Saâd Hanane

Center for Innovation, Research and Training

Determination of factors affecting habitat selection is a major topic in avian ecology, with strong implications for conservation purposes. Studies dealing with the impacts of ecological factors on breeding spurfowls, especially the Critically Endangered Double-spurred Spurfowl Pternistis bicalcaratus ayesha, are scarce. Here, we used auditory dete...

Conservation of Anatidae in North Africa is hindered by lack of information concerning population size, population trends, and species-habitat relationships. In this work, we used a 2-year survey data in 25 wetlands distributed throughout Morocco to model duck spatial distribution and to assess the relevance of a set of environmental and anthropoge...

In recent decades, a general decline in Palearctic-African migrant birds has been recorded over large areas of the Palearctic. The European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur has undergone a rapid and serious decline across its European range, to the extent that it was categorised as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2015. In this review, I synthesis...

Determinants of nesting success in Turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) in a North-African agricultural area. Determining the effects of environmental factors on nesting success of migrant and breeding game birds is paramount especially in man-made environments. Using Poisson regression, we investigated the influence on the number of chicks fledged p...

To adequately control the urban bird populations, the determinants of nest habitat selection must be identified and its processes well understood. In this study, we investigated this issue with regard to Columba palumbus (WP) and Streptopelia decaocto (CD) in the city of Rabat, Morocco. We used data from landscape composition, anthropogenic presenc...

In many Mediterranean cities, man-made structures are an integral part of the landscape mosaic, hence the importance of studying their use by wildlife. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regard to the White stork (WS) (Ciconia ciconia) in Rabat City (Morocco) using data on a series of variables, including clustering, land...

The impact of rainwater harvesting systems on biodiversity in hyperarid North African areas has not been assessed to date despite its demonstrated usefulness. The present study investigated this impact by considering the richness of wintering birds (RWB) in the Tataouine region (pre-Saharan Tunisia). We used data from three sets of variables—rainwa...

Assessing the importance of managed hunting estates is a focal step in knowing whether they affect game and non-game species. Microhabitat and human presence were measured in managed and unmanaged hunting estates in the Mamora forest to identify the best predictors of the vulnerable European Turtle Dove (TD) occurrence (presence/absence) by means o...

Citation: Ichen A., Hanane S., Bouaamama M., Alaoui M., Magri N., Benhoussa A. (2023): Selection of trees for rubbing by the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the Sidi Boughaba forested Moroccan Ramsar site: Assessment, implications and prospects. Abstract: Knowledge of mechanisms by which large mammals select rubbing trees (RT) is a major challenge for th...

Urban sprawl and atmospheric pollution have a tremendous impact on the environment and threaten the survival of wildlife. Understanding the response of birds to these pressing threats is imperative to plan relevant management policies. Here, we investigated the responses of 17 breeding bird species to urbanization and industrialization on 11 South-...

Context Understanding the mechanisms governing the selection of habitats by urban expanding species to inform population control. Objectives We aimed to determine the effects of landscape composition, human disturbance, and spatial structuring on the occurrence of invasive Streptopelia decaocto (EUCD) and expanding Columba palumbus (EWP) in the ci...

The presence of natural forests in association with the planted forests has become a common quite landscape in the Mediterranean basin and even elsewhere. Understanding how native game bird use the different types of forest habitats is a major issue aiming at an effective assessment of their management and conservation. In this study, we investigat...

The knowledge and understanding of mechanisms driving the distribution and selection of habitats by threatened species is a major issue aiming at an effective assessment of their conservation and management. In this study, we investigated this issue with regards to the vulnerable European Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia turtur) in the capital city of Mor...

The assessment of the impact of urban and industrial landscapes on the occurrence of vulnerable species is one key step in the view to maintaining them in environments that are becoming urbanised. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to the vulnerable European Turtle Dove (TD) ( Streptopelia turtur ) in the coastal...

The assessment of the impact of urban and industrial landscapes on the occurrence of vulnerable species is one key step in the view to maintaining them in environments that are becoming urbanised. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to the vulnerable European Turtle Dove (TD) ( Streptopelia turtur ) in the coastal...

Tree characteristics, microhabitat, and human presence were measured around nest trees ( n = 92) and non-nest trees ( n = 92) to identify the best predictors of the European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur nest occurrence in date palm plantations of the Biskra region (Algeria). Nest occurrence was (i) positively influenced by the height of trees an...

Knowledge about the factors affecting the number of active latrines (NAL) of reintroduced Cuvier’s gazelles (Gazella cuvieri Ogilby, 1841) is of a crucial step aiming at understanding their distributional dynamics and their habitats preference. Here, we used six random 500-m transects to assess the effect of season, microhabitat, and management var...

