El Kala National Park Research Articles

THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS BETWEEN TOURIST EXPLOITATION AND DEGRADATION, CASE OF EL KALA NATIONAL PARK (ALGERIA)

Algeria is the largest country in Africa by area and is among the countries in the world that possess a rich natural and cultural heritage due to its size, diversity of regions, environments, cultures, and the civilizations that passed through it, including Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Ottomans, and others. Our study area, the El Kala National Park, is one of the most important regions in Algeria with significant natural and cultural resources. It boasts an important coastal strip with numerous beautiful beaches and tourism expansion zones that could attract investors. Additionally, it contains various ecosystems, including lakes, dunes, forests, diverse flora and fauna and historical sites from different eras, most notably the El Kala Church. However, this heritage faces degradation due to irresponsible practices, such as the destruction of vegetation in summer 2022, despite existing protective laws. These challenges prompted our study, which partly examines Algeria's policies on tourism, environmental conservation, and heritage preservation. The research methodology employs a combined approach, starting with a historical analysis of the park's status since its UNESCO world heritage classification. We then address the natural ecosystems in the area, illustrated with images, and present a comprehensive study of tourism potentials. Finally, we conduct an in-depth analysis using the SWOT method to obtain a holistic view of the region's natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Based on our findings, we offer conclusions and recommendations to promote tourism and drive regional development while preserving the ecosystems and natural and cultural heritage of El Kala National Park from degradation and damage.

Changes in the abundance and community composition of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in Lake Oubeira (El-Kala National Park, Algeria)

Changes in the abundance and community composition of bloom-forming cyanobacteria in Lake Oubeira (El-Kala National Park, Algeria)

Corticolous lichen communities in Algerian climax forests

AbstractThe great extension of forests in the Djebel El Ghorra massif of El Kala National Park (north‐eastern Algeria) allowed us to recognise three distinct forest formations: cork oak stands (Quercus suber), zeen oak stands (Quercus canariensis) and mixed oak (Quercus suber and Quercus canariensis) forest. Their peculiarities showed ideal ecological characteristics for the colonisation of corticolous lichens the two phorophytes. The three forest formations were sampled between 2017 and 2022. The identification of the taxa is based on stereo‐microscopic examinations and usual chemical tests. Systematic surveys were conductedand allowed us to establish a list of 141 lichen taxa divided into 30 families.

Coleoptera Carabidae Beetles of El-Kala National Park (north-eastern Algeria)

Coleoptera Carabidae Beetles of El-Kala National Park (north-eastern Algeria)

Ethnobotanical study of Asteraceae from El Kala National Park (North-East of Algeria)

Ethnobotanical study of Asteraceae from El Kala National Park (North-East of Algeria)

City–Nature Relationship in a World-Renowned Nature Reserve: The Case of El Kala National Park in Eastern Algeria

Abstract The relationship between the city and nature for the architect and urban planner is the relationship between the built and unbuilt space and the relationship between the users of urban spa...

Phytochemical Screening and Mineral Composition of Anthyllis Barba Jovis L. Leaves

Introduction: Anthyllis barba jovis is an endemic Fabaceae of the Mediterranean basin. This species is very little studied, and therefore, deserves a greater interest. We undertook a phytochemical screening (search for saponin, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenes, sterols, free quinones and anthocyanins) and an analytical study on the mineral composition of leaves. Materials and Methods: The fresh plant was collected from Soug Rguibette station in El Kala National Park, Willaya of El Tarf (Eastern Algeria) in autumn 2020. Nitrogen (N) was determined by the Kjeldahl method. Calcium and magnesium were determined by titrimetry, total phosphorus and iron by spectrophotometry while sodium and potassium were determined by flame spectrophotometry. Results and discussion: Phytochemical screening revealed that the leaves are rich in flavonoids, saponins, and gallic tannins and moderately rich in terpenes and sterols, anthocyanins and free quinones. The ash content in the leaves was 7.89% of fresh matter. The sodium was the dominant component with 610 mg/100g of dry matter, followed by potassium (252 mg/100g) and then calcium (107 mg/100g). The contents of magnesium (38.9 g/100g), phosphorus (14.64 mg/100g), nitrogen (12.0 mg/100 g) and iron (4.2 mg/100g), were very low. Conclusion: This study has allowed us to know some important aspects of Anthyllis barba-jovis that will be used to develop the cultivation of this species to better exploit its medicinal qualities.

