The role of temporary ponds as foraging sites for glossy ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus ) during the non-breeding season in Numidia, Northeast Algeria

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are a major link in food webs in temporary ponds and useful indicators of wetlands’ecological integrity. We investigated the available trophic resources and the physicochemical quality of 14 wetlands frequented by glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), a resident species with an increasing population in Numidia, northeast Algeria. Sampling of temporary ponds was carried out in winter and early spring, prior to the Glossy Ibis’ breeding period. Analyses indicated that the studied waterbodies contained a rich and diversified aquatic community, dominated mainly by insects and molluscs and characterized by a spatio-temporal change in composition and abundance, reflecting a spatial heterogeneity and a temporal niche partitioning of various members of the aquatic community. Furthermore, the density of Glossy Ibis in foraging areas changed seasonally and declined significantly with the distance to the nearest roost. In the context of climate change and human encroachment, the close dependence of Glossy Ibis and other waders on a matrix of secure roosts and temporary ponds during the nonbreeding season puts them in jeopardy unless these imperilled but generally unprotected habitats are actively managed.