Environmental dynamics and conservation of the flamingo in the vicinity of Greater Tunis,Tunisia: the case study of Sebkha Essijoumi

The flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber roseus frequents Mediterranean wetlands. In recent decades, the population of this species has increased significantly in the Mediterranean region, despite the reclamation of many wetlands. The increase is thought to reflect the opportunistic behaviour of flamingos. They visit some sites more frequently than others in response to human activities such as organic pollution, conservation measures and better management of breeding areas on the northern side of the Mediterranean. Tunisian wetlands are major wintering and nursery habitats for the flamingo that in very wet years can also become important breeding areas. These areas can support up to half the population of the western Mediterranean, which is estimated at around 80 000 to 90 000 birds. To demonstrate the changes in the wintering population in Tunisia, the key site of Essijoumi, which has up to 25 000 wintering flamingos, was selected as a case study area. It has been shown that Essijoumi, an urban wetland in Tunis, has changed from a hypersaline to a brackish waterlogged site for most of the year. The change can be traced to the recent urban extension of Tunis which led to a water balance surplus due to increased runoff and decreased agricultural land in the catchment area. Organic pollution is playing a major role in the nutrification of water resources leading to better feeding habitats. This, in turn, has influenced the distribution of flamingos and the carrying capacity of the wetland. Increased water depth to about 3 m has made the northern part of Essijoumi inaccessible. However, the southern and eastern parts of this wetland have become more attractive to flamingos and to a diversity of waterfowl. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.