Beta
18330

Ecological Prominence of Juniperus phoenicea L. Growing in Gebel Halal, North Sinai, Egypt

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

Subjects

-

Tags

-

Abstract

Identifying diversity, distribution, and habitats of interest species is an important task for developing conservation and restoration programs. Juniperus phoenicea has suffered immense destruction and degradation over the last few decades on the anticlines of North Sinai. Therefore, this study evaluated the ecological status of J. phoenicea assemblages in Gebel Halal, and analyzed floristic composition, distribution and species diversity in different habitats. Germination treatments Juniper seeds were also considered. The results showed that the surveyed area of Gebel Halal harbors 73 plant species including 50 medicinal plant species representing 69% of the recorded species, of which 17 species were found only in the mountainous area. Soils of gorge habitats are the richest soil in organic matter (2.22%), and silt and clay content (17.19%). These conditions support dense vegetation of J. phoenicea assemblages associated with many sub-shrubs, shrubs and annuals. Mean canopy cover of J. phoenicea at gorge habitats is 14.21% (±6.45 SD, ±3.73 SE), and mean diameter is 3.53 m (±1.29 SD, ±0.74 SE). The study area showed also assemblages of Acacia pachyceras at wadi habitats; Anabasis articulata, Ballota undulata and Lycium shawii at slope habitats. Associated species include Zygophyllum dumosum, Chiliadenus montanus and Globularia arabica. Ecological characterization and floristic composition were most influenced by climatic and edaphic factors. Isolated patches of the remnant assemblages of Juniperus phoenicea persist in gorges (220-400m altitude) growing on fractures of smooth-faced limestone outcrops of Gebel Halal. Assemblages of J. phoenicea are considered local threatened endemic Mediterranean type mainly due to human disturbances. The results of the preliminary germination experiments showed low germination percentages when seeds were shaken with gravel and coarse sand for 15 minutes (20%), and when seeds were soaked in concentrated acids for 5 or 10 minutes (10%). In conclusion, the ecological conditions for J. phoenicea indicated that it is an endangered species. Immediate protection of the remaining J. phoenicea trees and future restoration programs should be the priority for conservation strategies of this endemic assemblage type. The anticlines of North Sinai that harbor J. phoenicea assemblages should be listed as a priority habitat in the national conservation plan.

Keywords

Floristic composition, Gebel Halal, Juniperus phoenicea, Sinai anticlines, species richness

Authors

First Name

Abdelrauf

Last Name

Moustafa

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Faculty of science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia

Email

raoufmoustafa2@hotmail.com

City

Ismailia

Orcid

0000-0001-6378-1949

First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Zaghloul

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Raafat

Last Name

Abd El-Wahab

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt Science Department, Faculty of Basic Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Adailiya 73251, Kuwait

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Dina

Last Name

Alsharkawy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Mona

Last Name

Ismail

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt

Email

-

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Ashraf

Last Name

Salman

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt Biology Department, Preparatory Year Deanship, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia

Email

dr_ashraf11@yahoo.com

City

-

Orcid

-

Volume

15

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

3817

Issue Date

2016-11-01

Receive Date

2018-11-05

Publish Date

2016-11-01

Page Start

11

Page End

23

Print ISSN

1687-5052

Online ISSN

2090-2786

Link

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18330.html

Detail API

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=18330

Order

2

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences

Publication Link

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/

MainTitle

-

Details

Type

Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023