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AbstractThe present study into reproduction ecology of the Coot was conducted over a period of 2 years (2010–2011) in the nature reserve of Lake Réghaïa situated 30 km east of Algiers. The nature reserve of Lake Réghaïa was designated as a Ramsar site of international importance in 2003. The first nests of the Coot were found towards the second and the last decades of April in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Meanwhile, the last nests were observed in the first decade of June in both years of the current study. The total number of built nests was 37 in 2010, and 45 in 2011. Coot nests are mainly made of Typha, which is proved by the fact that 97.3% of the nests recorded in 2010 and 77.8% of those in 2011 were built of this plant. The observations performed during the reproduction period show that the majority of nests were placed amid tufts of Typha. Coot nests are characterized by an average internal diameter of 19.3 cm, an average external diameter of 30.5 cm and an average depth of 7.9 cm. Nests are placed amid stands of aquatic vegetation at an average height of 17.1 cm above water level and at an average distance of 4.1 m from the shore. The average water depth in zones of Coot nesting is 63.1 cm. The egg laying period lasted from 10 April to 10 June with the maximum of 17 nests built during the second decade of April in 2010 and the maximum of 22 nests built during the third decade of April (from 21 April to 10 June) in 2011. Coot clutches recorded in Réghaïa varied between 1 and 10 eggs in 2010 and between 1 and 11 eggs in 2011. Out of the 171 eggs recorded in 2010, 166 hatched and 5 were destroyed by predators. During the second year of the study, we recorded 208 eggs, 165 of which were carried away by abundant rains, 11 were destroyed by predators and 6 eggs were abandoned because the nest was particularly damaged by rain.

The diet of the Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropuswas studied at Lake Réghaïa (Algeria). A total of 600 faecal samples were collected from February 2010 to January 2012. The results showed that green plant materials (especially Poaceae) were the dominant faecal components (86.7 ± 23.8%), followed by invertebrates (13.2 ± 23.8%) and grit (0.03 ± 0.05%). Seventeen plant species belonging to eight different families were identified in 2010/2012. The major item identified in faecal contents was Poaceae. Paspalum distichumwas the most important diet category. Others grasses mostly eaten were Poa annua, Avenasp., Phragmitessp. and Panicum repens. Other plant species recorded in faeces were Carex hispida, Polygonum lapathifolium, Thypha angustifolia, Plantago major, Mentha pulegium, Plantago crassifolia, Panicum repensand Carex hispida. The Common Moorhen diet contained invertebrates, and ephippium of Daphniasp. were the most dominant. Insects were recorded, but with a negligible proportion.

The study of the Coot’s (Fulica atra) diet was carried out from February 2010 to January 2012 in the nature reserve of Lake Réghaïa in the eastern part of Algeria. For that purpose, a total of 600 faecal samples, or 300 faecal samples per year, were analysed. The analysis showed that the bird’s food spectrum primarily consists of plant species, animal prey being very rare. Overall, 34 plant species belonging to 17 families and 18 animal species were identified. Thirty plant species belonging to 15 families were identified during the first study period (February 2010–January 2011) and 32 plant species belonging to 17 families were identified during the second study period (February 2011–January 2012). The relative abundance of Poaceae family plants in the Coot’s diet was estimated at 65.1% and that of Cyperaceae and Typhaceae at 7.3 and 4%, respectively. The share of other plant families in the bird’s diet was found to be negligible. The proportion of animal prey in the diet represents 3.1%. Among plants of the Poaceae family, the most favoured are the following three species Paspalum distichum, Phragmitessp.and Panicum repenswith rates of 33.2, 18.6 and 15.7%, respectively. The intake of other taxa was lower. Dietary variations during the year coincided with changes in local availability of food and species phenology.Paprastojo laukio Fulica atramityba buvo tiriama Reghaja ežero draustinyje (Alžyro rytinė dalis) 2010 m. vasario – 2012 m. sausio mėnesiais. Išanalizuota 600 laukio ekskrementų. Laukio mitybos pagrindą sudarė augalinis maistas, gyvūninės kilmės maisto dalis racione buvo nežymi (3,1%). Ekskrementuose identifikuotos 34 augalų (17 šeimų) ir 18 gyvūnų rūšių. Pirmais tyrimų metais mityboje nustatyta 30 augalų rūšių (15 šeimų), antrais – 32 rūšys (17 šeimų). Miglinių (Poaceae) šeimos augalų santykinis gausumas paprastojo laukio mityboje buvo 65,1%, viksvuolinių (Cyperaceae) ir švendrinių (Typhaceae) – atitinkamai 7,3 ir 4%. Kitų šeimų augalų dalis šio paukščio mityboje buvo nežymi. Iš Poaceae šeimos augalų laukio mityboje dažniausiai aptikti Paspalum distichum, Phragmitessp.ir Panicum repens, kurių suvartojimas atitinkamai buvo 33,2, 18,6 ir 15,7%. Sezoniniai mitybos pokyčiai priklausė nuo mitybos objektų prieinamumo tirtoje vietovėje ir laukio fenologijos.