ACTIVITY PATTERNS IN TWO SYMPATRIC DUCK SPECIES IN A MEDITERANEAN REMNANT WETLAND: PERFORMANCE, SEASONAL VARIABILITY AND IMPLICATIONS

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 activity-budgets vary depending on the species (Spatula clypeata vs. Anas crecca), phenological phases (post-migratory period vs. winter period vs. pre-migratory period) and year (2013 vs. 2014), by means of Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM). Results revealed the presence of an interspecific variation in feeding and preening activities, being markedly more pronounced in S. clypeata than in A. crecca. Preening activity was the most important activity during the post-migratory period, whereas sleeping prevailed during pre-migratory period. In addition to seasonal changes, an inter-annual variation was recorded for these activities in 2014 compared to 2013. This study emphasizes the role of the El-Feid remnant wetland as a resting area for Northern Shovelers and Eurasian Teals, as do other wetlands around the Mediterranean for other duck species. The pursuit of the investigations, while considering other explanatory factors such as water stress and quality, trophic resource availability, weather, predation, parasitology, and human disturbances is of great importance for a better understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of activity budgets of waterbirds in North Africa.