Study of the dynamics of vegetation cover by satellite images: Case of El Kala National Park (Algeria)

Abstract In recent years, wetlands in Algeria have experienced a significant deterioration in the natural quality of the landscapes that compose them. This is the case of the El Kala National Park in the far northeast of Algeria. The state of degradation of the open plant of this park is urgently to look at the state of the art in the face of multiple threats that affect these spaces. The exploitation of the Landsat satellite images, coupled with GIS and supplemented by field surveys and climate and documentary data, made it possible to analyze the vegetation cover and its evolution between 1987 and 2016. The results of our study show that the vegetation cover during the period (1987‒2016) lost 7.49% (6038 ha) of its natural vegetation. Also this work allowed us to set up a cartographic base which can constitute a precious tool of management of this protected area. This method is simple and adaptable to other protected areas of Algeria.

Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content of Extracts of Wild Algerian Lingzhi or Reishi Medicinal Mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Agaricomycetes).

Mushrooms can be employed as functional foods or medicines for the prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases, since they are rich sources of bioactive metabolites. Nonetheless, the therapeutic value of Algerian mushrooms remains largely unexplored. To date, there are no published studies concerning the different medicinal properties of endemic Ganoderma lucidum in Algeria. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant potential of an endemic specimen collected in the Lake Tonga Forest of El Kala National Park in Northeast Algeria with findings from other countries. To this end, phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using three solvents of increasing polarity (chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol). The mushroom specimen was identified as G. lucidum based on strong molecular evidence using internal transcribed spacer, large subunit, and small subunit sequences. Our study showed that ethyl acetate extract contained higher total phenolic content (171.1 ± 1.06 μg gallic acid equivalents/mg and 102.5 ± 0.69 μg pyrocatechol equivalents/mg extract) and total flavonoid content (25.48 ± 0.13 μg quercetin equivalents/mg and 40.45 ± 0.83 μg rutin equivalents/mg extract) than the other mushroom extracts (chloroform and butanolic). The ethyl acetate extract also showed good antioxidant activity in DPPH (28.51 ± 0.24 μg/mL), ABTS·+ (10.06 ± 0.13 μg/mL), galvinoxyl radical (15.46 ± 0.48 μg/mL), reducing power (22.74 ± 0.30 μg/mL), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (21.36 ± 0.04 μg/mL), and phenanthroline (12.87 ± 0.26 μg/mL) assays. These results suggest that G. lucidum could be used as a source of strong natural antioxidants for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Ecology of Avian Settlements in Lake Tonga (Northern Algeria)

Lake Tonga is an integral reserve within the El-Kala National Park, Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar site. This study consists in determining the diversity and phenology status of waterbirds in this reserve over an entire annual cycle (2017–2018). The census was carried out from fixed observation points. Of the 35 species recorded, wintering birds dominate with 12 species (34 %), followed by breeding sedentary species with 11 species (32 %). The breeding water bird populations are dominated by the common coot Fulica atra, (with a maximum of 6,033 birds) followed by the Anatidae, Herons and Grebes. Lake Tonga is a breeding area for several avian species and a recruitment site for a multitude species bird during the wintering period. Three Anatidae nest at Lake Tonga: the white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, the ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca and the mallard Anas platyrhynchos.

Nest Predation in the African Blue Tit, Cyanistes teneriffae (Aves, Paridae), Using Nest-Boxes and Artificial Nests

Predation on breeding blue tit populations in north-eastern Algeria has been studied in nest boxes during a five years fieldwork (2003-2007) in cork oak forests. Nest boxes were placed each year in Brabtia plain forest in El Kala National Park. Results have shown that mean nest predation rate is 51.74%. Six patterns of nest predation have been described and five predators are probably involved: Common Genet, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ocellated Lizard, Ants and Rodents. Genet is the major predator on tit nests. Mean predation rates on egg and nestling stages are similar. Artificial nests and natural nests had similar predation rates. Major predators on artificial nests were lizards and Rodents.

