molluscs are only occasionally ingested. The vacuity coefficient average exceeded the estimated rate of 40%. The observed monthly fluctuations revealed a seasonal alimentary rhythm. The foraging activity of the two scorpionfish decreases in summer, during gonad maturation. This decrease is highlighted by the increase in the vacuity coefficient and the decrease in the repletion index. Despite a similarity in the food bolus, the two co-occurring fish exhibit a specialized diet. This was observed especially in mature individuals. In conclusion, our results demonstrated a very strong overlap of niches between two scorpionfish species.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.5
Hamid Achiban, I. Mansouri, Wafae Squalli, H. Achiban, Miloud Afenzar, A. Taous
In this study, we surveyed and documented diversity and nesting of avian species and their foraging and breeding resources along the Oued Bouhellou watershed (North-Eastern Morocco). A total of 120 field visits were conducted between 2018 and 2022. We recorded 85 avian species of migrants and residents, belonging to 25 families and 8 orders. The families of Accipitridae (12 species) and Muscicapidae (10 species) were the most abundant, while the observed families of Corvidae, Sturnidae, Prunellidae, Caprimulgidae, and Ciconiidae were represented less abundantly, i.e., by one species each. Equally, nests of 17 breeding species were recorded and mapped along the watershed, breeding counts of the globally endangered Egyptian vulture and the globally vulnerable Turtle Dove pairs were done, and the first breeding cases of the Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Common Nightingale, Black Kite, and the North African Long-legged Buzzard were confirmed. The nesting sites were distributed along the watershed depending on specific requirements of each species, with nesting sites of passerines separated from those of raptors. The species richness of birds is supported by the availability of both foraging and breeding resources. In summary, in this study, we recorded the avian diversity, mapped the nesting sites of the breeding bird species, and confirmed the first breeding cases for five species, thus significantly contributing to the ornithology of Morocco and the Southern slope of the Mediterranean basin.
{"title":"Avifauna of the Oued Bouhellou Valley (Morocco): remarkable diversity, five new breeding cases and mapping of nesting sites","authors":"Hamid Achiban, I. Mansouri, Wafae Squalli, H. Achiban, Miloud Afenzar, A. Taous","doi":"10.35513/21658005.2022.1.5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.35513/21658005.2022.1.5","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, we surveyed and documented diversity and nesting of avian species and their foraging and breeding resources along the Oued Bouhellou watershed (North-Eastern Morocco). A total of 120 field visits were conducted between 2018 and 2022. We recorded 85 avian species of migrants and residents, belonging to 25 families and 8 orders. The families of Accipitridae (12 species) and Muscicapidae (10 species) were the most abundant, while the observed families of Corvidae, Sturnidae, Prunellidae, Caprimulgidae, and Ciconiidae were represented less abundantly, i.e., by one species each. Equally, nests of 17 breeding species were recorded and mapped along the watershed, breeding counts of the globally endangered Egyptian vulture and the globally vulnerable Turtle Dove pairs were done, and the first breeding cases of the Western Bonelli’s Warbler, Woodchat Shrike, Great Grey Shrike, Common Nightingale, Black Kite, and the North African Long-legged Buzzard were confirmed. The nesting sites were distributed along the watershed depending on specific requirements of each species, with nesting sites of passerines separated from those of raptors. The species richness of birds is supported by the availability of both foraging and breeding resources. In summary, in this study, we recorded the avian diversity, mapped the nesting sites of the breeding bird species, and confirmed the first breeding cases for five species, thus significantly contributing to the ornithology of Morocco and the Southern slope of the Mediterranean basin.","PeriodicalId":38366,"journal":{"name":"Zoology and Ecology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"69856784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-01-01DOI: 10.35513/21658005.2022.1.6
Ankita, M. Afzal Khan, Salman Khan
The present study deals with fish length-weight, length-length, length-otolith size and length-otolith weight relationships in Rita rita. Specimens (N = 117) were collected monthly from September 2018 to August 2019 from Narora site of the River Ganga, India. The slope (b) in length-weight relationship equation was 2.40, suggesting a negative allometric growth pattern. The Student’s t-test showed no significant differences in the size of right and left otoliths in Rita rita, therefore, a single linear regression based on left otoliths was used. Fish length was plotted against otolith length, otolith height and otolith weight. The linear regression model was found to fit the data well for fish length to otolith size. Fish length was positively correlated with otolith height (R2 = 0.97), otolith length (R2 = 0.94) and otolith weight (R2 = 0.91). The mean value of condition factor was 1.13, which suggested a good condition of the target fish species in the River Ganga. Findings of this study could be used to study the population characteristics of Rita rita, and to explore the food and feeding biology of piscivores based on correlating the otolith morphometry of the prey items to the fish length at age.
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