The European Turtle-DoveStreptopelia turturin Northwest Africa: A Review of Current Knowledge and Priorities for Future Research

Abstract

In recent decades, a general decline in Palearctic-African migrant birds has been recorded over large areas of the Palearctic. The European Turtle-dove Streptopelia turtur has undergone a rapid and serious decline across its European range, to the extent that it was categorised as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2015. In this review, I synthesise the scientific literature currently available on the Turtle-dove in North Africa S. t. arenicola. I also discuss current knowledge, highlight gaps in data and outline high-priority research guidelines, while attempting to direct research efforts more effectively and to encourage appropriate and sustainable management strategies. Priorities for future research are concentrated in five key areas: (i) demography, (ii) migration, (iii) ecology, (iv) genetics, and (v) parasites and diseases. Setting up an integrated programme of long-term ecological monitoring in North African farmland and woodlands, as well as integrating new technologies into monitoring programmes, is an urgent need. These programmes should be standardised in all countries along the migratory flyway to produce comparable data. Scientific collaboration among research institutions, on national, regional and international scales, should be coordinated for maximum efficacy of the monitoring and research programmes. Key words: agricultural areas, fruit-trees, man-made environment, Morocco, north Africa, Streptopelia turtur arenicola. RESUMEN.-En las últimas décadas se ha registrado un declive generalizado de las aves migratorias paleártico-africanas en grandes áreas del Paleártico. La tórtola europea Streptopelia turtur ha sufrido un declive severo y rápido por toda su área de distribución europea, hasta el punto de que se ha categorizado como "Vulnerable" en la lista roja de la UICN en 2015. En esta revisión sintetizo la literatura

Field investigation of Turtle doves’ courtship: vocal calls versus arc-flight

“…Seasonal parade was variable, courtship intensity was very high, essentially between May, June, and July. These periods (May, June and July) correspond exactly to the turtle dove's optimum nesting phases, as reported in North African areas (Calladine et al 1999;Nemeth et al 2012;Hanane 2016Hanane , 2017Rieger and Marler 2018). Likewise, during the day, sequence intensities varied from one period to another.…”

Diversity of feeding habitats and diet composition in the turtle doves Streptopelia turtur to buffer loss and modification of natural habitats during breeding season

“…In reality, during recent years, cereal surfaces are in decline (Eyshi Rezaei et al, 2015, Marshall et al, 2015) because of the agricultural policies adopted in several countries and climate changes (Carpintero and Naredo, 2006, Marshall et al, 2015). Therefore, river banks present a supplementary habitat rich in food and close to the water (Hanane, 2017, Kafi et al, 2015, Rocha and Quillfeldt, 2015), and these two elements (water and food) are fundamental for the any animal’s life (Dubois, 2002, Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2012, Paray et al, 2018).…”

Discriminating between nesting and non-nesting habitat in a vulnerable bird species: implications for behavioural ecology

“…For their foraging habitat, turtle doves tend to approach tracks and standing water. This spatial pattern is quite common and logical, because turtle doves need to move to feed and drink (Wiehn & Korpimaki 1997;Hanane 2017). This also explained the forest edge effect to the extent that, for these same needs, turtle doves must necessarily cross these edges.…”

“…This choice is probably an adaptive response to (i) nest predation pressure (Yanes & Oñate 1996;Penloup et al 1997;Mezquida Discriminating between nesting and non-nesting habitat in a vulnerable bird species: implications for behavioural ecology & Marone 2002; Barrientos et al 2009), (ii) human disturbances (Rodgers 1996;Hanane & Baâmal 2011;Hanane 2012Hanane , 2014b and (iii) proximity of cultivated seeds (Dunn et al 2015;Gutiérrez-Galán & Alonso 2016;Gutiérrez-Galán et al 2018). In relation with this last point, Browne and Aebischer (2003) and Hanane (2017) had highlighted the necessity of the presence of nesting supports adjacent to crops of cereal (e.g. wheat and barley) in this game species.…”

“…Spatial distribution of doves and pigeons (Aves, Columbiformes) throughout a habitat depends on these needs (i.e. dependent on trees for nesting and cereal crops for feeding and drinking) (Browne & Aebischer 2003;Hanane 2017). In this study, the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) was chosen as a model system for three reasons: first, there is no previous study focusing on assessing the spatial uses of habitats to satisfy its vital needs.…”