First report of Sciobia (Sciobia) bolivari (Chopard 1937) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), in the digestive tract of the Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis (L. 1758)) in Algeria

In order to determine the diet of the cattle egret Bubulcus ibis (L. 1758), a study was carried out from January 2017 until July 2018 in two integral wetlands in El Kala National Park (PNEK). These two sites are included in the list of the Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance. They are located in northeast Algeria: Oubeïra Lake (36° 50' N, 08° 23' E) and Tonga Lake (36° 53’N, 08° 31’E). The results obtained on a total of 126 cattle egrets allowed us to detect among the ingested prey found in the stomach contents, one species of Orthoptera related to the Ensifera suborder: Sciobia (Scioba) bolivari (Chopard 1937) for the first time in Algeria. This work provided the first report on Sciobia (Scioba) bolivari.

Emergence ecology of the critically endangered Urothemis edwardsii in a new colonized site in El Kala National Park (Algeria): conservation implications

Urothemis edwardsii is one of the most threatened dragonfly species in the Mediterranean. Recent investigations and conservation efforts have increased the local geographic distribution of the species in Northeast Algeria, where a new population (named El Graeate) has been discovered. In the absence of information about the biology and behavior of U. edwardsii in this new site, a study was conducted on the emergence ecology of the species taking into account the temporal pattern of emergence, sex ratio, body size and microhabitat selection. Emergence, which was quite asynchronous, lasted for 50 days, with 50% of the population emerging within the first half of the period. Sex ratio at emergence was slightly female biased despite the absence of sexual size dimorphism, suggesting that size is not the only driving force behind mortality bias during the larval stage. There was a slight seasonal increase in the body size of exuviae (exoskeletons) in both sexes. Microhabitat selection, assessed as the vertical stratification of exuviae at ecdysis, was positively correlated with the height of supporting plants, but the relationship reached a plateau suggesting that there are predetermined limits to the vertical distribution of exuviae. These data will be essential for the future species protection, restoration and management attempts in the region.

What strategies make compatible the stakes of nature conservation and the stakes of economic growth in protected area? Example of El Kala National Park, Algeria

Abstract. Public policies to protect natural environments are initiated by international organizations and are increasingly integrated in many countries. At the country level and at local government level, there is a regulation for the protection of species and the development of protected areas.However,in some countries, nature management policies do not pay much attention to issues raised by local populations, especially development issues. These seem often incompatible with the logic of protection of nature defended by the national administrations.There is a frequent contradiction between development issues based on the growth of usual economic activities and nature conservation issues. Recent studies show that there are ways to make these issues compatible. It is not a question of giving priority to one or the other but of bringing the two together while moving towards an integrated management of the protected territories. If the knowledge on this subject progresses for the countries of Europe, the knowledge is weaker for the southern shore of the Mediterranean region. The question of erosion of biodiversity is well understood by most countries bordering the southern Mediterranean countries. But it faces other priorities.Our study focuses on the case of a natural park located in the northeast of Algeria: the sector of the El Kala National Park, also known as EKNP. This territory faces a double strategic ambition: to strengthen the protection of nature but also to develop the agricultural economy and tourism. The question at stake is that of compatibility: how are the two issues compatible? What elements make it possible to measure the efforts undertaken? What innovative solutions can be suggested based on experiences from other nearby or similar territories? Our method relies on the analysis of 3 types of data: national statistics of Algeria according to its National Office of Statistics (NOS), conservation and development strategy documents and satellite data. Satellite data is used to measure the evolution of natural environments to measure the effectiveness of management measures. Then the results are confronted with the international scientific literature.Our study, resulting from the processing of LANDSAT images, shows an increase in the area of PNEK vegetation between 1995 and 2005. However, the study reflects the important contradiction between tourism potential and investment capacity. Public policies aim at the creation of large seaside resorts. On the other hand, no strategy is developed towards sustainable tourism in relation to the potential of the protected area.

