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This study aimed to evaluate the spatial microdistribution and temporal microdistribution of the North African subspecies of the globally threatened Turtle Doves in Morocco. From the end of February to early September, we monitored the migration dates, counting arrival and departure dates, and breeding chronology, to clarify if the breeding season is divided into sub-breeding phases or not. Equally, the spatial distribution of nests following potential breeding phases was surveyed weekly in Beni Mellal province following a map of a selected orange orchard. Doves arrived in Beni Mellal in the third week of March and left in mid-October, according to the results. The first nests occurred in the second week of April, followed by the first eggs in the third week of April and the first chicks in the first week of May. PCA analysis showed that the nesting and laying stages were achieved principally during the last two weeks of April and the first three weeks of May, the hatching stage between the fourth week of May and the second week of July, and fledging between the fourth week of July and the first week of September. Further, the breeding season was divided into two phases: the first breeding phase, from the first week of April to the first week of June, and the second phase, between the second week of June and the second week of August. The DCA analysis and orchard-created map indicated that the first wave of breeders colonized the marginal trees located on the orchard sides, surrounded by foraging cereals and legumes, and the second breeding-phase nests were constructed in flocks next to the nests of the first breeding phase. According to this strategy, the first breeders prospect the orchard and select nesting trees near foraging resources, while the second breeders’ wave colonizes trees near successfully used prospector sites. These findings are of great importance for comparative investigations and habitat-scale conservation management.

The functioning and sustainability of lotic ecosystems depend to a large extent on their thermal and hydrological regimes. In the Mediterranean region, these factors are very sensitive to climate and anthropization which have undergone deep changes over the last four decades. Having noted the drying up of many permanent streams in Morocco, we conducted in 2015-2017 a new study with the aim of analyzing and assessing abiotic changes in the Upper Sebou (Middle Atlas, Morocco). A former study was carried out in 1981-1985. Indeed, over the last four decades, this river has been exposed to multiple disturbances, due to both recurrent droughts and human pressures. To describe and assess these changes, we used 16 abiotic variables that were measured in 11 ecosystems along the central course of the river. The comparison was mainly carried out using the multiple factorial correspondence analysis (MFCA), through a ternary matrix “variables × stations × time”, gathering old and new data in the same mesological structure. The analysis revealed the classical upstream-downstream ordering of the studied ecosystems, where most of the ecosystems recorded a downstream migration from their 1981 position. In this evolutionary perspective, the study involves hydrological and thermal factors, which show mainly a reduction in flow and a slight increase in temperature and water mineralization, both in summer and winter. It is assumed that water withdrawals, especially for irrigation, together with climatic droughts in the region, are responsible for these long-term evolutionary trends.

Interactions between co-occurring species, including competition and predation, comprise critical processes regulating local community structure, habitat use, and diversity. We monitored nesting habitats, breeding chronology, and reproductive success rates to describe the patterns of spatiotemporal organization of three co-habiting species: the “native” turtle dove, the “invasive” collared dove, and the “predatory” Maghreb magpie. We defined nesting site parameters, breeding chronology dates, and success rates to explain how these species are dispersed in space and time. Similarly, predation attacks were evaluated. Patterns of habitat use were best explained by fear of predation and competition. Both doves selected nesting sites far away from the predatory Magpie to protect their nests. Equally, sympatric Columbidae turtle dove and collared dove were segregated horizontally and vertically only in space to reduce competition inside olive orchards. On the other side, Maghreb magpie started the breeding activity first, most probably to benefit from food abundance targeted in doves’ nests (eggs and nestlings). Further, breeding success was higher in both doves, despite predation pressure exercised by the Magpie and other reptiles. Magpie nests were colonized by the great spotted cuckoo (Clamator glandarius). Finally, this study provides the first and only detailed data on nest-niche of the turtle dove co-occurring with competitor and predator species, in the entire Northwest Africa range. Additionally, our data provide an opportunity of large-scale comparative studies of the nesting niche and breeding performances of the turtle dove, collared dove, and Maghreb magpie complex.

Investigations of niche splitting in the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) have primarily addressed feeding habitats and foraging features and been limited to conspecific species, counting laughing dove and wood pigeon. The recent degradation of natural and suitable habitats for turtle doves, particularly in North Africa, would push this species to refuge in wetlands with a variety of other bird species. The understanding of potential cohabitation between doves and other species in these less disturbed ecosystems would help in the conservation measures of this declining game. This study, conducted from early March to September between 2015 and 2017, attempted to determine which species cohabit with turtle doves in three Northwest African wetlands in Morocco and how these species select nesting sites and trees. We used detrended corresponding analysis (DCA) to test the relevance of nest site and nesting tree variables in the nest distribution of the breeding species. The obtained results show a wide sharing of nest-niche between turtle doves and 7 breeding species, especially at the intermediate zone and downstream of the rivers. The lack of competition for food resources with neighbouring species may help in this harmonious sharing of both nesting sites and nesting trees. We further suggest guidelines for future research that seek to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of species coexisting with turtle dove in the same habitats.

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.