Cuvier’s gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) was reintroduced in Tergou reserve (TR) in 2018–2019 to help restore its population at the Moroccan Central Plateau. A study on browsing trees and shrubs was conducted in this reserve to identify (i) the seasonal pattern of this activity and (ii) the most solicited tree and shrub species. Here, we used six random...

Sex chromosomes often bear distinct patterns of genetic variation due to unique patterns of inheritance and demography. The processes of mutation, recombination, genetic drift, and selection also influence rates of evolution on sex chromosomes differently than autosomes. Measuring such differences provides information about how these processes shap...

In southern Tunisia, oases and olive orchards are the two main agroecosystems, hence the importance of investigating their value for native fauna. Using generalized linear mixed models, we assessed the relative value of oases and olive plantations over the wintering and the breeding periods by comparing their avifauna diversity using the Shannon di...

Assessing the effects of landscape composition on invasive and native wildlife abundance patterns is necessary to reach effective biodiversity management planning, especially on the margins of cities. However, we still have a limited understanding on the relationships between the landscape components and bird abundance. Given this knowledge gap, an...

Identifying the factors that influence nest survival insympatric species is important for the proper and effective management of their breeding populations. We used logistic-exposure models to estimate the daily survival rate and evaluate habitat traits, such as characteristics of trees supporting nests, position of nest in a tree, nesting micro- a...

Knowledge of the factors influencing variation of nest abundance in cities is a major topic in urban ecology with important management and planning implications. In the present study, we aimed to investigate this issue with regards to white stork (WS) (Ciconia ciconia) in the capital of Morocco, Rabat. Here, we used data on a series of topographic,...

Understanding factors influencing the nest site selection of birds in coastal cities is a major topic in urban ecology, with important management and conservation implications. We investigated the White Stork (WS, Ciconia ciconia) nest habitat use in the coastal city of Rabat, Morocco. We used data on a series of topographic, landscape, coloniality...

Capsule: Nest site selection of Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis in an Algerian arid environment is dictated by a combination of topography, human presence, landscape and space. Aims: To disentangle the drivers affecting Black-bellied Sandgrouse nest habitat use in an Algerian arid environment. Methods: We used data on a series of to...

Watershed tree plantations in Morocco are expanding under the National Watershed Management Plan and thus their value for native fauna and agroforestry system dynamics requires investigation. Using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), we assessed the relative value of artificial habitats—olive and eucalypt plantations—over four seasonal periods...

In Morocco, the barbary partridge (Alectoris barbara) is the major game species, highly valued by the nation’s hunters. Until recently little was known about factors affecting reproductive parameters of this species on cereal croplands in North Africa. In 2018, 51 nests were found and analyzed across two agricultural areas of Northwestrn Morocco (A...

Capsule: Nest site selection of Barbary Partridge Alectoris barbara in a Moroccan agroforestry system is dictated by nest-scale rather than landscape scale factors. Aims: To identify the most important factors affecting Barbary Partridge nest habitat selection in a Moroccan agroforestry landscape Methods: I investigated the effect of two spatial sc...

Nowadays, partitioning amongst nesting and non-nesting habitats is not much studied. Here, I investigate whether or not the turtle dove ( Streptopelia turtur ) nesting habitats overlap with those used for other purposes in a North African agroforestry system. A total of 33 nest points and 33 turtle dove presence points were considered. The study, c...

Assessment of the effectiveness of nature conservation measures is a crucial step to ensure that the actions undertaken have achieved the expected results. Depending on the results of such evaluations, managers may need to reframe or even change their approaches. In this analysis, the effectiveness of establishing strictly protected areas was asses...

Knowledge of factors influencing waterbird distribution is a crucial step that would help wetland managers to target their conservation efforts. In this work, we used a 2-year survey in 25 wetlands distributed throughout Morocco to model Podicipedidae and Rallidae spatial distribution and to assess the relevance of a set of environmental and anthro...

Determination of factors affecting nest habitat selection is a major topic in avian ecology, with strong implications for conservation purposes especially for the species with unfavorable status. The Turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a vulnerable species that has undergone a rapid and serious decline across its distribution range. I investigated...

This book summarizes the work done on a migratory game species, the Turtle Dove in Moroccan agroforestry systems. This work focuses on the bioecology of the species. Migration periods of arrival and departure have been thus defined, the reproductive chronology has been determined, nesting habitat preferences have been analyzed in addition to the va...

