The Assess of Pools and Small Lakes as Wetland Sites in Zalingei Area, Darfur, Sudan

The study was conducted at Zalingei area Central Darfur state-Sudan, to assess the technical aspect of wetlands (water in the area, its availability, depth) in Zalingei area, during the period from2013to2014. The methods used to data collected were included; metrictape (50m) and pole made by Jebel Marra Rural development project, and string (50m), coordinates of Each wetlands points were recorded using a GPS. The result showed that the Wetlands in Zalingei area, can take many forms as Wadis (Streams), water Pools (Permanent and temporary) and small lakes, Eight water pools and two lakes were established in the dry season, these pools are: Adam-gola, Fawzei, Hamidia, Saa4, Tarei, Zour, Rejl-aldafa, and Sareiolmaly. The lakes as: Zour Lake, and Dudei Lake. The study was recommended that to further surveys of wetland should be made in Zalingei area and registrar in Wetland convention as Ramsar site and important bird’sarea.


Introduction
According to Ramsar convention [13]; Wetlands are definite as areas of marsh, fen, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that isstatic or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water, the depth of which at low tide doesnot exceed six meters. Wetlands include marshes, swamps, vales, pans, bogs, ponds, reed beds and estuaries. One of the best known functions of wetlands is to provide a habitat for birds [14]. Wetlands are important bird habitats, and birds use them for breeding, nesting, and rearing young. Birds also use wetlands as a source of drinking water and for feeding, shelter, and social interactions. Some waterfowl, such as Pelicans, have been adapted to wetlands to such an extent that their survival as individual species depends on the availability of certain types of wetlands within their geographic range. Other species like spoon bell, Abdim's Stork, Sacred Ibis use wetlands only during some parts of their lives [9].

Study Area
Zalingei area lies in the western sparts of Jebel Marra (Hunting technical serves [8]. It covers about4480square kilometers in the poor savanna zone between latitudes1230 and 13 30 North, and longitudes 2220 and 23 45 East according to Hunting Technical Services [8]. The study area covers alluvial channels, flood plains and terraces forming the drainage basins of the season allarge streams known locally asWadis such as Wadi Areebou and Wadi Azoom. The altitude eranges from500to1200 meters above sea level. The annual rainfall varies between350 and 750 millimeters. The mean average temperature ranges between20 cand30 c. The flatlands and mountain slopes are traversed by many seasonal Wadis and Khors coming from the higher reaches of Jebel Marra (WadiAzoom, WadiAreebou). These pass through the Zalingei area, but in dry season they leave many permanent water pools in the Wadi, [8,11]. These wetlands are important habitats for migratory and resident birds, specially waterbirds, for drinking, nesting, resting and feeding.
In the present study, the study area was divided in to four sites due to their water persistence and topography, these selected sites were surveyed for identifying and quantifying as far as possible the avifauna. These sites were Zalingei site, Wadi Azoomsite, Shawa site and Terijsite ( Figure 1).

Tools and Methods
The levels of water at different sites were measured used 50 meter tape and string (50 meter) coordinates of each wetlands site were recorded using a GPS.

Adam-golapool and Fawzeipool
Coordinates:12 54''765N23 29"063E This pool was situated in the western bank of Wadi Areebou, nearto Areebou Bridge. The pool was perennial, and very small size (145*20), (154*20m) in the first season and (136*20m) in the second season. It had some water sheds. The maximum water depths were in August 2.48m (first season), and 2.32m (second season). The maximum water depths was meanly (2.40m) in August. (Table 1 and Figure 3).