This study attempts to document the breeding bio-ecology of the Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) in two North-African mountainous wetlands. Data were collected weekly in the Zerrouka and Hachlaf lakes in Morocco during the breading seasons of 2018 and 2019. Field visits were carried out between February and August. The obtained results showed that important breeding populations colonized the two sites. Nesting sites were selected on the emerging vegetation at the Zerrouka site, while at Lake Hachlaf nests were located in open waters. During the two years, the breeding season was different in the two sites and from year to year: in 2018, it was from mid-March to the end of July in Zerrouka and between April and mid-August in Hachlaf. In 2019, the breeding activity took place between January and mid-July in Zerrouka and between the end of February and the end of August at Hachlaf. Nests and eggs were relatively larger in Zerrouka than in Hachlaf, while the breeding success was much lower in Zerrouka (around 33.3% in 2018 and 39.8% in 2019) than in Hachlaf (56.1% in 2018 and 54.7% in 2019). In summary, this study provides the first significant results on the breeding bio-ecology of the vulnerable North African populations of the Red-knobbed Coot and allows formulating some measures for its conservation. Furthermore, the obtained results will allow future comparative studies in the Western Mediterranean basin.

Studies of the ecological niche segregation among Columbidae birds have principally addressed feeding resources while segregating in relation to nest niche differentiation and breeding success have been little investigated. The wide extension of the invasive collared dove (S. decaocto) distribution throughout North African ecosystems has raised questions regarding its impact on native species, principally the vulnerable turtle dove (S. turtur). The study, conducted between March and September 2017–2019, attempted to determine levels of nest-niche differentiation between the two competitive dove species in the Fez’s agricultural area (Morocco). We used macro-habitat parameters inside olive orchards and micro-habitat parameters on nesting olive trees to evaluate the segregation of nest-niche between the two species. The results show substantial niche partitioning in the olive orchards and nest-trees selected by both doves. Collared doves nested in the periphery of orchards where the human impact was higher, and used greater height for nest placement on the olive trees, while turtle dove nested in the centre of orchards and placed nests in the lower height. Observed nest-niche partitioning may reduce the probability of concurrence between these sympatric birds and improve breeding success, higher in the studied sites for both doves (Hanane 2017). We also recommend guidelines for future research that search to understand the use of foraging resources by collared and turtle doves in the region during breeding seasons.

The Mediterranean Basin is a biodiversity hotspot. Wetlands make a key contribution to this status, but many of them remain outside the Ramsar network fifty years after the establishment of the Ramsar Convention. Here we evaluate the extent to which the Mediterranean Ramsar network covers wetlands of international importance for wintering waterbirds using the Ramsar Convention criteria 2 (species of conservation concern), 5 (> 20,000 waterbirds) and 6 (1% of a population). These criteria were applied to 4186 sites in 24 Mediterranean countries using counts of 145 wintering waterbird species from 1991 to 2017. We identified 161 sites of international importance for waterbirds that have not yet been declared as Ramsar sites, which could be added to the 180 current Mediterranean Ramsar sites established based on waterbird criteria (criteria 5 and/or 6). Among these sites, a subset of 32 very important sites reached double the required level for at least one criterion and 95 were not protected by any site conservation status. Coastal wetlands represented half of the Ramsar gap for waterbirds. We identified that an additional 1218 monitored sites could be provisionally considered as internationally important and thus require more survey efforts to assess their status. This study highlights a lack of participation of the Mediterranean countries to build the Ramsar network for wetland protection. Our results should help policymakers and managers to prioritize future Ramsar site designation, notably in the Middle East and Western European region where important gaps were identified.

The invertebrate communities of running waters are known to be highly sensitive to environmental disturbances and have, therefore, high interest in bio assessment. The objective of this study is to reveal, through a case study (the Upper Sebou, Morocco), the trends of these communities in the South Mediterranean region in a context of global change. The study consists in describing and interpreting the changes undergone by insect populations in the studied river between two periods (1981–1985 and 2015–2017), i.e. over a 34-years period. These changes are mainly attested by a strong decrease in species richness, indicating the disappearance of several rheophilic and/or pollution-sensitive species, especially among Plecoptera, and the regression of some taxa against the proliferation of thermophilic and/or pollution-tolerant forms. The data melting of both periods, via a binary matrix ‘species × stations-periods’ treated by the Correspondence Analysis, revealed the classical upstream-downstream ordination of the studied waters, where the majority of the stations register a downstream migration by the time. In this evolutionary perspective, the study implicates the hydrological and thermal factors depending on global warming and on anthropization of the watershed.

The European turtle dove Streptopelia turtur breeds in both farmlands and woodlands, and it is important to explore the difference in breeding ecology of this threatened game in these two ecosystem types. This study, carried out during four years (2015–2018), compares nesting features of this species and its breeding success between apple orchards and riparian vegetation in Midelt Province, Morocco. The main result revealed that the nest placement, including nesting-tree height and nest height, is similar between orchards and riparian trees. However, the nest dimensions (big and small diameters) were larger in orchards. Correlations were variable among nest placement parameters and dimensions. On the contrary, in four breeding seasons, where 566 nests were monitored (467 in orchards and 99 in riparian sites), the average breeding success was different (57% of chicks in apple farms and 53% in riparian vegetation). Moreover, in apple orchards, clutches’ failure is due to both predation (18.89% of eggs and 10.54% of chicks) and temperature lowering (5.03% of unhatched eggs and 5.49% of dead chicks), while in riparian vegetation, the loss is due to nest desertion (21.33% of clutches) and mostly predation (33.16% of clutches).

