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Book cover Vegetation Ecology of Socotra

Part of the book series: Plant and Vegetation ((PAVE,volume 7))

Abstract

Extending from sea-level to just over 1,500 m, the compression of climatic zones along an elevational gradient as well as small-scale differences in exposure, rainfall and substrate are responsible for a broad spectrum of different habitats, ranging from deserts to evergreen forests within a relatively small area on Socotra. A concise overview of the vegetation of the islands along an altitudinal gradient is presented in this chapter. As a considerable proportion of the native flora is endemic, most of the natural plant communities are unique to Socotra, although physiognomically, they are often very similar to vegetation units of comparable habitats in the adjacent mainland areas. A highly distinctive feature of the mid-elevation plateaus in the eastern part of Socotra is the open dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari) vegetation, which is of outstanding conservation value. Widespread grazing by domestic livestock is greatly modifying the natural vegetation cover, leading to serious degradation over many areas. The role of inaccessible cliff ledges and remote plateaus is highlighted as a refuge for many palatable plant species, and, with respect to the potential natural vegetation, such habitats could provide a reliable indication as to the composition and structure of vegetation that previously existed over large tracts in the more accessible areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Gary Brown

  2. Department of Botany, Universitäet Duisburg-Essen, Gebäude S05, V05 E32, Essen, Germany

    Bruno A. Mies

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Brown, G., Mies, B.A. (2012). Vegetation. In: Vegetation Ecology of Socotra. Plant and Vegetation, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4141-6_6

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