Can Annual Rainfall Influence the Presence and Structure of Waterbirds in Semi-Arid Regions of Algeria?

Abstract

This work has been concerns the inventory of nesting waterbirds in semi-arid environments in Algeria (north Africa), including the parameters studied, namely water level, water quality,conducted during spring in 2023, 2024, and 2025 at three wetlands: Dayas Louguila, Selouine, and Malha. In 2025, 19 species of nesting waterbirds were observed, belonging to 7 families. The wealthiest family in the species is Ardeidae, with 05 species, followed by Scolopacidae, with 04 species; The most abundant species is Ardea Ibis with 103 individuals; 17 nesting waterbirds were observed; in the Daya , de Malha; 04 nesting waterbirds in the; Daya Louguila; and 06 nesting waterbirds in the; Daya Malha, for a total of in 2023, 12 species were observed, divided into seven families, of which the Ardeidae family is the most represented in species, with 03 species, followed by Anatidae and Ciconidae with 02 species each, while the families of Phoenicopteridae, Charadridae, and Rallidae are represented by 01 species each. No nesting species has been recorded in 2024. These results highlight the crucial role of Dayas as breeding habitats in Algerian semi-arid zones, despite annual fluctuations linked mainly to rainfall.