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The Maghreb magpie (Pica mauritanica) is an endemic bird to North Africa, encompassing Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. Unfortunately, its population is facing a significant decline primarily attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from urbanization and agricultural practices. Due to the lack of large-scale studies on habitat requirements of Pica mauritanica, investigating the habitat preferences of this species and understanding the potential threats remain crucial for effective conservation strategies. We performed species distribution model (SDM), incorporating both occurrence records and predictor variables, to investigate the potentially suitable habitat and the factors influencing the distribution of the Maghreb magpie (Pica mauritanica) in North Africa. Among the environmental predictors examined, the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), elevation, and human settlement have been identified as key factors influencing habitat suitability. Specifically, EVI and human settlements positively contribute to suitability, while precipitation and temperature exert negative effects. The SDM results were consistent with our field observations, indicating that Pica mauritanica tends to avoid urban settlements or densely forested regions, thus preferring village farm areas, especially during the breeding period. The model forecasts high habitat suitability for Pica mauritanica along the eastern coastal regions of Tunisia, the western coastal areas and the High Atlas Mountain range of Morocco, as well as the Hautes Plaines region in Algeria, with a fragmented patch pattern. To ensure the sustainable survival of Pica mauritanica, we endorse the preservation of traditional farming practices, where farmland birds are mainly impacted by agricultural intensification and land use changes. Further extensive studies are needed to determine population size and explore habitat requirements at a micro-scale to guide conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The great extension of forests in the Djebel El Ghorra massif of El Kala National Park (north‐eastern Algeria) allowed us to recognise three distinct forest formations: cork oak stands (Quercus suber), zeen oak stands (Quercus canariensis) and mixed oak (Quercus suber and Quercus canariensis) forest. Their peculiarities showed ideal ecological characteristics for the colonisation of corticolous lichens the two phorophytes. The three forest formations were sampled between 2017 and 2022. The identification of the taxa is based on stereo‐microscopic examinations and usual chemical tests. Systematic surveys were conductedand allowed us to establish a list of 141 lichen taxa divided into 30 families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boumezrane's forest is a significant center for biodiversity. Since last year the forest is facing destruction and degradation. Although the forest is recognized as an important area for avian diversity, it has never received ornithological attention. Many studies have been conducted on the relationship of birds with habitat features, however their associations are not completely understood. Hence we need information on the relationship between occurrence of birds and structural components of zeen oak habitats. We examined relative bird abundance by using the point count method and its relationship to environmental descriptors. A total of 68 visits of 39 bird species were recorded in the zeen oak stands. Avian species richness at each point count ranged between four and 14 species. The most dominant families in number of pairs are Paridae (121 pairs), Turdidae (115.5 pairs), Sylviidae (57.5 pairs), Picidae (55.5 pairs), and Fringillidae (43.5 pairs). They cater for more than 70% of the total abundance of the entire community. Using principal component analysis and canonical correspondence analysis methods, we determined that the size of trees with the height of shrub layer is an important criterion for differentiation of the avifauna of Boumezrane. The second criterion is the volume of tree stratum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]