Volume 71 (2022): Edition 2 (May 2022)

The breeding behavior of Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) was studied from January 2019 to March 2021 in Tiffech lake, an artificial wetland, in Souk Ahras Province, Northeastern Algeria. On this ecosystem, egg-laying occurred from earlier January to mid-March. In this study, there was a positive correlation between the egg-laying period and the number of active nests. The mean incubation period was 36.0 days. Clutches started later in the season and had a shorter incubation duration than early clutches. Hatching success amounted to 79.2% (n= 52 nests) and hatching success from eggs 37.6. In this study we measured water depth to control differences in habitats availability for the species, we speculate that differences in food abundance, water depth, and behavioral strategies during the breeding season collectively influence the selection of breeding habitat.

The effects of environmental factors (water conditions) on water bird’s distribution and abundance was determined using distance sampling point count method, direct visual observation and principal component analysis (PCA) at Tiffech lake Wetland, North East of Algeria. A total of 26 bird species were recorded in the present study; of these, 12 were passage visitor, 7 winter visitors, 5 winter migrant and 2 species are resident breeder. The R i386 (version 4.0.3) software were used for data analyzing. Principal component analysis indicated strong correlation ship between water bird abundance and environmental factors (water conditions) (86.35%) in Tiffech lake wetland. The most important environmental factors associated with abundance of water bird’s species composition in Tiffech lake communities were water pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, nitrites and chloride. While among the environmental factors water Temperature and phosphore showed a negative correlation. This study gives important insights on ecological relationships between water bird’s biodiversity and environmental factors in a primary wetland ecosystem in North East of Algeria.

A synopsis of the fauna of the family Heleomyzidae (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is presented. A total of 66 species are treated based on previously published records and material examined (largely from the Muránska planina National Park and the Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area). Each species is listed with comments about its general distribution, biology and faunistic and/or nature-conservancy importance. The regional fauna of Heleomyzidae is distinguished for high species diversity and for the occurrence of a number of rare or stenotopic species. Four species are new additions to the fauna of the whole of Slovakia, viz. Neoleria ruficeps (Zetterstedt, 1838), Oldenbergiella brumalis Czerny, 1924, O. seticerca Papp, 1980 and Orbellia myiopiformis Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830; in addition, 13 species belong to rare and little-known taxa with only a few previous records from the country. The fauna of the Gemer area is enriched by 22 species; 32 species are recorded from the Muránska planina NP and 31 from the Cerová vrchovina PLA for the first time. The peculiarities of the fauna of Heleomyzidae in the Gemer territory are discussed including a review of species associated with cave habitats and species most important from the ecological, biogeographical and nature-conservancy points of view.

In this study was quantified bacular size, variation, and allometry in mound-building mice (Mus spicilegus) from the western Carpathians (Slovakia). The study presents the first knowledge of morphological variation in three baculum traits based on the analysis of 11 adult and 60 subadult males. According to descriptive statistics, bacula are variable in size. Despite the small number of adult individuals, the Mann-Whitney test indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) in proportions between age groups. However, to confirm these results, larger numbers of adults and subadults will need to be tested in the future.

In this paper are presented two cases of abnormal colouration individuals of Mus spicilegus from northern border of the species’ range. The individuals were caught during long-term research (from 2002 to 2021) of species in autumn-winter seasons in field biotopes on south-eastern Slovakia. The first individual captured on December 2, 2004, was subadult male. The second individual captured on November 11, 2020, was subadult female. Determination by morphological traits and subsequent dissection confirmed that both trapped mice were subadults. According to the findings, the observed individuals meet the criterion of flavism. The dorsal fur was yellow (or beige); the auricle, feet, and tail were light; and coloration on the belly was white. This finding is important not only in terms of colour anomalies, but also in terms of genetics.