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18497

Conservation of Three Endangered Species at St. Catherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt

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Last updated: 03 Jan 2025

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Abstract

The present paper aims to characterize some biological and ecological traits of three threatened species, namely; Phlomis aurea, Pterocephalus sanctus, and Thymus decussatus inhabiting the mountains of Southern Sinai, in Saint Catherine Protectorate. The study included aspects of phenology, seed germination, and restoration of species from the soil seed bank. The effect of short-term fencing on productivity and annual growth rate was tested. The results of seed germination showed the highest ratio (66%) by Phlomis aurea in dark incubator at constant temperature without pretreatment. Non-treated seeds of Pterocephalus sanctus showed a comparable ratio (64%) in room conditions. However, Thymus decussatus seeds showed lower ratio (up to 36%) after washing seeds by dripping water for 24 hrs. Seedlings of Phlomis aurea had been succesfully recruited from the soil seed bank. The mean productivity values of P. sanctus showed a positive response under a short-term fencing, while Ph. aurea and T. decussatus showed a negative response. On the other hand Phlomis aurea populations showed a positive trend in the annual grouth rate, under short-term fencing, however, T. decussatus populations remained almost steady. On the other hand, P. sanctus showed a growing trend in open localities more than under fenced ones. Concerning the reproductive effort, the highest value (16%) was obtained by T. decussatus, while the lowest value (10 %) was obtained by Ph. aurea, and P. sanctus was intermediate (13%). The study recommended for application of the soil seed bank techniques, as effective tools for restoration of target plant species and for nature conservation.

Keywords

St. Catherine protectorate, endangered species, Phenology, conservation, seed germination, soil seed bank, Population ecology, productivity, growth rate, reproductive effort

Authors

First Name

Adel

Last Name

Ramadan

MiddleName

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Affiliation

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

Email

aaramadan@yahoo.com

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First Name

Abdel Raouf

Last Name

Moustafa

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

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

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Orcid

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First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Zaghloul

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

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

Email

zaghloul_mohamed@yahoo.com

City

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Orcid

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First Name

Mohamed

Last Name

Helmy

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

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

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City

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Orcid

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Volume

4

Article Issue

1

Related Issue

3855

Issue Date

2009-04-01

Receive Date

2018-11-07

Publish Date

2009-04-01

Page Start

53

Page End

64

Print ISSN

1687-5052

Online ISSN

2090-2786

Link

https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/article_18497.html

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https://cat.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=18497

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7

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences

Publication Link

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

MainTitle

Conservation of Three Endangered Species at St. Catherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023