Banc d'Arguin National Park

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Banc d'Arguin National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Comparative Analysis of National Parks in the Sahel Region, Wildlife Protection in the Sahel Countries

  National parks in the Sahel region, including Banc d'Arguin National Park, serve as more than just biodiversity reserves; they are critical instruments for stability, sustainable livelihoods, and community engagement. A comparative analysis of seven Sahel countries—Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Benin, Niger, and Nigeria—reveals that their effectiveness hinges on institutional capacity, management practices, security conditions, and community participation. Tourism emerges as a dual tool for economic growth and social cohesion, yet outcomes vary significantly due to differences in governance, resources, and local involvement. The study highlights how similar ecological corridors can lead to divergent developmental pathways, underscoring the importance of tailored strategies to address the region's complex challenges.

  Hillender, T. (2026). Comparative Analysis of National Parks in the Sahel Region, Wildlife Protection in the Sahel Countries. Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies, 5(4), 183–205. https://doi.org/10.12700/jceeas.2025.5.4.445

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• Annotated checklist of the invertebrate macrozoobenthos from Mauritanian marine shallow-water habitats

  A comprehensive annotated checklist identifies 103 species of marine macrozoobenthic invertebrates from the North-Mauritanian coastal habitats, including Banc d'Arguin National Park. This study, conducted through five joint expeditions by IMROP and Senckenberg Research Institute between 2020 and 2024, provides a detailed morphological description of these species and establishes a scientific reference collection alongside a DNA barcode library. The research employed diverse sampling methods to capture the biodiversity of the region, offering a critical baseline for future assessments of marine life along the Mauritanian coast.

  Knorrn, A. H., Sonnewald, M., Moctar, S. M. M., Dia, M., Beibou, E., & Freiwald, A. (2026). Annotated checklist of the invertebrate macrozoobenthos from Mauritanian marine shallow-water habitats. ZooKeys, 1277, 1–55. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1277.180972

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• Diet of Breeding Caspian Terns Hydroprogne caspia at Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania, is Diverse and Differs Between an Offshore and an Inshore Site

  A study of Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) at Banc d'Arguin National Park, Mauritania, revealed distinct dietary differences between offshore and inshore breeding colonies. While the diet at the offshore Arel colony was dominated by pelagic species like Hemiramphidae, the inshore Zira colony primarily consumed bentho-pelagic prey such as Cichlids. The research, conducted over four breeding seasons (2015–2018), also noted that breeding at Arel commenced about a month later than at Zira. Diet composition was analyzed through fish parts identified in pellets collected near nests during the 2016 breeding season, though nearly half of the fish remains could not be identified. The findings suggest potential temporal and spatial variations in dietary preferences among Caspian Terns, warranting further investigation across multiple years to confirm these patterns.

  Amarejeyat, A., Camara, M. S., Ahmed Mahmoud, L. Y., Qninba, A., El Agbani, M. A., De Goeij, P., Camphuysen, K. (C. J. )., & Piersma, T. (2025). Diet of Breeding Caspian Terns Hydroprogne caspia at Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania, is Diverse and Differs Between an Offshore and an Inshore Site. Waterbirds, 47(4), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1675/063.047.0404

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• First assessment of blue carbon stocks, sequestration rates and potential sources since 1900 at Arguin Island (Mauritania)

  Seagrass meadows at Arguin Island, Banc d'Arguin National Park (Mauritania), store significantly more organic carbon (OC) than adjacent unvegetated sediments, with stocks averaging 27.8 ± 7.14 Mg C ha⁻¹—five times higher—and sequestration rates of up to 12.3 g C m⁻² year⁻¹ over the past century. This study marks the first in situ assessment of blue carbon dynamics in Western African seagrass beds, providing critical data for underrepresented regions. Using sedimentary environmental DNA (eDNA) and chronostratigraphy, researchers identified seagrass species as the primary OC source since 1900, with Zostera noltei meadows showing greater diversity than Cymodocea nodosa. Bare sediments were dominated by diatoms. The findings highlight eDNA's potential to trace organic matter provenance, advancing understanding of carbon cycling in blue carbon ecosystems.