In North Africa, the lack of information on the Anatidae population sizes, demographic trends, and activity budget patterns compromises both their management and conservation.In this study, we used a 2-year survey (from October to March in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015) data in an Algerian remnant wetland (El-Feid’s marsh) to determine if diurnal activit...

La présente étude, réalisée au Tadla de 2006-08, est une contribution qui met en exergue l’existence d’une importante variabilité spatio-temporelle de distribution des Tourterelles des bois. Spatialement, cette variabilité est matérialisée par une préférence aux deux zones de Bezzaza et de Ouled Iyed comparée à la zone de Fkih Ben Salleh ; alors qu...

Contribution to the assessment of the impact of watershed management of Oued Mellah and Allal El Fassi in Morocco. A holistic assessment approach is conducted in Oued Mellah and Allal El Fassi watersheds. The approach combines 3 quantitative methods (water and material flows at hydrometric stations, estimation of erosion rates using radioisotopes,...

This work aims to study the physico-chemical typology of Oued Seybouse river waters that receives the sewage discharged by the localities and the industries located along this stream and the determination of the sources of pollution. These wastewaters contribute to the degradation of Oued Seybouse river water quality. Five water points were sampled...

Although fragmented and semi-permanent wetlands of north-eastern Algeria like a similar wet area around the Mediterranean coast are frequented by a wide range of migratory waterfowl species, they are often considered to be of secondary importance and their functional role is not clearly understood. We studied diurnal time-activity budgets of the No...

Abstract Background: Until recently little was known about factors affecting reproductive parameters of the Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) on intensively cultivated farmland in the Mediterranean area. In this study, the reproductive parameters of this game species were evaluated in relation to location, orchard type, laying period and nest pos...

Since 2005, Morocco has designated many Ramsar wetlands, yet little is known about factors determining their occupation by waterbird communities. In this study, we assessed the relationship between the occupation of Moroccan Ramsar wetlands during the breeding season by two globally threatened waterbirds, the marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostri...

Capsule The density of nests of the Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur in Moroccan irrigated agroecosystems was 68% higher in orange orchards than in olive orchards, and 42% higher in the early breeding period compared to the late period. Agricultural practices and hunting activity are the main factors affecting this vulnerable species.

Préférence d’habitat de la seule population sauvage de Francolinus bicalcaratus ayesha dans le Paléarctique : implications pour sa conservation et sa gestion. Le Francolin à double éperon (Francolinus bicalcaratum ayesha) est un oiseau en danger critique d’extinction et endémique du Maroc, où il habite les forêts de chêne-liège. Ses populations ont...

The critically endangered Double-spurred Francolín (Francolirtus bicalcaratus ayesha) is endemic to Morocco, where it inhabits cork oak forests. Its populations have been reduced chiefly due to hunting and habitat destruction. Characterizing the habitat use of native-bred birds is a tool which can optimize recovery programs. Auditory detection was...

Indentyfing the drivers of site-occupancy and abundance is of a great importance to set management guidelines to assist in conservation of animal populations. We analyse data derived from surveys of 32 Moroccan Wetlands were surveyed from 2008-11 to determine factors influencing Eurasian Spoonbill’s (Platalea leucorodia) site-occupancy and abundanc...

In Morocco, scientific research on the Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica M.) has helped to understand its ecology and to characterize its behavior in response to drought. However, few studies have dealt with the analysis of its appearance in relation to the diversity of habitats and different ecological situations. The aim of this study is to assess, i...

Characterising the habitat use of released captive-bred birds is required to help optimise future avian reintroduction programmes. The critically endangered Double-spurred Francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus ayesha is endemic to north-west Morocco, where it inhabits forests of cork oak Quercus suber . To improve the viability of this threatened popu...

Since 2005, Morocco has designated 28 Important Bird Areas (IBA) and Ramsar wetlands for waterbirds, yet little is known about how waterbird communities are changing over time and space, within and between sites. We assessed the relationships between species numbers of overall breeding waterbirds, as well as those of Anatidae, Rallidae and Podicipe...

Studies of niche partitioning among Columbidae species have mainly addressed food habits and foraging activities, while partitioning in relation to nest-niche differentiation has been little studied. The recent expansion of Laughing dove Streptopelia senegalensis distribution throughout Morocco has raised concerns regarding its effects on native sp...

Breeding performance of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in a North African urban area : what are the impacts of climatic conditions and insecticide applications ? The present study examined the effects of climate conditions (temperature, precipitation and wind speed) and human activity (insecticide treatment) on clutch size, number of hatchlings...

