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Structure and standing crop of EgyptianThymelaea hirsuta populations

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Abstract

The population structure and standing crop of the desert shrubThymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. were evaluated in six different habitats in the western Mediterranean desert of Egypt. Under favourable conditions, populations ofT. hirsuta are denser and the size structure has a strong bias towards small, juvenile individuals, whereas the reverse tendency is found under adverse conditions with size structure biased towards big individuals. These results are discussed in the light of hypothesis of intraspecific competition. The standing crop is strongly affected by soil salinity and nature of soil surface (amount of exposed rocks).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt

    K. H. Shaltout

  2. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    M. A. Ayyad

Authors
  1. K. H. Shaltout
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  2. M. A. Ayyad
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Shaltout, K.H., Ayyad, M.A. Structure and standing crop of EgyptianThymelaea hirsuta populations. Vegetatio 74, 137–142 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044738

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