A high number of wetlands were irreversibly lost in arid regions, mainly because their conservation raises the great conflict between maintaining wetland hydrology and satisfying water needs of the human population. In Yemen, as an arid developing country, the poor knowledge on wetlands is another challenge that faces their conservation. The present paper contributes to this knowledge by providing a preliminary classification of estuarine ecosystems in Yemen, using satellite data, which provide us with 15 physiographical descriptors of both estuaries, their catchment areas and sea waters. These data were extracted with GIS tools and treated with modern classification algorithms. Their treatment revealed six different types of estuaries, which are distinguished by three categories of descriptors (size and rock nature of both estuary and watershed and sea exposition). These categories confirm the significant influence of the watershed characteristics in shaping estuaries, whose influence has mainly been established during the pluvial Quaternary episodes. The sea characteristics (hydrodynamics and orography) are crucial in estuary classification; yet, despite the great effort deployed to get pertinent data, it was still difficult to find satellite descriptors of these two features. Therefore, the remote sensing has actually some limits in providing sea data for estuarine classification, which will be no longer exceeded with the increasing number of significant satellite data. Finally, we remind that the raw and compiled data gathered in this study constitute a preliminary inventory of the 451 Yemen estuaries, which is very useful for their knowledge and management.

The current study aimed to investigate the nesting behavior and breeding chronology of the crested coot (Fulica cristata) in Morocco’s high altitude wetlands. We monitored nesting activities and breeding phenology in two wetlands, Zerrouka and Hachlaf lakes, to achieve our goals. Besides, nesting materials and nest dimensions were analyzed to characterize the crested coot nests. As a result, 52 nests were found in two sites, 18 in Zerouka and 34 in Hachlaf. Nests were built by available twigs on each site, and nest dimensions varied between analyzed wetlands. Nests were larger in Zerrouka compared to Hachlaf Lake. To protect their nests, coots select open waters and submerged vegetation as nesting sites. On the other hand, breeding chronology, including nesting, laying, and hatching dates, was earlier in Zerrouka Lake than Hachlaf. The nesting activities started at Zerrouka during January and February, while at Hachlaf, breeding attempts started during April.

Studies incorporating the nesting behavior and ecology of parasite disease in the European turtle dove during breeding periods are rare. This research examined nest features and nesting materials in Turtle doves to characterize nest dimensions, build, and incorporate vegetation, mainly aromatic and medicinal plants. In parallel, we estimated the ectoparasite load on chicks to verify an eventual relation between odorant plants and pathogen loads. The study was carried in apple orchards at Okhaja Ait Ayach, Midelt province Morocco, during 2015 and 2016. The obtained results demonstrate that the Turtle dove constructs a medium nest, compared to its body size, using several plant species, including medicinal and aromatic species known for their toxicity against pathogens. The inhibition capacity of nesting materials is reflected in parasite loads since only 8% of chicks were infested with Columbicola columbae and Dermanyssus gallinae. Repellent materials in nests are a successful behavioral strategy for this declining game to protect nestlings against pathogens.

The turtle dove is a migratory species that has suffered a rapid decline principally across its Northern ranges, despite pronounced conservation measures. Consequently, it has been categorized as 'Near Threatened' in Europe. Degradation of breeding habitats and a decrease in food resources are listed as principal causes of this decline. Despite its importance, the productivity of the North African population is widely unknown. Here we present the first estimation of the density of the breeding population and the superior reproductively ofThis study was carried out for two seasons 2018-2019 in the Saïss plain, central Morocco. Based on previous data, doves were monitored weekly, from early March to late August, in aquatic ecosystems (two dams and one river) and farmlands (cereals and orchards). The breeding population was censused using the "point-count" method, following a walked transect of 5 km in orchards, 7 km in cereal fields, and 3 km along the river. Equally, nests were searched in natural habitats counting riparian trees, forests, and ornamental trees, and in orchards based on the Common Birds Census (CBC) methodology, in which the singing doves, mating pairs, nesting, and/or feeding behavior were the most monitored signs to discover nests. In orchards, nests were searched line-by-line based on the rows of fruit trees. For each recorded nest, we note the breeding chronology, clutch size and incubation period, success and failure factors, dimensions, and vertical placement on trees. To evaluate the predictors of doves' occurrence, we noted at each site the presence of cereals, water, human disturbance, presence of nesting trees, and predators.In total, 3,580 turtle doves (22.37 birds/ha), including 240 breeding pairs, were documented. Nesting occurred mainly in olive groves, cereals were used for forage, and aquatic ecosystems for water sources. The nesting period lasted from late April to July (last fledglings). All nests were located on olive trees at a height of 225.30 ± 48.87 cm. The clutch size was 1.98 ± 0.13 (laid eggs/built nests), the incubation period lasted 14.16 ± 1.32 days, and the rearing period lasted 16.54 ± 1.76 days. The breeding success among the 240 monitored nests accounted for 73.84% during the nesting phase and 87.42% during the incubation phase; 71.5%% of nestlings have fledged, which is the highest success rate for turtle doves in Europe and Northwest Africa. Clutches were aborted mostly due to predation from snakes (7.5% of nests, 16.12% of eggs, and 5.63% of chicks), nest desertion (9.16% of nests and 5.37% of eggs), and marginally by the destruction of nests through farming activities. These findings are important for conservation plans, to restore turtle doves' habitats in Europe, where the species is widely declining.