Breeding performance of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) in a North African urban area: what are the impacts of climatic conditions and insecticide applications?-The present study examined the effects of climate conditions (temperature, precipitation and wind speed) and human activity (insecticide treatment) on clutch size, number of hatchlings a...

The Double-spurred Francolin Francolinus bicalcaratus ayesha is a critically endangered galliform subspecies in Morocco. To improve the viability of this threatened population, 300 captive-bred francolins were released into the Didactic Lot of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Hunting, and post-release monitoring was conducted. In this study, we use...

Knowing the population size of game is a basic prerequisite to determining adequate hunting management and conservation strategies and setting up appropriate hunting quotas. This study compared three methods complete count, capture–recapture and N-mixture modelling to estimate a turtle dove Streptopelia turtur breeding population using nest counts....

Since the late sixties, Morocco has sought to make the large hydraulic a pillar of agricultural development. It was thus launched the project of one million irrigated hectares for the horizon 2000. Reconciling production and naturalness, these environments are considered of a great interest in the sustainability of wildlife and particularly of some...

A total of 364 Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) nests were found in the Tadla irrigated area during the 2006–2009 breeding seasons. Of these, 135 were located in orange orchards, 178 in olive orchards and 51 in olive hedgerows. Gaussian generalised linear modelling was used to model the nest height and the nest–trunk distance according to the char...

The Marsh Owl is an African bird. Its range mainly extends south of the Sahara and more particularly in the southern hemisphere below the equator. However, an isolated population lives in Morocco and forms an endemic subspecies: Asio capensis tingitanus where it is undergoing a large decline since the end of the 19th century due to the increase in...

The present study investigates the population trends of Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis (Podicipedidae: Podicidae) over 5 years (2009–2013) in three Middle Atlas wetlands (Aguelmam Afennourir, Dayet Aoua and Dayet Ifrah). Using generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution, we demonstrated that the number of Black-necked Grebe breed...

Sur la zone littorale de Rabat-Bouznika, des dénombrements réguliers, de janvier 1999 à décembre 2001, ont permis de définir le rythme de migration des espèces d'oiseaux d'eau les plus fréquentes ainsi que leurs statuts phénologiques. Quarante neuf espèces ont fréquenté le site, dont 24 régulières. Les Limicoles et les Laridés sont les groupes les...

Depuis la fin des années soixante, le Maroc s’est employé à faire de la grande hydraulique le pilier du développement de l’agriculture. Il fut ainsi lancé le projet du million d’hectares irrigués pour l’horizon 2000. Conciliant production et naturalité, ces milieux présentent un intérêt majeur pour la pérennité de la faune sauvage en général et de...

The Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) is a common and widespread bird in Morocco (North Africa). I examined, over two years (2010 and 2011), the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest-site habitat and degree of human disturbance. The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest, Morocco, in a distur...

The number of Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni breeding pairs in Morocco has varied significantly and positively over thirteen years (1998–2010), between six colonies and over the 13-year period at each colony. The mean growth rate was λ=1.13±0.02. This positive trend is consistent with the current Least Concern conservation status of the species in t...

Ten-year survey of breeding Anatidae of Lake Sidi Boughaba (North-western Marocco): status, tendencies of change and avenues for future research.— A ten years survey of duck species was carried out in the Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA) of Sidi Boughaba. No such survey has ever been conducted before in Morocco to study the change in numbe...

Capsule The nesting success of the Woodpigeon Columba palumbus in oak forests in Morocco is affected by human disturbance and nest-site characteristics. Aims To determine factors affecting the nesting success of Woodpigeons subject to two levels of disturbance in a holm oak Middle Atlas forest. Methods Woodpigeon nests were monitored in highly dist...

In 2011, we investigated the breeding performance of two wader species, Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus and Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola in a natural habitat, marshes, and in an artificial one, salinas (saltpans), in the Sidi Moussa-Walidia wetland complex on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Data on nest-placement, clutch-size, eg...

Spatio-temporal dynamics of wintering Common Cranes Grus grus in Algeria: a ten year survey. A ten year survey of wintering Common Cranes was carried out in the high plateaus of Algeria (Oran, M'sila, Sétif and Oum El-Bouaghi). The distribution and abundance showed an obvious spatio-temporal variability. The trend in numbers of this species showed...

Ten-year survey of breeding Anatidae of Lake Sidi Boughaba (North-western Marocco) : status, tendencies of change and avenues for future research. A ten years survey of duck species was carried out in the Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA) of Sidi Boughaba. No such survey has ever been conducted before in Morocco to study the change in numbe...

