Natural plant species inventory of hotspot areas in Arabian Peninsula: Southwest Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia (original) (raw)
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International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation
This study assessed the diversity composition and density of plant species at Dammam Region, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Plant diversity is a vital component of any ecosystem. It is a wellknown fact that, worldwide, thousands of plant species are endangered and facing extinction with the current trend of their influence and destruction. Changes in the structure of the assortment of resources lessen plant community's opportunity to respond to new problems and occasions. Plant diversity is facing danger of new plant diseases or pests, species extinction, climatic changes and other obstructions. A survey of 12 different sites was done and botanic biodiversity was evaluated. The plant diversity was evaluated by applying different methods namely: relative abundance index, species richness D* index and Shannon-Weaver index. It is clear that many plant species and habitats of Dammam area are subjected to severe disturbance due to new constructions without environmental impact assessment.
Floristic diversity and vegetation structure of Al-Dissah area northwestern Saudi Arabia
THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY (Botany), 2017
This study was conducted on wadi Al-Dissah; a part of Jabal Qaraqir and its surrounding area in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia. Jabal Qaraqir in Saudi Arabia is the first site to be assessed for the Important Plant Area (IPA) programme in the Arabian Peninsula. This paper has the objective of determining the floristic composition, species diversity and the vegetation structure of the plant communities, including a breakdown of its different life forms and chorology of the recorded species. A total of 63 species belonging to 61 genera and 31 families were recorded. One family; Adiantaceae be longs to Pteridophyta, while the other 30 families are angiospermae. About 35% of the recorded species in the study area are belonging to four families: Asteraceae and Poaceae had the highest contribution (each had 9.5% of the total species followed by Bor aginaceae and Fabaceae (7.9% each). The data also reflect the high taxonomic diversity in the study area. The life form spectrum of the recorded species showed the prevalence of therophytes (49.2%) followed by chamaephytes (17.5%), phanerphytes (14.3%), ge ophytes (9.5%), while the least frequent life form class was hemicryptophytes (7.9%). The chorological analysis of the recorded species in the study area showed the predominance of bi-regional taxa (50.8%) over the other phytogeographical elements followed by the mono-regional (25.4%). The present study findings showed that most species belonged to Saharo-Arabian-Sudanian (15.9%) followed by Sudanian elements (11.1%). Only one endemic species is recorded in the study area; Dolichorhynchus arabicus I.C. Hedge & KitTan (syn Douepea arabica). It is a rare threatened endemic plant species in Saudi Arabia. It was locally in W adi Qaraqir. Other rare species were Ficus palmata which is a small tree with edible fruits, belonging to family Moraceae, and Parietaria umbricola which is an annual species belonging to family Urticaceae. Plant species of Al-Dissah area were checked with international IUCN list. Eight of the recorded species in the study area are globally threatened and incorporated into the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 3.1: Cyperus laevigatus, Mentha longifolia, Nerium oleander, Phragmites australis, Tamarix nilotica, Typha domingensis, Chrozophora tinctoria, Adiantum capillus-veneris. All of them are included in the least concern category. Five plant communities were recognized in the study area. The highest plant diversity was reported in plant communities, which occupy the wet wadi bed where the perennial stream flows together with the nearby areas between palm trees; Phragmites australi s and Mentha longifolia communities. As floristic analyses are the prerequisites for conservation of plant species, therefore, it is critical to examine the current status of floristic and species diversity to provide appropriate guidelines for developing effective system of conservation and management. Information from this study may provide a valuable reference for appropriate conservation and management of the study area.
EJUA-BA Vol. 1, 2020
The study area is located on the South western mountains of Republic of Yemen, It is characterized by arid and semi-arid climate with high temperatures and low average annual rainfall. The aims of this study are to explore the natural plant species of one of the Important Plant areas of Arabian Peninsula and to evaluate the chance to be a protected area. 61 sample sites covering the whole ecological zones haven been conducted. 135 plant species are found, in which 3 plant species were endemic, 7 near endemic, 29 regional endemic. The study revealed also three vegetation communities with 7 vegetation associations (vegetation types). Vegetation dominated by Ficus cordata, F. sycomorus, Salvadora persica Tamarix aphylla and Ziziphus spina-christi were found on main wadis. Vegetation communities dominated by Acacia asak, Anisotes trisulcus, Jatropha variegate and Zygocarpum yemenense were found on rocky slopes and stony plateau.
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 2016
Plant species composition patterns and vegetation types were investigated along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Sandy plain, wadis, drainage lines, rocky outcrops, hills and fallow lands occur over a wide geographic range encompassing variation in plant species and communities among these different ecological sites. To provide a quantitatively based classification of the vegetation we used Multi Variant Statistical Package (MVSP) software, followed by the rearrangement of a matrix of the similar plant species in rows and similar sample sites in columns. Plant density and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each quadrat. Two-way indicator species analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used to analyze the relationships between vegetation and environmental variables, while Arc Map was used to analyze the pattern of plant species density. A total of 59 sample plots (25 Â 25 m), stratified, randomly-placed releve´s were collected in Al Baha region, along a cross section running from southwest to northwest. About 190 plant species belonging to 59 families were recognized. This study showed that these plant species formed 15 vegetation types that primarily correspond mainly to different combinations of elevation, and topography. The study concluded that this research has provided the first quantitative and systematic survey of the vegetation in Al Baha region.
