A review of the avifauna visiting the wetland environments of the Martil plain (Tetouan region, northern Morocco): Preliminary results

. The wetland environments of the plain of Martil are located in an urban area in the Tetouan region (Northern Morocco); they provide wildlife a place to live and are important for migratory birds as they travel from nesting to wintering sites. The objective of this study is to monitor the avifauna population that frequents these ecosystems. The study duration is from January 2021 to June 2022. The survey methods are the point count and visual identification, using appropriate visual equipment and according to an ornithological guide. The avifauna recorded encompasses a total of 93 bird species and 33 families. A variety of wintering, migratory, and breeding species were identified. The population includes several species of special conservation concern, such as endemic species, heritage species, species in decline, vulnerable species, endangered species and species at risk of extinction, in Morocco, in the Maghreb or in Europe. These ornithological findings underscore the significance of preserving and restoring these urban wetland environments. However, these ecosystems face a range of pressures, including urban development, climate change and anthropogenic activities.

The Tangier-Tetouan region (Northern Morocco) has been the subject of various previous studies, which have unveiled its high urbanization, high tourism activities, high socioeconomic and demographic development and its significant biodiversity and ecosystems. Several wetland plants in Oued El Maleh are both rare and endemic to Morocco (4). The wetlands of La Lagune et Barrage de Smir are an important wintering site for a population of 59 wintering and/or migratory waterbirds species, several species with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe and 26 breeding species (11,14,19,24,) . The wetland environments in Le Bas Tahhadarte are the nesting site of many species (4,13,23) , including Otis tarda, which is rare and vulnerable according to IUCN (10,22,23,25). The wetlands of Le Bas Loukkos are the habitat and the nesting site of several vulnerable, endangered or nearthreatened species (10,16,21). Moreover, these wetland environments are the only environment in Morocco with three types of extremely rare plant formations: Nymphaea formation, Salix formation, and Iris pseudacorus formation (4,7). Urbanization in cities changes the environment and affects habitats and biodiversity. It causes loss of the surface and quality of the habitats of wetlands (1,5,6,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38). Birds in wetland environments are important indicators of wetland environment quality and urbanization affects their population and biodiversity (8,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Avifauna and especially migratory birds depend on water and habitats in wetland environments because they spend their entire or an important part of their life cycles in wetlands. Coastal Mediterranean wetlands of Oued Martil and Oued EL Maleh, by their location, are frequented by migratory birds after crossing the Mediterranean Sea and before leaving Africa. They are geographically close to many Ramsar sites (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17) and important ecosystems. Despite their importance, these wetlands have not yet been the subject of a long-term study or a conservation program. In addition, they undergo anthropogenic, urban and climate change pressures; they are located in urban areas, in Tetouan and Martil. These cities have a high rate of urbanization, a high population growth and very important socio-economic activity.
Given the limited extent of research conducted on the wetland environments of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh, in the Plain of Martil, our objective is to contribute to study their avifauna and biodiversity through a doctoral research project. The question of this research is What is the ecological and ornithological value of these urban wetlands? Which ornithological biodiversity do they contain?
We assume that since these wetlands are close to many Ramsar sites, are located in North Morocco and in the Mediterranean coast, they contain remarkable avifauna and biodiversity. High urbanization affects their quality and they must be protected, restored and preserved.
To answer research questions, an ornithological monitoring was carried out within these ecosystems from January 2021 to June 2022. The present paper offers an overview of the preliminary results.

Monitoring method
To assess the specific biodiversity within the wetlands of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh, a systematic monitoring of the avian population was conducted, once a week, between January 2021 and June 2022. Observations were carried out during daylight hours from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, depending on weather conditions and accessibility. A point count method was employed, with observation periods ranging from 30 to 60 minutes. Binoculars were used for field observations, and species identification was facilitated using the Delachaux and Nestlé (2021) ornithological guide. A camera equipped with an appropriate lens was used to capture photographs for later species identification and documentation purposes. Table 1 The ornithological monitoring sites in the Oued El Maleh and Oued Martil wetlands, some sites are located in urban area in Tetouan and Martil (Morocco). Eleven sites are chosen in urban area.  Figure.3 Waders (A, B, C, D and E) and gulls (F Mediterranean gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus (left) and Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus ) in the studied wetland environments. Waders are associated with seashore and inland water habitats. Most waders found in wetland environments are long-distance migrants. Some gulls are seabirds and have high associations with salinity levels, being the main environmental predictor for waterbird assemblage Waterbirds Among the recorded bird groups, the waterbirds were prominent, with a notable presence of 21 waders (Figure 3). These species encompass oystercatchers, stilts, Stone-curlews, pratincoles, plovers, snipes, godwits, curlews, sandpipers, turnstones and redshanks. Waterbirds accounted for approximately sixty percent (60%) of the observed bird population, while waders constituted around a quarter (22.60%) of the total population. The Anatidae family was represented by both dabbling ducks (Marbled Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, and Shoveler) and diving ducks (comprising the Greater Scaup, Ferruginous Duck, and Ruddy Duck.)

