Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 32 No.1

Recent and exceptional irruption of the Razorbill Alca torda (Linnaeus, 1758) on the Algerian coastline

Authors: Lamia Boutabia, Mohcen Menaa, Kamel Eddine Mederbal, Belkacem Aimene Boulaouad, Khaled Ayyach, Bachir Harzallah, Mohamed Missoum, Salah Telailia

Authors and affiliation

  • Lamia Boutabia Laboratory Agriculture and Ecosystem Functioning, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, P.O. Box 73, 36000 El Tarf, Algeria
  • Mohcen Menaa Department of Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Mohamed Cherif Massaadia University of Souk Ahras, P.O. 1553, Annaba Road, Souk Ahras, 41000, Algeria
  • Kamel Eddine Mederbal Laboratory Agriculture and Ecosystem Functioning, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, P.O. Box 73, 36000 El Tarf, Algeria
  • Belkacem Aimene Boulaouad Department of Agronomy, SNV-TU Faculty, Mohamed El Bachir El Ibrahimi University, 34030, El Anasser – Bordj Bou Arreridj, Algeria
  • Khaled Ayyach Naturalist
  • Bachir Harzallah Naturalist
  • Mohamed Missoum Naturalist
  • Salah Telailia Laboratory Agriculture and Ecosystem Functioning, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, P.O. Box 73, 36000 El Tarf, Algeria

Abstract

The Algerian coastline, known for its diverse array of fauna primarily dependent on marine ecosystems, has recently experienced notable changes in its community, perhaps due to the severe weather conditions in the North Atlantic. To explore this phenomenon, we conducted an extensive survey of the entire Algerian coast, specifically focusing on fishing ports and beaches, during November and December of 2022. Our objective was to investigate the remarkable and recent irruption of the razorbill Alca torda, which typically spends the winter in the open sea. Throughout our study, we documented a total of 32 sightings of razorbill individuals, including both live specimens observed within harbors (as depicted in Fig. 2 & 3) and deceased individuals washed up on the beaches.

Keywords

coastline, Alca torda, winter, irruptions, Algeria Boutabia, L., Menaa, M., Eddine Mederbal, K., Aimene Boulaouad, B., Ayyach, K., Harzallah, B.,

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