The faunistic knowledge of the Diptera of Morocco recorded from 1787 to 2021 is summarized and updated in this first catalogue of Moroccan Diptera species. A total of 3057 species, classified into 948 genera and 93 families (21 Nematocera and 72 Brachycera), are listed. Taxa (superfamily, family, genus and species) have been updated according to current interpretations, based on reviews in the literature, the expertise of authors and contributors, and recently conducted fieldwork. Data to compile this catalogue were primarily gathered from the literature. In total, 1225 references were consulted and some information was also obtained from online databases. Each family was reviewed and the checklist updated by the respective taxon expert(s), including the number of species that can be expected for that family in Morocco. For each valid species, synonyms known to have been used for published records from Morocco are listed under the currently accepted name. Where available, distribution within Morocco is also included. One new combination is proposed:Assuania melanoleuca(Séguy, 1941),comb. nov.(Chloropidae).

Background The turtle dove is a migratory species that has suffered a rapid decline principally across its Northern ranges, despite pronounced conservation measures. Consequently, it has been categorized as ‘Near Threatened’ in Europe. Degradation of breeding habitats and a decrease in food resources are listed as principal causes of this decline. Despite its importance, the productivity of the North African population is widely unknown. Here we present the first estimation of the density of the breeding population and the superior reproductively of Streptopelia turtur arenicola in Morocco and entire North Africa. Methods This study was carried out for two seasons 2018–2019 in the Saïss plain, central Morocco. Based on previous data, doves were monitored weekly, from early March to late August, in aquatic ecosystems (two dams and one river) and farmlands (cereals and orchards). The breeding population was censused using the “point-count” method, following a walked transect of 5 km in orchards, 7 km in cereal fields, and 3 km along the river. Equally, nests were searched in natural habitats counting riparian trees, forests, and ornamental trees, and in orchards based on the Common Birds Census (CBC) methodology, in which the singing doves, mating pairs, nesting, and/or feeding behavior were the most monitored signs to discover nests. In orchards, nests were searched line-by-line based on the rows of fruit trees. For each recorded nest, we note the breeding chronology, clutch size and incubation period, success and failure factors, dimensions, and vertical placement on trees. To evaluate the predictors of doves’ occurrence, we noted at each site the presence of cereals, water, human disturbance, presence of nesting trees, and predators. Results and Discussion In total, 3,580 turtle doves (22.37 birds/ha), including 240 breeding pairs, were documented. Nesting occurred mainly in olive groves, cereals were used for forage, and aquatic ecosystems for water sources. The nesting period lasted from late April to July (last fledglings). All nests were located on olive trees at a height of 225.30 ± 48.87 cm. The clutch size was 1.98 ± 0.13 (laid eggs/built nests), the incubation period lasted 14.16 ± 1.32 days, and the rearing period lasted 16.54 ± 1.76 days. The breeding success among the 240 monitored nests accounted for 73.84% during the nesting phase and 87.42% during the incubation phase; 71.5%% of nestlings have fledged, which is the highest success rate for turtle doves in Europe and Northwest Africa. Clutches were aborted mostly due to predation from snakes (7.5% of nests, 16.12% of eggs, and 5.63% of chicks), nest desertion (9.16% of nests and 5.37% of eggs), and marginally by the destruction of nests through farming activities. These findings are important for conservation plans, to restore turtle doves’ habitats in Europe, where the species is widely declining.

Climate warming is driving changes in species distributions, although many species show a so-called climatic debt, where their range shifts lag behind the fast shift in temperature isoclines. Protected areas (PAs) may impact the rate of distribution changes both positively and negatively. At the cold edges of species distributions, PAs can facilitate species distribution changes by increasing the colonization required for distribution change. At the warm edges, PAs can mitigate the loss of species, by reducing the local extinction of vulnerable species. To assess the importance of PAs to affect species distribution change, we evaluated the changes in a non-breeding waterbird community as a response to temperature increase and PA status, using changes of species occurrence in the Western-Palearctic over 25 years (97 species, 7,071 sites, 39 countries, 1993– 2017). We used a community temperature index (CTI) framework based on species thermal affinities to investigate the species turn-over induced by temperature increase. In addition, we measured whether the thermal community adjustment was led by cold-dwelling species extinction and/or warm-dwelling species colonization, by modelling the change in standard deviation of the CTI (CTIsd). Using linear mixed-effects models, we investigated whether communities within PAs had lower climatic debt and different patterns of community change regarding the local PA surface. Thanks to the combined use of the CTI and CTIsd, we found that communities inside PAs had more species, higher colonization, lower extinction and the climatic debt was 16% lower than outside PAs. The results suggest the importance of PAs to facilitate warm-dwelling species colonization and attenuate cold-dwelling species extinction. The community adjustment was however not sufficiently fast to keep pace with the strong temperature increase in central and northeastern Western-Palearctic regions. Our study underlines the potential of the combined CTI and CTIsd metrics to understand the colonization-extinction patterns driven by climate warming.

The estimation of population size, the identification of breeding habitats, wintering zones, and governing factors are key matters for the understanding of population trends, as well as for the adoption of relevant conservation approaches, particularly within threatened species. From 2015 to 2019, a large-scale survey of the vulnerable Turtle doves (Streptopelia turtur) was established in Morocco. We monitored the breeding population, wintering attempts, and factors surrounding Doves in different Moroccan habitats. Results obtained from this study showed that 2846 breeding pairs were revealed in both farmlands and woodlands. In parallel, an important population of Doves was identified as wintering birds in Morocco instead of regular wintering grounds in Sub-Saharan Africa, and this is valuable information about this long-distance migrant bird. Moreover, the logistic binomial model showed that the occurrence probability of breeding and wintering Turtle doves in Morocco is significantly governed by climate conditions (temperature and rainfall), the abundance of food resources, and vegetation cover. Therefore, the availability of such requirements is suggested to control the wintering Doves in Morocco instead of Sub-Saharan quarters. In order to clarify this point, there is an urgent need to set up an integrated program of long-term ecological monitoring in North Africa and South Europe, as well as to set in new technologies to understand this issue.