  Martins, M., Abrantes, F., Aires, T., Rautenbach, S., Engelen, A. H., Encarnação, J., Abecasis, D., Gandega, C., Magalhães, V., Brahim, K., Ebaye, S., Barusseau, J.-P., Freiwald, A., de los Santos, C. B., Serrão, E. A., & Santos, R. (2025). First assessment of blue carbon stocks, sequestration rates and potential sources since 1900 at Arguin Island (Mauritania). Aquatic Sciences, 87(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-025-01211-0

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• First insights into the scale of invasions in African marine protected areas: leveraging global databases and citizen science data

  A concerning scale of invasive alien species has been identified within African marine protected areas (MPAs), including the Banc d'Arguin National Park, with potential threats to biodiversity. The study, leveraging global databases and citizen science data, documented 27 alien species across 17 MPAs in seven countries, some posing massive or major impacts. Notably, nine MPAs, such as Table Mountain National Park (South Africa) and Banc d'Arguin (Mauritania), harbored species with significant ecological consequences. By combining freely available data sources—Protected Planet, World Register of Introduced Marine Species, iNaturalist—and applying impact assessment schemes like EICAT and SEICAT, the research provides critical insights into under-surveyed regions. This approach offers a cost-effective solution for improving invasion monitoring, aiding African states in addressing Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 6 obligations and informing targeted conservation strategies.

  Ackland, S. J., Richardson, D. M., & Robinson, T. B. (2025). First insights into the scale of invasions in African marine protected areas: leveraging global databases and citizen science data. NeoBiota, 102, 399–418. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.102.149275

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• Is the resident subspecies of the Eurasian spoonbill in Mauritania, Platalea leucorodia balsaci , threatened by introgression of genes from the migratory nominate subspecies leucorodia ?

  Research indicates that the resident subspecies of the Eurasian spoonbill, Platalea leucorodia balsaci, in Mauritania's Banc d'Arguin National Park is not threatened by genetic introgression from the migratory nominate subspecies, leucorodia. Despite observed gene flow—evidenced by yellow-tipped bills in over half of the marked balsaci population—residency remains intact, as no resightings of these birds have occurred outside Banc d'Arguin. The study suggests that balsaci should be categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to its small population size and habitat threats from sea-level rise. The research combines genetic analysis, morphological observations, and behavioral monitoring to assess potential hybridization risks while emphasizing the need for continued surveillance of this unique subspecies.

  Piersma, T., Camara, M., de Goeij, P., Loos, B., Oortwijn, T., & El-Hacen, E.-H. M. (2025). Is the resident subspecies of the Eurasian spoonbill in Mauritania, Platalea leucorodia balsaci , threatened by introgression of genes from the migratory nominate subspecies leucorodia ? Oryx, 59(5), 579–583. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605325101737

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• The chronology of overfishing in a remote West-African coastal ecosystem

  A remote West African coastal ecosystem, the Parc National du Banc d’Arguin in Mauritania, is experiencing an early phase of overfishing characterized by increased targeting of higher trophic level species such as rays and sharks. This shift, previously undocumented due to its occurrence before scientific scrutiny, is now evident through long-term trends in mean trophic level and total catches. Contrary to traditional fishing patterns, this phase precedes the depletion of top predators and involves species that contribute minimally to the local economy. Researchers combined historical fishery data with recent monitoring programs to reveal this trend, suggesting that the ecosystem is now entering a state of 'fishing down the food web.'

  Lemrabott, S. Y., van Leeuwen, A., Piersma, T., Braham, C.-B., Ball, A. C., Araujo, A., Olff, H., & El-Hacen, E.-H. (2024). The chronology of overfishing in a remote West-African coastal ecosystem. Ecology and Society, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.5751/es-13902-290109

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