The Sefrou watershed, located in the northern part of the Tabular Middle Atlas, is the primary watershed in the Sebou region. Due to increasing socio-economic development, the need for a stable water supply is critica...The Sefrou watershed, located in the northern part of the Tabular Middle Atlas, is the primary watershed in the Sebou region. Due to increasing socio-economic development, the need for a stable water supply is critical. Therefore, this watershed’s physiography and morphology are studied to aim and facilitate further research in the Sebou region. We rely on the hydrological regime, frequency analysis of extreme flows, rainfall volume, and flood periods forecast to enable that characterization. Our findings determined that the Sebou region is of pluvial type with abundant rainfall, especially in winters due to floods. Moreover, substratum parameters induce a large volume of water resources from upstream to downstream. However, the weak structure of the hydrographic network and the water balance ha<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> highlighted a considerable loss of these resources, which handicaps the irrigation system and the supply of drinking water to the region’s cities. Finally, the annual modulus and the different coefficients show hydroclimatic fluctuations of semi-arid climatic conditions, with a temperate winter. Our results suggest a need to monitor water runoff and protect surface soils from flooding and rapid erosion (by planting trees). We also propose installing barriers and a small dam to recharge groundwater and artificially store surface water in this watershed.</span></span></span>展开更多
The woodpigeon(Columba palumbus)is a common and widespread bird in Morocco(North Africa).I examined,over 2 years(2010 and 2011),the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest si...The woodpigeon(Columba palumbus)is a common and widespread bird in Morocco(North Africa).I examined,over 2 years(2010 and 2011),the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance.The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest,Morocco,in a disturbed and an undisturbed site.Using data collected in the 2 study sites,I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees(Quercus rotundifolia)and their densities.I found that habitat structures,influenced by grazing disturbance,have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species.Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position(3.42±0.19 m)when disturbance intensity is high and lower(1.68±0.1 m)when disturbance intensity is low,and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone(3.1±0.4 nests/ha)than in highly disturbed zones(1.4±0.2 nests/ha).Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat.Further multi-scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement,and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.展开更多
文摘The Sefrou watershed, located in the northern part of the Tabular Middle Atlas, is the primary watershed in the Sebou region. Due to increasing socio-economic development, the need for a stable water supply is critical. Therefore, this watershed’s physiography and morphology are studied to aim and facilitate further research in the Sebou region. We rely on the hydrological regime, frequency analysis of extreme flows, rainfall volume, and flood periods forecast to enable that characterization. Our findings determined that the Sebou region is of pluvial type with abundant rainfall, especially in winters due to floods. Moreover, substratum parameters induce a large volume of water resources from upstream to downstream. However, the weak structure of the hydrographic network and the water balance ha<span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span></span></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> highlighted a considerable loss of these resources, which handicaps the irrigation system and the supply of drinking water to the region’s cities. Finally, the annual modulus and the different coefficients show hydroclimatic fluctuations of semi-arid climatic conditions, with a temperate winter. Our results suggest a need to monitor water runoff and protect surface soils from flooding and rapid erosion (by planting trees). We also propose installing barriers and a small dam to recharge groundwater and artificially store surface water in this watershed.</span></span></span>
文摘The woodpigeon(Columba palumbus)is a common and widespread bird in Morocco(North Africa).I examined,over 2 years(2010 and 2011),the breeding density and nest placement of this game species in relation to nest site habitat and degree of human disturbance.The study area was in the Middle Atlas Tighboula mountain forest,Morocco,in a disturbed and an undisturbed site.Using data collected in the 2 study sites,I aimed to identify the factors influencing the placement of nests within holm oak trees(Quercus rotundifolia)and their densities.I found that habitat structures,influenced by grazing disturbance,have affected nesting density and the location of nests of this species.Woodpigeons place their nests in a higher position(3.42±0.19 m)when disturbance intensity is high and lower(1.68±0.1 m)when disturbance intensity is low,and show higher nesting density in less disturbed zone(3.1±0.4 nests/ha)than in highly disturbed zones(1.4±0.2 nests/ha).Grazing disturbance could pose a threat to population persistence at a broader scale and could potentially reduce the abundance of this species by altering the composition and the structure of the forest nesting habitat.Further multi-scale studies are needed to assess the effects of different levels of grazing disturbance on woodpigeon nest density and placement,and to enhance our knowledge of the breeding behavior of this game species under variable environments.
