First Breeding of Common Coot (Fulica atra) at Mékhada Marsh (El-Tarf, Northeast Algeria)

Abstract

The reproductive biology of the common Coots (Fulica atra). Variation in dimension of nests (external diameter, internal diameter and height), water depth and vegetation height on nest size, clutch sizes, egg sizes and hatching success were investigated. The study was carried in 2015 on a shallow freshwater marsh, Mékhada, part of the Numidian wetland complex situated in Northeast Algeria. The total number of built nests was (n=111). Coot nests are mainly made of The Common club-rush (Scirpus lacustris, 45%). Coot nests are characterized by an average internal diameter of 14.58 ± 2.48 cm, an average external diameter of 31.61 ± 2.29 cm and an average height of 21.32 ± 2.45 cm. The average water depth in zones of Coot nesting is 86.55± 8.35 cm. There was no correlation between water depth and nest height; however, there was a strong correlation between water depth and nest diameter. The first coot egg was laid on 12 March, the last one on the 29 June 2015.  A total 180 eggs from 111 clutches were measured during nesting sea- sons. Mean clutch size was 4,26 ±3,12. However, the average values of the egg dimensions are as follows: Egg length 50.80 ± 0.83 mm, egg breadth 32.40 ± 0.53 mm and egg volume 41.58 ± 1.03 mm3. The correlation between length and breadth was highly significant. Hatching success for complete clutches was high (80%), coots (Fulica atra) bred at Mékhada Marsh at a high nest density and reproductive performances were influenced by adverse weather and more markedly by both predation and anthropogenic activities.