Barrage Mornaguia (6924)
Tunisia, Africa
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2016
National site name: Barrage Mornaguia
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.7788, Longitude: 10.0322
Elevation (m): 134 to 134
Area of KBA (km2): 1.48093
Protected area coverage (%): 86.11
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Mornaguia reservoir is a recently built reservoir, located 12 km west of Tunis and surrounded by agricultural land. Water is pumped into it from dams in the national water grid, so that water-levels fluctuate considerably and there is little natural vegetation except where a stream flows in; here stands of Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, Inula viscosa and Juncus species occur. As one of the few freshwater lakes in the area it attracts a variety of migrants, especially in late summer when other sites are dry.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs. KBA identified in the CEPF Ecosystem Profile of the Mediterranean Hotspot (2017). Taxonomy, nomenclature and global threat category follow the 2016 IUCN Red List.
Additional biodiversity: See Box for key species. Oxyura leucocephala is present throughout the year and may breed, although numbers are often highest in late summer and autumn, suggesting through-passage. Marmaronetta angustirostris is regularly present in summer and probably breeds, as do Tachybaptus ruficollis, Podiceps cristatus and Fulica atra. In late summer there are considerable concentrations of waders, Glareola pratincola, Chlidonias niger and Sterna nilotica; S. nilotica and G. pratincola may breed in favourable years. Up to several hundred Aythya nyroca occur in late summer, presumably migrants stopping to moult, and a few (up to 20) stay through the winter. Other wintering waterbirds include Aythya ferina, Anas platyrhynchos, A. strepera, A. acuta, A. crecca and Fulica atra. Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Habitats
Land use: hunting | rangeland/pastureland | water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Hunting of waterbirds on the reservoir, although illegal, occurs and is the main threat.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Only in the future |
Additional information
References: Gaultier (1987b, 1988a), Hughes et al. (1997), Karem et al. (1997).