Browsing by Author "Mehdi Badis"

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    Climate-driven range shifts of Levaillant's Woodpecker Picus vaillantii In the Western Mediterranean
    (Springer, 2024-06-13) Mehdi Badis
    Climate change significantly impacts avian morphological and reproductive phenologies, particularly influencing the dis- tribution of endemic species with restricted ranges. This study explores the potential distributional shifts of the Levaillant's Woodpecker, endemic to North Africa, in response to climate change. We employed ecological niche modeling to assess its range dynamics during historical periods (Last Interglacial, Last Glacial Maximum, and mid-Holocene), the present, and projected future scenarios (2050 and 2070). The analysis incorporated 68 occurrence records of the species and 15 bioclimatic variables. Our findings indicate a current equilibrium between the woodpecker and its climatic environment. Historically, the species experienced a marked range contraction during the Last Interglacial, followed by a significant expansion in the Last Glacial Maximum. The mid-Holocene distribution closely resembled the present range. Future projections, however, suggest a decline in Levaillant's Woodpecker populations, with a shift towards higher altitude forests as a response to global warming impacts on their existing habitats. This study highlights the critical need for awareness about global warming and its potential threats to biodiversity, particularly forest avifauna.
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    Coexistence between primary and secondary cavity-nesting birds in Chelia-Ouled Yagoub National Park of Algeria
    (Algerian Journal of Biosciences, 2023) Mehdi Badis
    In forest ecosystems, the cavity-nesting community is strongly dependent on the availability of tree cavities in which the breeding season takes place. This work aims to investigate links between two ecological groups as primary and secondary cavity-nesting species. The investigations carried out using the count point method, during two breeding seasons from Mars to July 2018 and 2019, made it possible to distinguish eight species of cavity-nesting birds; only the Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii constitutes a primary cavity able to dig its cavities. In the Chelia-Ouled Yagoub National Park, the modeling of the occurrence data highlights a significant coexistence between the latest species and only three secondary cavity-nesting species, namely the Atlas Pied Flycatcher Ficedula speculigera, the Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops, and the Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla. This result supports the consideration of woodpeckers as keystone species for biodiversity, whose protection leads to the conservation of forest balance in general.
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    Effects of local climate on nest cavity characteristics of a North African endemic woodpecker
    (Ornis Hungarica, 2022-11-02) Mehdi Badis
    Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii is a primary cavity nester, endemic to the forests of northern Africa, including the cedar forest in Aurès Mountains. This species, similar to all woodpeckers, is important for the integrity of ecosystems, especially as it provides nesting cavities and contributes to the availability of habitats for several secondary cavity nesters that cannot excavate their hollows. This work aim to characterise the Levaillant’s Woodpecker’s nest cavities and to test the effect of local climatic conditions on the size and orientation of these cavities. Surveys were carried out in the breeding seasons of 2018 and 2019 using the point count method to search for the nests. Based on nest measurements conducted on a total of 52 available nest cavities, our results reveal that entrances are dominated by round shapes (94.2%) as compared to oval shapes. The mean height and width values of the cavity entrances were found to be 7.26 ± 1.51 centimetres and 7.11 ± 1.44 centimetres. The depth of the internal chamber and its width were estimated to be 35.42 ± 7.82 centimetres and 17.95 ± 4.01 centimetres, respectively. Unlike the average values of the volumes of the internal chamber, those relating to the entrance area and orientation vary significantly according to altitude and climatic conditions. Indeed, when climbing towards the summits, the cavities widen and turn to the west-southwest. This behaviour of the Levaillant’s Woodpecker seems to help it to benefit from maximum sunshine at high altitudes and to avoid Àb H Ï s and competitors more abundant at medium or low altitudes.
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    Nest-site characteristics of Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii endemic to North Africa
    (NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group), 2022) Mehdi Badis
    Levaillant’s Woodpecker is an endemic species of the forests of north-western Africa. Through the cavities it digs, its presence is essential for the existence of other cavity nesters. However, despite its importance to its ecosystems, there are not much data dealing with its ecology and especially its habitats. To describe these habitats, we investigated nest-sites characteristics of Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii in the Aures forest massifs of north-eastern Algeria, during two breeding seasons 2018 and 2019. Using the point count method, we detected 45 occupied nesting cavities, unevenly distributed over the formations, dominated by Atlas cedar (73.3%), Holm oak (13.3%), and Aleppo pine (4.4%). Results showed high utilisation of live trees (71.1%) with healthy crowns (75.5%). Findings also revealed that the species favoured tree trunks (77.7%) as nesting support and that the determination of the nest height was strongly dependent on the height of the nesting tree. Nest height and tree diameter at this height varied significantly among tree species. Nests were higher in Aleppo pine, however, tree diameters at nest positions were lower in this species, compared with other tree species. These results on the ecology of Levaillant’s Woodpecker can serve to fill the information gap in the ornithological knowledge of the Aures forests areas and provide important information for the conservation of the species in the context of forest management
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    Nest-site selection by Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii in the Aurès Mountains of northeastern Algeria
    (NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group), 2023) Mehdi Badis
    We investigated ecological factors that influence the presence of nests of Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii in the Aurès Mountains of northeastern Algeria. Surveys carried out during the breeding season in 2018 and 2019, using point counts combined with extensive nest searching around each point at 72 random stations, allowed us to detect 44 nests against 28 unoccupied points. Using data on trees, deadwood, snags, canopy cover at the nest site, and elevation, we developed models reflecting landscape structure and forest composition. The results indicate that P. vaillantii prefers nesting in high-altitude forests and in dense canopies with high elevation. This reflects the importance of the forest composition, which is related to altitude, and the landscape structure, represented by the canopy cover, for the breeding of this species.