Breeding biology of the chaffinch Fringilla coelebs africana in the El Kala National Park (North East Algeria)

This work focused on monitoring the reproductive phenology of the chaffinch Fringilla coelebs africana for two successive seasons (2016 and 2017) in the mountains of the El Kala National Park (North East Algeria). We searched for nests in the tree stratum or by direct observation of breeding pairs carrying building materials from mid-March to the end of June and found a total of 34 nests that were measured without affecting the breeding process. The results show that nests were built at an average height of 6.3m from the ground. The laying period was 46 days (Early April to mid-May) and the average laying date was May 2. The mean of clutch size is 3.2 eggs per brood. All the previous traits are similar to those recorded in Europe. The mean hatching success rate was 43.1% and the average breeding success rate was 36.3%. These two values are relatively low compared to those found in European populations.

Biodiversity of bulbous and tuberous geophytes from the El Kala National Park (North-Eastern Algeria): checklist, vulnerability and conservation

Treinta estaciones en el Parque Nacional El Kala (Noreste de Argelia) fueron objeto de un inventario florístico que se centró en el estudio de la ecología de geófitos bulbosos y tuberosos. La flora se caracteriza por una alta proporción de taxones raros y/o endémicos, entre ellos, 6 especies son endemismos algero-tunecinos pertenecientes a la familia Orchidaceae. En este trabajo, se da a conocer la presencia de una nueva especie para la flora argelina, Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Los análisis multivariantes revelaron, ciertas variables ambientales que determinan la distribución de los geófitos. Los lugares de interés son particularmente sensibles a las amenazas, particularmente las de origen antrópico. Thirty stations at the El Kala National Park (North Eastern Algeria) were the subject of a floristic focused on the study of the ecology of bulbous and tuberous geophytes. The floristic analysis was used to draw up a checklist of 67 species belonging to 36 genera and 14 families, among of which 19 species a high proportion of rare and/or endemic taxa; among them six signed taxa are endemic to algerian-tunisian mainly represented by family of Orchidaceae. In this work, we recorded the presence of a new species for the Algerian flora which is Ophrys fusca subsp. lupercalis. Multivariate analyses revealed certain environmental variables determining the distribution of geophytes. The visited sites show an alarming vulnerability and subject to threats, particularly anthropogenic ones.

What strategies make compatible the stakes of nature conservation and the stakes of economic growth in protected area? Example of El Kala National Park, Algeria

Public policies to protect natural environments are becoming increasingly integrated in many countries. However , in some countries, nature management policies do not pay much attention to issues raised by local populations, especially development issues. These seem often incompatible with the logic of protection of nature defended by the national administrations. Recent studies show that there are ways to make these issues compatible. The knowledge on this subject is still weak for the southern shore of the Mediterranean region. Our study focuses on the case of a natural park located in the northeast of Algeria: the sector of the El Kala National Park (EKNP). This territory faces a double strategic ambition: to strengthen the protection of nature but also to develop the agricultural economy and tourism. Our method relies on the analysis of 3 types of data: national statistics of Algeria, conservation and development strategy documents and satellite data. Our study shows an increase in the area of EKNP vegetation between 1995 and 2005.

Hydro-chemical characterization of an aquatic ecosystem water of El Kala national park (Case of Oubeira Lake, Northeast Algeria)

Hydro-chemical characterization of an aquatic ecosystem water of El Kala national park (Case of Oubeira Lake, Northeast Algeria)

First data on the population of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis at Lake Tonga, El Kala National Park, Algeria

AbstractThe North African distribution of

Ethnobotanical study close to the population of the extreme north east of Algeria: The municipalities of El Kala National Park (EKNP)

As part of the medicinal plants value, an ethnobotanical study was conducted among 600 of EKNP herbalists in the forest area of El Tarf department (Algeria), which frequently use plants in traditional medicine.The survey was conducted during the period of 2011–2014 and permitted to identify 40 plants used in the treatment of various diseases by the local population of EKNP, which were mainly collected in spring.Our study showed that the leaves are the most part used of the plant, where the majority of therapeutic recipes were prepared in the infusion form.