Diversity of vertebrates nesting in semi-arid areas of Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Tiaret, NW- Algeria)

Abstract

This is the first regional study aimed at understanding the diversity of the fauna nesting in the populations of Atlas Pistachio in Algeria. Fieldwork which lasted 6 years, consisted of mixed sampling (stratified then subjective) accompanied by surveys of the surrounding population in order to find the vertebrate species sought. A total of 160 species have been identified in all the study area (Tiaret region). There are 160 species of birds (46 migratory species and 66 sedentary species); 21 species of mammals; 5 species of freshwater fish; 17 species of reptiles and 5 species of amphibians. The present study revealed to us the existence of an exceptional fauna diversity in this area with some new data on the distribution of some species, especially birds and mammals. For the forest of Atlas Pistachio, there are less than all the study area, because of the location of the 4^th forests, with two of them in the north of Tiaret region (mountains of Tagdemt and Guertoufa) and the the others forests in the south, in the steppe ecosystem (Rechaiga and Rosfa). Our study reveals that the most species and the diversity of fauna are located in the north (Tagdempt and Rosfa) with 47 species of birds of an total of 57 species that we mentioned in all the 4^th forests of the Atlas Pistachio, 8 of the total of 12 species of mammals, 9 of the total of 13 reptiles and only one species of amphibians with is Sclerophrys mauritanica. We can say also that only two species have a direct relation with this tree, we talk about Sturnus vulgaris and Mus musculus, wich prefer the fruits and seeds of this tree; that Sturnus vulgaris with is a wintering migrant birds, and his migration come over the period of fruting of this endemic and important tree. For the mouse (Mus musculus), as all the rodentodia species, they prefer the seeds, that they collect into their hole. We can say at last, that the Tiaret region is very important biotope, for all the vertebrate species, for his heterogeneity ecosystems, and their location with consist of an migratory halt for many birds, also the nesting birds wicth come every year for the reproduction.