Hamidiapool
Coordinates:12 54''806N23 29''211E This pool was found on the northern bank of Wadi Areebou (near to Areebou Bridge), it was perennial, and very small size, 1600* 400meters in August meanly of the two seasons (Table 1 and Figure 3).
It had amaximum water depth (2.54m) in August of first season and 2.38in second seasons. Hamidia pool had maximum water depth meanly in August (2.46m). The pool was completely dried during dry season (March, April and May) ( Table 1 and Figure 3). The perennial pool flora were Ceratophyllum deinersuni, and Najaspectinata (covering surface water), the following fishes were identified, Clariaslazera and Tilapiazillii Some species of birds were identified during two seasons.
It had a maximum depth of about (3.20m). The following fishes were identified. Clariaslazera and Tilapiazillii. There was anartisanal fishery. Waterbirds were hunted by local villagers. The pool is awatering point for wildlife (small mammals).
The pool was recorded flooded during the rainy season. The maximum water depth was (3.46m) in the wet season. The following species of fish were identified as, Grmot (Clariaslazera) and Bulty (Tilapiazillii). 41 birds species were identified.
The pool submerged during the rainy season, and fed seasonally by KhorUmzeafa. The water depth was (2.42m) in August the wet season. In August water depth was 4.39m (first season), and 3.15m (second season). There was an artisanal fishery.49 birds species were identified.
The amaximum water depth (1m) in the two seasons and dried during dry season (from January to May).41of birds species were recorded.

Gugoldongapool
Coordinates:12 53''606N23 29''978E This pool falls in the southern Slope of Jebel kasara, the lake was perennial, and it had size of (425*213m) in the two season (Table 1 and Figure 3).
The pool flooded during the rainy; it was fed seasonally by some Khors come down from Jebel kasara. The maximum water depth was (3.15m) in August of the wet season. In August the water depth was 3.20m (firstseason), and 3.15m (secondseason). Fifty-one birds species were recorded. The pool was a watering point for wildlife (smallmammals), birds and cattle of nomadic herders.

Zour Lake
Coordinates:12 57''295N23 31''785E The pool was falls in the northern bank of Wadi Azoom, the pool was not dried all months of the year, and very bigsize, (2000*500m) in August of two season (Table 1 and Figure 3).
The pools flooded during the rains; it's feeding seasonally by wadi Azoom. The maximum water depth (1.50m) in August (wet season) (Table 1 and Figure 3). Grmot (Clariaslazera) and Bulty (Tilapiazillii) were identified as fish species. 46 species of birds were recorded. The pool was a watering point for wildlife (small mammals and birds), and cattle of nomadic herders.

Dodei Lake
Coordinates:12 54''017N23 28''053E The pool was falls in the bed of Wadi-Glabat, near to Glabat Hill; the pool was perennial, and of very big size, (3000* 500m) in August of two season. (Table 1 and Figure  3).
The pool was flooded during the rainy season; it was fed seasonally by Wadi-Glabat. The maximum water depth was (3.20m) in August of two season. 3.14m in August (firstseason) and 3.26m (secondseason). The following species of fish was recorded as, Grmot (Clariaslazera) and Bulty (Tilapiazillii). 49 birds species were recorded. The pool was a watering point for wildlife (smallmammals), birds.

Discussion
In this study, the Wetlands in Zalingei area, can take many forms as Wadis (Streams), water Pools (Permanent and temporary) and small lakes. Ramsar convention [13] was including these three types in Wetland definition. Eight water pools and two small lakes were established in the dry season, these pools are: Adam-gola, Fawzei, Hamidia, Saa4, Tarei, Gugoldonga, Rejl-aldafa, and Sarei-olmaly. The small lakes are Dodei and Zour.
The maximum water depth in Pools and small lakes was recorded in August of the two wet seasons. These pools are provided water in dry season to use by various species of birds for drinking, feeding and nesting [10].
The availability of water in these wetlands tells all months of the years, except Hamidia and Rejl-aldafa (ninemonths, seven months respectively). Because Hamidia was more used in horticultural irrigated, for this reason it was drought (from March to May), while Rejl-aldafa was temporary, and of very small size and low water depth so that it was drought during the dry season (from January to May). This study was the first work in the field of the wetland habitats for birds in the Sudan.
According to these studies [10,15,16]; Zalingei area is traversed by many seasonal streams and khors. These seasonal streams come down from JebelMarra and flow westwards. WadiAzoom and WadiAreebou are the most important seasonal streams. In the dry season these two Wadis stop running and many permanent water pools are left in their bed.

Conclusion
Zalingei area is qualified to be listed as one of Ramsar site in the Sudan. According to [13] there were three types of Wetland were defined in Zalingei area. The availability of water in these wetlands tells all months of the years, except Hamidia and Rejl-aldafa (nine months, seven months respectively) WadiAzoom and WadiAreebou are the most important seasonal streams, the seasonal streams come down from Jebel Marra and flow west wards.