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Seventy active turtle dove nests were found in the Tadla irrigated olive agro-ecosystem, 39 in olive orchards and 31 in olive hedgerows. A two-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was performed to determine the combined effects of olive age categories (class A < 10 years, class B 10–20 years and class C 21–30 years) and type of plantings...

Au Maroc, la biologie du pigeon ramier reste mal connue. Les données sur sa reproduction sont notamment des plus fragmentaires. La présente étude est une contribution pour mieux connaître deux paramètres de cette phase de son cycle annuel, à savoir la chronologie des pontes et la densité des nids. Les résultats sont comparés avec ceux connus pour l...

On the north-west coast of Morocco, egg laying by Kentish Plovers Charadrius alexandrinus occurred from late March to early June, with peaks in early April and mid May. Nests in rocky habitat were significantly closer to each other than were those in sandy habitat. Higher human disturbance was evident in sandy habitat, whereas tidal flooding had an...

This work describes the breeding biology of Lapwings in two coastal Atlantic wetlands (Merja Zerga and Merja Bargha) in N Morocco. Nests were monitored in two habitats (wet meadows and Spartina grasslands) during five years (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010). Breeding phenology, colony size, clutch size, egg dimensions, and hatching success were det...

Capsule Although subject to human disturbance Turtle Doves do nest successfully in these olive and orange orchards.Aim To investigate the breeding ecology of Turtle Doves in a man‐made agricultural habitat in central Morocco.Methods Turtle Dove nests were monitored in orange and olive orchards over three years (2006, 2007 and 2008). Nest abundance,...

Au Maroc, la tourterelle des bois est un migrateur nicheur présent sur une grande surface du territoire national. Malgré sa large distribution, ses effectifs sont mal connus et les études sur la biologie de sa reproduction, rares. Les objectifs de la présente étude sont de savoir si les paramètres de reproduction diffèrent en fonction du type de...

The breeding biology of Laughing Dove was studied in 2008 in Tadla olive and orange groves. A comparative analysis with Turtle Dove was carried out. Laughing Doves have occupied only olive groves. The species built their nests at an average height of 2.58 ± 0.09 m (n = 21) from the ground, and at 1.67 ± 0.19 m from the trunk, at 2.12 ± 0.24 m from...

Capsule Rocky platforms provide better nesting conditions than sandy beaches.Aim To investigate the breeding ecology of Collared Pratincoles Glareola pratincola in two different coastal Atlantic habitats in northwest Morocco.Methods Collared Pratincole nests were monitored in two coastal Atlantic habitats (sandy and rocky habitats) during two years...

Although turtle dove is one of the most common game species in Morocco, no biometric data was yet available. This work, carried out during hunting period in 2009 (June 26-August 3) in Taroudant region, aims to produce Turtle dove morphometrics data and to confirm the presence, in breeding period, of the subspecies Streptopelia turtur arenicola in t...

This work describes the migration and breeding biology of the Stone-Curlew along the coast of NW Morocco. Spring departure occurred in the first half of April. Stone-Curlews established their nests in banks of soft sand, soft sand with blocks of sandstone and meadows covered with stones. Clutch-size was similar to that of European populations but...

Status and breeding biology of Little Tern Sterna albifrons on a rocky portion of the northern Moroccan Atlantic coast. The present study, covering 2001 and 2003, concentrated on Little Tern Sterna albifrons Breeding Biology on a 40 km stretch of the rocky northern Moroccan Atlantic coast. The birds arrived at the beginning of April and established...

The breeding biology of Turtle Dove was studied in 2003 and 2004 in olive groves in irrigated areas of the Haouz. Turtle Doves built their nests at an average height of 2,74 ± 0,61 m (n = 204) from the ground, and at 1,88 ± 0,62 m from the trunk, at 1,48 ± 0,75 m from the upper canopy at 2,13 ± 0,57 m from the lowest part of the canopy. On the tall...

Breeding biology of Turtle Dove Streptopellia turtur in the Marrakech region (Morocco). The breeding biology of Turtle Dove was studied in 2003 and 2004 in olive groves in irrigated areas of the Haouz. Turtle Doves built their nests at an average height of 2,74 ± 0,61 m (n = 204) from the ground, and at 1,88 ± 0,62 m from the trunk, at 1,48 ± 0,75...

Composition and phenology of waterbirds' population of the Atlantic coastal area of Rabat-Bouznika (Morocco). Abstract. Thirty six campaigns of waterbirds censuses were undertaken from January 1999 to December 2001 in a portion of the Atlantic coast in the north of Morocco situated south of Rabat. The evolution of bird numbers allowed to define the...