Conclusion and discussion
This study highlights the ecological and ornithological importance of two Mediterranean coastal wetlands in the plain of Martil (Tangier-Tetouan Region, Northern Morocco). These ecosystems are geographically close to 4 Moroccan Ramsar sites of international importance for birds and biodiversity (14)(15)(16)(17)(18)32,33). The Plain of Martil has been undergoing high urbanization, tourism, demographic and socio-economic growth. These anthro35pogenic activities have modified the general landscape as well as the structure and dynamics of the wetlands (1,4,6,9,12,30,31,34,35) Wetland environments of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh are located in urban areas of Tetouan and Martil. They are close to habitations and roads. Our research focuses on their ecological importance for migratory and resident birds, despite their location and urban pressures. Our results show the bird population of the wetlands of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh contains 93 species belonging to 33 families. The most abundant species are waterbirds, waders and seashores. This result is related to conditions in these environments in which water is the predominant factor, and water in these environments comes from rivers and the sea. 72% of the population are passage migrants,62 species, 24 Scolopacidae and 10 Laridae. Winter visitors include 14 Scolopacidae and 11 Laridae and 14 winter visitor species are Occasional Winters. This result highlights the crucial role of coastal Mediterranean wetlands in Morocco for migrants, because they are resting and feeding sites for several birds. This study underlines that it is necessary to improve the quality of these wetland habitats in order to preserve this interesting biodiversity. In the other hand, this research shows that 3 species in the population are former breeders and used to be breeders in Morocco, Flamingo, Griffon vulture and Black kite. Habitat degradation and anthropogenic activities have affected their life cycle. Many reproduction attempts are recorded in Southern Morocco for Flamingo and in Northern Morocco for Griffon vulture (Coastline of Jbel Moussa) (16) . These observations highlight the possible role of wetlands in the Plain of Martil in breeding of former breeders. We also noticed that 40% of the population is resident breeders (36 species) in Morocco. It is necessary to develop this result by more observation in order to confirm effective nesting species and nesting sites in these wetlands.
In concern of conservation status of the population, 2 species have a declining population in the Mediterranean region, 7 species are vulnerable according to IUCN criteria and 6 species are endangered in Morocco (36). Western swamphen is resident and breeder in the wetland of Oued El Maleh in a few numbers and is declining in Morocco and Globally. By this observation, it is important to improve the quality of the studied wetlands and the quality of management policy in order to preserve this important biodiversity (1,4,8,19,31,35,) .
An important endemism is notified in this research, in wetland environments of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh, 5 endemic subspecies in Morocco, 7 endemic subspecies in the Maghreb, one potential endemic taxon is represented by one specie and two endemic species are also resident breeders in Morocco. In order to protect this local and regional endemism, it is necessary to initiate conservation and management plans in the Plain of Martil.
Several parameters influence the diversity of the avifauna frequenting studied wetlands, the quantity (11,14,16,17,24,27)proximity of the Mediterranean coastline. Moreover, their location makes them stopover sites for migrants and winterers. The proximity to Ramsar sites of international importance for birds and biodiversity in the region ( Coastline of Jbel Moussa (16), Complexe du Bas Loukkos (17) , Lagune de Smir (15) Complexe du Bas Tahaddarte (14) , and the mobility of the birds may mean that the avifauna recorded is almost the same in these sites. Several species have an important ecological and patrimonial value (27) With regard to the conservation status and phenological status, the population includes species of national importance for Morocco, species in decline in the Mediterranean, vulnerable species according to the IUCN and species in danger of extinction (13). These ornithological data highlight the importance of the urbanised areas of Oued Martil and Oued El Maleh for the conservation and reproduction of heritage, vulnerable and endangered species. Urbanization and coastal development, as well as the growth of tourism activities, threaten these ecosystems, which are located in a region of national and international importance for biodiversity conservation (1,2,4,6,8,30,31,). More observations are necessary to confirm breeder and migrant species. It is important to examine the effects of high urbanization in Northern Morocco in wetland environments and biodiversity. Moroccan wetlands are the richest ecosystems and the most endangered because of climate change, high urbanization, earthworks, drainage, water extraction and agricultural practices. In order to have healthy wetlands with all roles, research, conservation and management policy are important.