Geographical, Environmental and Anthropogenic Factors Affecting the Occurrence of Wintering Eurasian Spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) in Morocco

¹ RNDD Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Kenitra and Kénitra Higher School of Technology, Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 242, 14000, Kénitra, Morocco
² Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Av Driss El Harti B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane, Casablanca, Morocco
³ Department of Life and Earth Sciences, Regional Center for Education and Training (CRMEF) Casablanca-Settat, Casablanca, Morocco
⁴ RNDD Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences Kenitra and Kénitra National Higher School of Chemistry, Ibn Tofail University, B.P. 241, 14000, Kénitra, Morocco
⁵ Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache FPL, Abdelmalek Essâadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
⁶ Laboratory of Geo-biodiversity and Natural Heritage, Scientific Institute, Mohammed V University, Av. Ibn Battota, Rabat 10 BP 703, Morocco

^* Corresponding author’s e-mail: imad.cherkaoui@uit.ac.ma

Abstract

Investigating habitat selection and ecological factors trade-offs is a major avian ecology topic which is closely implicated for conservation purposes. Studies dealing with the impacts of ecological factors on wintering Spoonbills are overall scarce. Here, we used Principal Component Analyses (PCA) and Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMM) to test the relevance of geographical, environmental and anthropogenic factors in predicting the occupancy and abundance of the Eurasian spoonbills (Platalea leucorodia) during 2008-2011 within 28 Moroccan wetlands. The Eurasian Spoonbill mean annual occurrence was 59.2% (± 1.5% SE; 95%CI: 56.3%-62.1%). Among the occupied wetlands, 15 (83.3%) were regularly occupied. We found that the Eurasian spoonbill occurrence was negatively related to distance to coastline, altitude and human presence, whereas its abundance increased significantly with increasing mudflat areas. These findings highlight the significant effect of human presence in selecting wintering sites, but not in the prediction of abundance. Management strategies should therefore address specific attributes of coastal wetlands and should carefully consider the effects of habitat use especially those related to mudflats. We further suggest guidelines for future studies to understand the dynamic of Eurasian spoonbills wintering in the region.