The International Waterbird Census (IWC) is one of the most widespread biodiversity monitoring programs, assessing waterbird populations in the framework of several international agreements including the African-Eurasian migratory Waterbirds Agreement and the Ramsar Convention. In 2013, the IWC was coordinated for the first time across the whole of North Africa with the aim of developing recommendations for methodological improvements to current design in North Africa, as well as to update the conservation status of certain waterbird populations and wetlands of international importance. We show that coordinating the IWC across all five North African countries significantly improves knowledge of waterbird population sizes and distribution and confirmed that current North African Ramsar wetlands perform well in conserving waterbirds. Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation could potentially be further enhanced by designating additional Ramsar sites, which this study contributes to identifying. We show that reducing sampling effort by half over the entire region would have been sufficient to cover 100% of the species richness of wintering waterbirds recorded and > 98% of the total abundance. Finally, we show that larger wetlands are insufficiently sampled. These findings call for revised sampling design in a coordinated, region-wide framework. The maintenance, optimization and reinforcement of the IWC program over time on a regional scale, with the collected data made available in a shared database, seems essential in order to make appropriate conservation decisions for waterbirds and wetlands in the future. Adding a temporal dimension to these analyses will be critical to confirm the patterns observed in the 2013 census.

Clausen, Preben/0000-0001-8986-294X WOS: 000536149100018 Migratory waterbirds require an effectively conserved cohesive network of wetland areas throughout their range and life-cycle. Under rapid climate change, protected area (PA) networks need to be able to accommodate climate-driven range shifts in wildlife if they are to continue to be effective in the future. Thus, we investigated geographical variation in the relationship between local temperature anomaly and the abundance of 61 waterbird species during the wintering season across Europe and North Africa during 1990-2015. We also compared the spatio-temporal effects on abundance of sites designated as PAs, Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), both, or neither designation (Unlisted). Waterbird abundance was positively correlated with temperature anomaly, with this pattern being strongest towards north and east Europe. Waterbird abundance was higher inside IBAs, whether they were legally protected or not. Trends in waterbird abundance were also consistently more positive inside both protected and unprotected IBAs across the whole study region, and were positive in Unlisted wetlands in southwestern Europe and North Africa. These results suggest that IBAs are important sites for wintering waterbirds, but also that populations are shifting to unprotected wetlands (some of which are IBAs). Such IBAs may therefore represent robust candidate sites to expand the network of legally protected wetlands under climate change in north-eastern Europe. These results underscore the need for monitoring to understand how the effectiveness of site networks is changing under climate change. Academy of FinlandAcademy of Finland [312579, 275606]; Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Helsinki (Finland); Research Council of NorwayResearch Council of Norway [280952/E20]; project Future Bird Scenarios through the 2017-2018 Belmont Forum; Research Council of Norway (Forskningsradet)Research Council of Norway [NINA: 295767]; Academy of Finland (AKA, Univ. Helsinki) [326338]; Swedish Research Council (Formas, Lund Univ.) [2018-02441] We thank the thousands of volunteer birdwatchers that carry out the International Waterbird Census (IWC) across Europe and Africa. We also thank Wetlands International (www.wetlands.org) for coordinating such a large-scale monitoring scheme and for compiling all these data. We acknowledge all the funding sources that allow the continuation of the IWC. This work was supported by the Academy of Finland (projects 312579 and 275606), the Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation, Helsinki (Finland), the Research Council of Norway (project 280952/E20, cofounded by Statnett and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate). In addition, this study is framed within the project Future Bird Scenarios funded through the 2017-2018 Belmont Forum and BiodivERsA joint call for research proposals, under the BiodivScen ERANet COFUND programme, with the following funding organisations: the Research Council of Norway (Forskningsradet, NINA: 295767), the Academy of Finland (AKA, Univ. Helsinki: 326338), and the Swedish Research Council (Formas, Lund Univ.: 2018-02441).

WOS: 000526787100005 Although biological conservation is based on international agreements, its effectiveness depends on how countries implement such recommendations as effective conservation tools. The Ramsar Convention is the oldest international treaty for wetland and waterbird conservation, establishing the world's largest network of protected areas. However, since it does not constitute any binding measure, its effectiveness in protecting wintering waterbird populations at an international scale has been questioned. Here, we use long-term (1991-2012) count data to assess the effectiveness of the Ramsar Convention in the Mediterranean Basin. We compared abundance and temporal trends of 114 waterbird species between 251 Ramsar wetlands and 3486 non-Ramsar wetlands. We found that the Ramsar network is critical for wintering waterbirds, concentrating nearly half of all waterbirds counted in the Mediterranean Basin in only 7% of monitored wetlands. Waterbird trends followed a northwest-southeast gradient, with a population decrease in the East. A significant and positive Ramsar effect on population trends was only found for the species of higher conservation concern in the Maghreb, particularly when a management plan was implemented. The Ramsar Convention was previously used on very important wetlands for waterbirds in Southern Europe, but is now an underused conservation tool. Our study suggests weaknesses in the use of Ramsar as an effective conservation tool in most of the Mediterranean Basin. However, the Ramsar Convention effectiveness to enhance waterbird populations in the Maghreb should encourage strengthening the Ramsar Convention. It should be done particularly in countries with limited environmental agreements and by systematic implementation of management plans. Foundation Tour du Valat; Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco; Foundation Total; French Ministry of "Ministere de la Transition ecologique et Solidaire"; MNHN 227 doctoral school This study was funded by the Foundation Tour du Valat, Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, Foundation Total, the French Ministry of "Ministere de la Transition ecologique et Solidaire" and the MNHN 227 doctoral school.

