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Threatened Prunus arabica in an ancient volcanic protected area of Saudi Arabia: Floristic diversity and plant associations

Authors :
Abdulrahman A. Alatar
Ahmed H. Alfarhan
Saud L. Al-Rowaily
Mohamed A. Al-Shehri
R. Rajakrishnan
Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
Source :
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, Vol 26, Iss 2, Pp 325-333 (2019), Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Publication Year :
2019
Publisher :
Elsevier, 2019.

Abstract

Prunus arabica (Oliv.) Meikle is an endangered shrub with a restricted distribution, which inhabits banks of flood flow channels in small sites of ancient volcanic activity dominated by black basaltic boulders within the Harrat Al-Harrah protectorate, Northern Saudi Arabia. It is with limited information about its ecology and hence, the present study is focusing on its phytosociological behavior and ecological features. The multi-methodological approach comprised species description, vegetation sampling and soil composition of 9 study sites at Harrat Al-Harrah protectorate. The application of TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA multivariate analyses led to identify 3 vegetation groups (VGI: Pulicaria undulata-Prunus arabica, VGII: Prunus arabica–Artemisia seiberi, VGIII: Artemisia seiberi-Achillea fragrantissima) associated with the distribution of P. arabica. The environmental variables that affect P. arabica and its main ecological features had been estimated and discussed. The present study concludes that the main reasons for its threatened and endangerment are seemingly due to overgrazing, poor rainfall, drought, shifting and destruction of its suitable habitat area. Keywords: Autecology, Endangered plant, Floristic diversity, Harrat Al-Harrah

Details

Language :
English
Volume :
26
Issue :
2
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....ef082eb3208c4e69c5ae65d56dbe41b4