INVENTORY OF MOST RARE AND ENDANGEREDPLANT SPECIES IN ALBAHA REGION, SAUDI ARABIA
Rare and endangered plant species have been investigated based on intensive field work covering all ecological zones in Albaha region, Saudi Arabia. Different cross sections were placed randomly along different ecological sites. In each different habitat types plant species were recorded and sampled by using quadrates 25 by 25 m, and then most rare and endangered species were identified according to the percentage of frequency. In this investigation 46 rare and endangered plant species belongs to 33 families and 41 genera in which 10 endemic to Arabian Peninsula were identified and documented. Names of plants, frequency percentage and density per hectare were gathered. The distribution of rare species, patterns of some most rare and endangered plant species were mapped by using ARC-GIS techniques.
PRELIMINARY ANALYSING OF PLANT DIVERSITY OF HIGH ALTITUDE AREA OF ALBAHA REGION, SAUDI ARABIA.
The study on the floristic analysis and plant diversity was carried out during the years 2014 and 2016 covering the high altitudinal plateau between 1900 to 2475 mater above sea level (m. a. s. l.) of Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. This attempt was made, to document the density; frequency and diversity of plant species existing in different land forms, to identify the priorities of conservation and rehabilitation for the least occurrence plant species and Juniperus procera and Acacia origena habitats in the future plan. Random quadrat methods of 25*25 m were laid out in various parts of the region to reach the total of 73 sample plots. The data was analyzed using different ecological indices and tools. The out come of the analyzed data showed a total of 187 plant species belonging to 147 genera and 67 families, in which 3 are endemic to Arabian Peninsula and one is endemic to Saudi Arabia. Hyparrhenia hirta, Achillea biebersteinii, Cynodon dactylon, Themeda triandra Juniperus procera and Eragrostis papposa have the highest density per hectare with a value of 226, 176, 167, 134, 116 and 107 respectively. Frequency of plant species showed different trend of plant arrangement in different sample plots unlike the density. For instance Juniperus procera, Acacia origena, Dodonaea viscose, Psiadia punctulata and Sageretia thea have more frequency with a value of 0.86, 0.67, 0.47, 0.45 and 0.44 respectively. The dominant vegetation structure is a woodland dominated by Juniperus procera and Acacia origena and grassland dominated by Hyparrhenia hirta and Themeda triandra. Average tree cover is 25%, shrub cover is 17% and herbaceous cover is 36% with an average of 77% vegetation cover.
Important Plant Areas in the Arabian Peninsula
Edinburgh Journal of Botany , 2010
An Important Plant Area programme has been initiated for the Arabian region by the IUCN Arabian Plant Specialist Group. The aim of this programme is to assess hotspots of plant diversity in the region and designate the most important as Important Plant Areas. These assessments are conducted on the basis of specific criteria and this paper presents the criteria which have been adopted for the Arabian Peninsula countries of Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. These Arabian criteria differ from those originally developed for Europe, and so they are presented here in full. This paper also discusses the context of the Important Plant Area programme and its ability to provide a framework for conservation planning.
Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Agronomy
Jabal Al-Ward is one of the Hijazi mountains situated between Al-Ulā and Al-Wajh, southwest Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia’s northwesterly border region. It is considered the highest mountain in this area and is enriched in wildlife. For the first time, the present research aimed to investigate the floristic composition, phytogeographical distribution, and plant diversity in Jabal Al-Ward. One hundred ninety-eight species representing 47 plant families have been identified. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae represented more than a third of the region’s floristic composition. The perennial species (53.5%) were dominant over the annuals (46.46%). This is a prominent feature in Jabal Al-Ward, where the perennial species may be more tolerant of climatic changeability than the annuals. Seven life form categories were found; therophytes (46.46%) showed to be the most common life form. In addition, there were four main phytogeographical groups: Mono-regional, Bi-regional, Pluri-regional,...
Floristic Diversity of Tabuk Province , North Saudi Arabia
2016
The present study was aimed to investigate the floristic diversity and phytogeographical distribution of plant species along four sites i.e. Sharma, Alqan, Al-Lwaz Mountains and Alzetah from Tabuk region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 96 species belonging to 75 genera and 38 families (34 dicots and 4 monocots) were recorded. Asteraceae had the highest contribution (12.5% of the total species) followed by Fabaceae (10.42%), Zygophyllaceae (6.25%) and Lamiaceae (5.21%). The life form spectrum of the recorded species showed the prevalence of theorphytes (37%) followed by chamaephytes (32%), geeophytes (13%), hemicryptophytes (10%) and Phanerophytes (8%). The chorological analysis of the recorded species indicated the predominance of monoregional taxa over the other elements. In the same context, the flora of Tabuk region, as reflected by the present study findings, showed that most species belonged to Saharo-Arabian (37.21%), Irano-Turanian (11.63%) and Sudanean (10.47%) elements, and that ...
The present study surveyed the flora of the Jebel Fayfa region, SouthWest Saudi Arabia to analyze four elements of the vegetation: floristic diversity, life form, lifespan, and phytogeographical affinities. A total of 341 species of vascular plants were recorded belonging to 240 genera in 70 families, of which 101 species distributed among 40 families were considered as new additions to the flora of Jabal Fayfa. Six species are considered endemic to the study area while 27 are endangered. The most represented families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae. The flora of Jabal Fayfa exhibited a high degree of monotypism. A total of 20 families (28.57%) were represented by a single species, and 180 genera (75.00%) were monotypic. The recorded flora consists of 70.09% perennials and 29.91% annuals. Phanerophytes and therophytes were the most frequent lifeforms. Phytogeographical analysis revealed that the biregional elements of the Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambezian chorotype are the most dominant chorotypes (35.48%), forming two-thirds of the floristic structure in Jabal Fayfa. The new additions to the local flora of the region indicate that the Jabal Fayfa region and the country need further thorough botanical exploration and documentation which would help in adding several species to the flora of Saudi Arabia.