Melloulou River, which is located in Middle Atlas of Morocco, is a good example of a very wet and poorly known basin, and therefore of special conservation concern. The aim of this study was to draw up an initial inventory of the benthic macroinvertebrates taxa, and to analyze its longitudinal distribution in the basin, particularly searching for the main abiotic factors addressing its zonation for improving future management and conservation actions. The study allowed identifying 161 taxa belonging to 127 genera and 80 families, most new records for northeast Morocco. The biotypology, which was studied by using Foucart' Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA), Partial Triadic analysis (PTA), and IndVal showed a longitudinal distribution of macroinvertebrates mainly governed by altitude, slope and current velocity. The studied biota revealed the presence of three assemblages and an important number of ubiquitous species not included in any group. The first group is located in the upper courses of Melloulou River representing a community proper of a crenon-rhithron zone; the second occurs in the middle and lower courses, and clearly reflects the community of a large potamon; the third one is a mixture of taxa capable to colonize the entire study area. Our finding, highlight the singular aquatic biodiversity occurring in the Melloulou River and its extraordinary changing water dynamic over time, which are key factors for future monitoring, as well as managing and conservation actions.

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 Podicipedidae, and geographical, topographical and macrohabitat factors. Species richness of overall waterbirds and Anatidae were positively correlated with: (i) extent of emergent vegetation, (ii) number of plant species present, and (iii) altitude. Species richness of Rallidae was positively correlated with: (i) latitude, and (ii) different beds of emergent vegetation, while that of Podicipedidae was exclusively correlated with altitude. These results suggest that breeding waterfowl are significantly related to habitat characteristics, most importantly vegetation structure, and altitude. Our findings give support to the idea that large mountain wetlands protected areas provide valuable habitat to breeding waterbirds in this region, by providing larger buffer zones with fewer human activities, such as hunting, urbanization and tourism disturbance. This study provides a platform from which we can advance the scientific research on Moroccan IBA and Ramsar wetlands.

This paper provides the description of a new species of Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae), Aphelocheirus pemae sp. nov. from Morocco. The species was found in two sites located in different basins (Sebou and Moulouya rivers) that are separated by approximately 400 km. Photographs of the dorsal habitus of the female and illustrations of the male genitalic structures are provided. A graphical key to species of the genus in Western Europe and the Maghreb is also included. The new species can be easily distinguished by the unique shape of the left and right parameres and absence of apical spines on the aedeagus.

An updated checklist of the mosquito species (Diptera: Culicidae) recorded in Morocco from 1916 to 2016 is provided, including synonyms and synonymous usage for each species. Forty-three species belonging to seven genera are recorded so far: Anopheles (9), Aedes (12) Coquillettidia (2), Culex (12), Culiseta (5), Orthopodomyia (1) and Uranotaenia (2). Traditional and equivalent names in the polyphyletic concept of Aedes are provided for the aedine species. The historical importance and current potential threat of mosquitoes to human health in Morocco is reviewed.

The static corrections are a necessary step in the sequence of the seismic processing. This paper presents a study of these corrections in the Essaouira basin. The main objective of this study is to calculate the static corrections by exploiting the seismic data acquired in the field to improve the deep structures imaging. It is to determine the roof and the basis of the superficial layers which constitute the weathered zone while calculating the delays of seismic wave’s arrivals in these layers. The purpose is to cancel the effect of the topography and the weathered zone, in order to avoid any confusion when the seismic and geological interpretation. The results obtained show the average values of the static corrections varying between - 127 and 282 ms (double time), with existence of high values by location, particularly in the Eastern and North-Eastern of the basin, which meant the presence of altered zone with irregular topography and whose thickness and speeds vary laterally. In effect the variations of velocities in the fifty meters from the surface may introduce significant anomalies in seismic refraction, with heavy consequences when the interpretation or the drilling establishment. These variations are mainly due to lateral changes in facies and variations in the formations thickness. The calculation of the static corrections, revealed high values at certain areas (East and North-East), which will enable us to better orient the future campaigns in these zones. It is therefore necessary to concentrate the seismic cores drillings and the small refraction seismic profiles by tightening the seismic lines meshes in order to have the maximum values of static corrections and thereafter a better imaging of the reflectors.

