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Habitat selection of Coot ( Fulica atra ) and Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus ) in a remnant Mediterranean wetland (Italy): Implications for conservation
Author(s) -
Talbi Awatif,
Samraoui Farrah,
Samraoui Boudjéma,
Zullo Francesco,
Battisti Corrado
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
lakes and reservoirs: research and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.296
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1440-1770
pISSN - 1320-5331
DOI - 10.1111/lre.12347
Subject(s) - ecology , habitat , geography , generalist and specialist species , range (aeronautics) , ecotone , wetland , vegetation (pathology) , biology , phragmites , medicine , materials science , pathology , composite material
Abstract The habitat selection of two abundant and widespread Palearctic rallids (Coot Fulica atra ; Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ) across a range of wetland types was investigated. The distribution of these two species varied according to water depth, as implied by the dominant vegetation present in the study area. Coots most frequently used wet dune slacks dominated by Phragmites australis , whereas Moorhens were mostly present in anthropized ecotones. It is hypothesized that because these two rallid species respond differently to various environmental pressures, they could be used as useful indicators for biomonitoring remnant wetlands. Indeed, they are relatively generalist, common, widespread and medium‐sized species, relatively easy to detect and exhibit a high sensitivity to specific water‐related habitat types, also at a small‐scaled spatial resolution.