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South Mediterranean forests are known for their spatial and temporal variability in fauna and flora species abundance. Using acoustic surveys and generalized linear models, we investigated the nocturnal activity of bats in five forest sites in northeast Algeria from March to November. A total of 12 species were detected: Rhinolophus blasii, R. hipposideros, Tadarida teniotis, Miniopterus schreibersii, Eptesicus isabellinus, Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, P. pipistrellus, Plecotus gaisleri, Myotis cappaccinii, M. emarginatus, and M. punicus. Activity levels varied significantly among months and sites. Overall bat activity and P. kuhlii activity increased from spring to summer, peaked in August, and slightly decreased in early autumn. Activity levels also differed markedly among forest sites, with low activity levels in the urban forest site, and E. isabellinus was mostly active in only two forest sites. These results suggest that both environmental conditions and location-specific factors shape the activity patterns.

The objective of this research was to describe the variation in breeding practices in the population of Arabian horses in Algeria in relation to the population size drop observed in the 2000s, due to an increase in the cost of food and a change in interest in racing, related to the black decade. As a result, the breeders had to face two opposite constraints: enhancing reproduction to counter the population decline and preventing the loss of genetic diversity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the genetic consequences of the decisions taken over a period of 30 years, starting from 1988 to 2018. The study was based on the analyses of the stud-book and on 11 microsatellite markers in a group of 943 horses, distributed into 13 age classes. Between 2004 and 2008, the breeders purchased foreign sires and dams, allowing a relative stability in unbiased heterozygosity of about 71%, due to the high genetic distances between foreign and local horses. As these importations stopped from 2009 on, there was a decrease in allele numbers of about 20%. Moreover, from 2010 on, we observe an excess of inbreeding and an increase in genetic drift relative to the starting population, due to population size decline. From the analysis of genetic distances between local individuals, it seems that the only constraint for sires and dams allowed to mate was a null coefficient of inbreeding.

Algeria has a diverse bird fauna, yet data from arid and semi-arid regions are scarce. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a study on the composition and conservation status of bird species of Djebel Aïssa National Park in the Naama province of Southwestern Algeria between September 2021 and September 2023. We collected data by using progressive frequency sampling (PFS) and line transects, which allowed us to systematically assess bird species across different habitats within the park. We recorded 94 species of birds belonging to 11 orders and 27 families. Passeriformes was the most abundant order, comprising 16 families and 67 species. The bird species detected were predominantly sedentary (50%) or wintering (39%), and some were visiting (8%) or migratory (3%). Most species were insectivores (45%), followed by granivores/insectivores (24%), carnivores (13%), omnivores (7%), granivores (6%), and carnivores/insectivores (5%). Most bird species were classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List, two species were “Near Threatened”, and one was “Vulnerable”. In addition, 29 species are protected under Executive Fiat 12–235 of 24 May 2012. Our study provides a baseline for future monitoring efforts and a basis for the development and implementation of conservation strategies in Djebel Aïssa National Park and the surrounding regions.

The diet composition of Pharaoh Eagle Owl was investigated in a semiarid area of North-western Algeria. A total of 65 pellets regurgitated by the were analysed, 288 food items were composed primarily of mammal remains (4 rodents, 1 bat and insectivore, 93.7%), and 1 bird species (passerine, 6.3%). The most frequent prey among the mammals were rodents (83.3%), which included (59.7%), (11.1%), (11.1%) and (1.4%). The rodents were the most important prey items in biomass (91.4%), made up to 41.9% of the total biomass. We may conclude that the Pharaoh Eagle Owl relies, in its feeding, very broadly on small mammals, completed by other groups.

This study combines niche overlap analysis with species distribution modeling (SDM) to examine the niche dynamics of Atlantoxerus getulus, a ground squirrel native to Morocco and Algeria that has been introduced to the Canary Islands. We compiled 1272 records of A. getulus in its native and exotic ranges and five bioclimatic variables for present and future climate conditions for the years 2050 and 2070. We assessed the ecological niche of the species using exploratory and ordination analyses, followed by the prediction of its distribution using the SpatialMaxent model. Our results showed that the niches of A. getulus exhibited equivalence (p > 0.05) and significant similarity (p < 0.05) between the native and exotic ranges. No observed niche expansion in the exotic area is shown to be associated with complete niche stability. However, 90% of the niche in the Canary Islands remains unfilled, suggesting potential for further invasion. Our results highlighted habitat contractions ranging from 41% (SSP245-2050) to 60% (SSP585-2070), associated with a shift in the centroid of suitable habitat towards the Atlantic coast. These contractions are particularly severe in Algeria, where suitable habitats could disappear by 2050, contrasting with stable habitats maintained in the Canary Islands under all scenarios. Urgent habitat restoration in Algeria is crucial, including efforts to combat poaching. In Morocco, targeted in situ conservation is recommended, while in the Canary Islands, the focus should be on invasive species management and public awareness campaigns to prevent further spread.

Very small natural populations of aoudad or barbary sheep remained in northern Algeria. Areas where aoudad has been previously reported were surveyed from 2012 to 2015 in spring and autumn. Animals were recorded at only four localities in the north-eastern part of the mountains, south of Tebessa, Batna, M'Sila and north east of Biskra, and only one in the western part south of Tiaret. Sighted groups included 1 to 11 individuals. The main threats to this species are reported, captive breeding is suggested as a tool for conservation.