[In the present paper, a new species of the genus Chaetogammarus is described from Moroccan fresh waters, as Chaetogammarus saisensis sp. nov. This species inhabits a restricted area in the north-central and Rifian region of Morocco. Some remarks on its variability and ecology are given. Information about the epigean fresh water Gammaridae of Morocco is also presented: seven species of Gammarus and two Echinogammarus are known with certainty from Morocco. A key to the Moroccan species of epigean Gammaridae is provided. Dans ce travail, une nouvelle espece du genre Chaetogammarus est decrite dans les eaux douces Marocaines, comme Chaetogammarus saisensis sp. nov. Cette espece habite le centre-nord du Maroc ainsi que la region du Rif. Quelques remarques sur sa variabilite et son ecologie sont donnees. Des informations sur les Gammarides epiges des eaux douces marocaines sont egalementa presentees: sept especes du genre Gammarus et deux Echinogammarus sont connues avec certitude au Maroc. Une cle de determination des Gammarides epiges des eaux continentales marocaines est donnee. , In the present paper, a new species of the genus Chaetogammarus is described from Moroccan fresh waters, as Chaetogammarus saisensis sp. nov. This species inhabits a restricted area in the north-central and Rifian region of Morocco. Some remarks on its variability and ecology are given. Information about the epigean fresh water Gammaridae of Morocco is also presented: seven species of Gammarus and two Echinogammarus are known with certainty from Morocco. A key to the Moroccan species of epigean Gammaridae is provided. Dans ce travail, une nouvelle espece du genre Chaetogammarus est decrite dans les eaux douces Marocaines, comme Chaetogammarus saisensis sp. nov. Cette espece habite le centre-nord du Maroc ainsi que la region du Rif. Quelques remarques sur sa variabilite et son ecologie sont donnees. Des informations sur les Gammarides epiges des eaux douces marocaines sont egalementa presentees: sept especes du genre Gammarus et deux Echinogammarus sont connues avec certitude au Maroc. Une cle de determination des Gammarides epiges des eaux continentales marocaines est donnee. ]

An analysis of the distribution of wintering waders in Morocco showed that 91% were found on the Atlantic coast, where their preferred habitats (sandy beaches, mudflats, marshlands) are best represented. Waders in Morocco can be grouped into three categories based on their distribution: (1) species which occur all along the Atlantic coast, without any favoured sites; for this group the Moroccan coast is part of a continuous range from Western Europe to West Africa; (2) species whose distribution is restricted to northern Morocco, which represents the southern limit of their wintering range in Western Europe; (3) species found primarily on the southern Moroccan coast, which then represents a northward extension of their main wintering area, the Banc d'Arguin in Mauritania. Thus the Moroccan coast is a transitional zone between Western Europe and West Africa, with the northern sector allied to Western Europe, the southern sector to West Africa. The boundary between the two is the Souss region, and the range...

Beaucoup de passereaux traversent le Maroc au cours de leur passage migratoire entre les régions de reproduction paléarctiques et leurs quartiers d'hivernage africains. Le Maroc joue un rôle majeur dans la migration et l'hivernage de ces migrateurs, en raison de sa position géographique et sa grande diversité d'habitats utilisés comme sites de la halte. La migration des passereaux y a été étudiée par une analyse des données des reprises enregistrées par le Centre d'Etude des Migrations d'Oiseaux (CEMO). L'analyse de la migration automnale confirme une tendance des migrateurs à traverser le Maroc le long de la côté Atlantique. Les reprises hivernales sont principalement concentrées dans les régions du nord et au centre du Maroc. L'analyse de la migration printanière montre des différences dans les routes empruntées en fonction des espèces et les saisons de migration.Morocco plays a major role in the migration and wintering of several Palaearctic-African passerines, because of its geographical position and great diversity of wetlands used as stopover sites. These have been studied on the basis of recovery data stored at the Centre d'Etude des Migrations d'Oiseaux (CEMO). The analysis of the autumn migration across Morocco confirms that many birds pass near the Atlantic coast. Winter recoveries in Morocco are mainly concentrated in the northern and central regions. The analysis of the spring migration shows that most birds use approximately the same routes in both autumn and spring, but some other species: Pied Flycatcher, Black Redstart and Wheatear, follow a loop migration, using a different route in each season.Ostrich 2007, 78(2): 343–347

The Anopheles maculipennis complex has been implicated in the transmission of malaria, which was endemic in Morocco until 2010. Climate change, intensification of international travel and the permanent presence of the vector increase the risk of malaria re-emergence. Using polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR), this study attempts to identify the possible presence of the Maculipennis complex in several areas of Morocco, based on the concept of risk. Eighty-six mosquito specimens were analyzed using PCR amplification of the ITS2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer 2) sequence of ribosomal DNA. The ITS2 sequences of the mosquitoes were compared to those of the 7 species of the Maculipennis complex available in GenBank. The results obtained confirm the presence of Anopheles labranchiae. In order to enable technology transfer, DNA extraction and amplification steps are presented for the first time in detail, given the fact that the technique is still unknown to several Moroccan peripheral laboratories.التوصيف الجيني لزميرة مبقعات الجناح (فصيلة البعوضيات) في المغرب: أداة أساسية لمكافحة الملاريا.بشرى اطراري، محمد داكي.تعد بعوضة (1926 Anopheles labranchiae Falleroni) إحدى أعضاء زمرة مبقعات الجناح، وظلت لفرة طويلة سبباً في انتقال عدوى الملاريا المتصورة النشيطة، التي توطنت في المغرب حتى عام 2010. وتؤدي عوامل تغر المناخ وتزايد السفر الدولي ووجود ناقل العدوى بصورة دائمة إلى زيادة مخاطر عودة الملاريا للظهور. وتهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد إمكانية وجود أعضاء آخرين لزمرة مبقعات الجناح في المغرب، باستخدام تفاعل البوليمراز التسلسي (PCR) بن البعوض المجمّع في عدة مناطق، والتي اخترت وفقاً لنوع المخاطر حسبما حددته وزارة الصحة. وتم تحليل 86 عينة من البعوض باستخدام تضخيم تفاعل البوليمراز التسلسي لسلسلة الحمض الريبي ITS2. وقورنت سلاسل مفساح ITS2 للبعوض بسلاسل 7 أنواع من زمرة مبقعات الجناح المتاحة في بنك الجينات. وتؤكد النتائج المستقاة وجود الأنوفيلة اللابرانكية باعتبارها الممثل الوحيد لهذه الزمرة في المغرب. ومن باب نقل التكنولوجيا، أتيحت للمرة الأولى إجراءات استخلاص الحمض النووي وتضخيمه، حيث إن هذه الطريقة لا تزال غر معروفة لدى عدد من المخترات المغربية.Caractérisation génétique du sous-groupe Maculipennis (Diptera : Culicidae) au Maroc : un outil fondamental pour lutter contre le paludisme.Le complexe maculipennis a été incriminé dans la transmission du paludisme, endémique au Maroc jusqu'en 2010. Le réchauffement climatique, l'intensification des voyages internationaux et la présence des vecteurs constituent un risque de réémergence de la maladie. L'étude a tenté d'identifier par PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), le complexe maculipennis dans plusieurs régions du Maroc, choisies en se basant sur la notion de risque. Quatre-vingt six (86) spécimens de moustiques ont été analysés en utilisant l'amplification par PCR de la séquence ITS2 (Internal Transcribed Spacer) de l'ADN ribosomique. Les séquences ITS2 des moustiques ont été comparées à celles des 7 espèces du groupe Maculipennis, disponibles dans GenBank. Les résultats obtenus confirment la présence d'An. labranchiae Falleroni, 1926. Aussi, dans un souci de transfert de technologie,les étapes d'extraction d'ADN et d'amplification sont exposées pour la première fois, en détail, étant donné que la PCR reste encore inconnue dans plusieurs laboratoires périphériques marocains.

The Gareb -Bou Areg Basin (Earstern Rif) : a key-area for interpretation the alpine tectonics of Rif belt. In the eastern edge of the Rif belt, the post-nappe molassic basin of Gareb -Bou Areg forms the junction between the eastern Rif and its foreland. Structural study based on field data and siesmic reflection profiles permitted to conclude that an important tectonic activity was responsable for the structuring of the Mesozoic and Middle Miocene series into southwestern verging imbricates and thrust sheets. This system is overlain by an olistostrome which consists of mixed and reworked sediments (Gareb -Kebdana chaotic unit). This complex of nappes, imbricates and olistostrome, is interpreted to be the result of the interferance of compression and gravity tectonics. The system is capped by post-nappe molass. This studied region corresponds to the lateral evolution of the rifian accretion prism, with minor displacement than its western part., Sur la bordure orientale de la chaîne rifaine, le bassin molassique post-nappe du Gareb -Bou Areg, constitue un corridor qui sépare le Rif oriental de son avant-pays. L'étude structurale de ce bassin, à partir des données de surface et de profils de sismique-réflexion, montre d'importants faits nouveaux : tout d'abord, une importante structuration de la couverture mésozoïque et miocène moyen en nappe, formée d'écaillés imbriquées à vergence SW. Au-dessus, vient un olistostrome de resédimentation gravitaire (unité chaotique du Gareb -Kebdana). Ce complexe de nappes, écailles et olistostrome, résulte successivement de la compression arrière et de l'étalement gravitaire. Il est masqué par les molasses post-nappe. Cette région représenterait l'évolution latérale du prisme d'accrétion rifain avec une flèche de déplacement, de l'ensemble allochtone, moins importante que dans le Rif occidental., Yahyaoui A.M., Dakki Mohamed, Hoepffner Christian, Demnati A. Le bassin du Gareb-Bou Areg (Rif oriental) : une région-clé pour l'interprétation de la structuration alpine de la chaîne rifaine. In: Géologie Méditerranéenne. Tome 24, numéro 1-2, 1997. pp. 73-92.

(1985). Caracteristiques abiotiques et hydrobiologiques des eaux courantes mediterraneennes. SIL Proceedings, 1922-2010: Vol. 22, No. 4, pp. 2094-2101.

Seven springs in the Middle Atlas and five in the Rif have been studied. These show a great diversity of crenal habitats: water temperature ranges from 8.7° to 21°C, and the flow from 1 l/s to 1,800 l/s. Based on hydrologic and thermic characteristics, a spring typology is provided. The invertebrate community consists of 60 species, among which 4, found in the Rif, are new to science: Protonemura sp. (Plecoptera), Obuchovia sp. (Diptera, Simuliidae), Rhyacophila fonticola n. sp., and Philopotamus ketama n. sp. (Trichoptera). The new Trichoptera are both described. Two rare endemic species (the planarian Acromyadenium maroccanum and the coleopteran Elmis atlantis) have been found in a cold-water spring in the Middle Atlas; two black-fly species ( Cnetha carthusiensis and Simulium lamachei), new to North Africa, have been collected in a cold-water spring in the Rif. The cold-water spring community shows a high rate of endemism. Seven endemic cold-stenothermous species constitute a most characteristic crenon fauna in northern Morocco. The fauna of warmer springs (18° ≤ temp. ≤ 21°C) contains potamophilous and thermophilous species, a few of them belonging to the Ethiopian fauna. A comparative study of spring and rhithric communities of Morocco shows that, in the Middle Atlas and the Rif, cold-water springs became refugia for cold-stenothermous, west-palaearctic species; in the past, these species occupied a larger territory which has been reduced after recent climatic and hydrologic changes.