Abstract
Island biogeography theory and nestedness are two relevant and important concepts in biogeography and conservation. However, their integration and application has not been examined for maintaining or maximizing species diversity, especially in arid regions. The aim of this study is to investigate the ecological mechanisms related to the observed pattern of floristic diversity and nestedness in the Lake Bardawil islets on the Mediterranean coast of Sinai Peninsula before the execution of the North Sinai Agricultural Development Project (NSADP) that will threaten the ecosystem of the lake. Plant species on 15 islets were identified and categorized into ecological groups related to their life-form, salt tolerance and succulence. Richness of total plant species and their ecological groups were positively correlated with islet area, number of habitats and elevation, and negatively with disturbance index. The temperature calculator detected highly significant nestedness for the entire flora and all ecological groups. Distance from the mainland had no effect on either species richness or nested pattern of total plant species and their ecological groups. Both the analyses of species richness and nested distribution yielded evidence for a positive species-area relationship. Although nestedness was detected for the entire plant species and their ecological groups, many species and islets exhibited idiosyncratic distribution. Idiosyncrasies could be mainly attributed to demographic stochasticity which is an important character for species interaction and diversity maintenance in arid regions. Therefore, in developing conservation strategies for the Lake Bardawil islets, it is important to incorporate spatial and temporal stability of populations.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Roarke Donnelly for providing me with the ‘Nested Program’. Many thanks also to Ivan Nijs and Ali El-Keblawy for stimulating discussions during the preparation of this paper, and an anonymous reviewer for critique and advice. Fieldwork was carried out within the framework of the Egyptian Wetland and Coastal Ecosystems Conservation in the Mediterranean Region Project (MedWetCoast), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). I am grateful to Prof. Dr. M.A. Kassas, the Project Chief Scientist and Prof. Dr. E. El-Badery, the Project Executive Manager for kind support and encouragement.
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Appendix 1
Appendix 1
List of plant species with their salt tolerance (ST), succulence (SU), life form (LF), floristic category (FC) and presence percentage (%P) recorded on 15 islets of Lake Bardawil.
Species | ST | SU | LF | FC | %P |
Adonis dentata Delile | G | N | T | SA + IT | 31.3 |
Aegilops kotschyi Boiss. | G | N | T | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Allium curtum Boiss. & Gaill. | G | N | G | ME + IT | 12.5 |
Allium papillare Boiss. | G | N | G | SA | 12.5 |
Anabasis articulata (Forssk.) Moq. | G | S | C | SA | 50.0 |
Anchusa humilis (Desf.) I.M.Johnst. | G | N | T | ME | 12.5 |
Argyrolobium uniflorum (Decne.) Jaub. & Spach | G | N | C | SA | 12.5 |
Artemisia monosperma Delile | G | S | C | SA | 53.3 |
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum (Moric.) K.Koch | H | S | C | SA + ME | 100 |
Asparagus stipularis Forssk. | G | N | G | SA + ME | 31.3 |
Asphodelus viscidulus Boiss. | G | N | T | SA | 25.0 |
Astragalus annularis Forssk. | G | N | T | SA | 25.0 |
Astragalus boeticus L. | G | N | T | ME | 12.5 |
Astragalus camelorum Barbey | G | N | C | SA | 6.3 |
Astragalus fruticosus Forssk. | G | N | H | SA | 18.8 |
Astragalus kahiricus DC. | G | N | H | SA | 12.5 |
Atractylis carduus (Forssk.) C.Chr. | G | N | C | SA | 25.0 |
Avena sativa L. | G | N | T | COSM | 18.8 |
Bassia muricata (L.) Asch. | H | S | T | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Bellevalia zoharyi Feinbrun | G | N | G | IT | 6.3 |
Brachypodium distachyum (L.) P.Beauv. | G | N | T | ME + IT | 18.8 |
Brassica tournefortii Gouan | G | N | T | SA + ME | 18.8 |
Bromus rubens L. | G | N | T | SA + ME + IT | 12.5 |
Buplerum semicompositum L. | G | N | T | SA + ME + IT | 31.3 |
Cakile maritima Scop. | G | S | T | ME + IT | 25.0 |
Calligonum polygonoides L. | G | N | P | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Centaurea calcitrapa L. | G | N | C | SA | 25.0 |
Centropodia forskalii (Vahl) Cope | G | N | H | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Cistanche phelypaea (L.) Cout. | G | S | P | SA + IT | 31.3 |
Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.) Beck | H | S | T | IT | 12.5 |
Convolvulus lanatus Vahl | G | N | C | SA | 31.3 |
Cornulaca monacantha Delile | G | N | C | SA | 37.5 |
Cotula cinerea Delile | G | N | T | IT | 12.5 |
Cressa cretica L. | H | S | H | ME + IT | 25.0 |
Crucianella membranacea Boiss. | G | N | T | SA | 12.5 |
Cutandia dichotoma (Forssk.) Trabut | G | N | T | SA + IT | 31.3 |
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | G | N | G | COSM | 12.5 |
Cyperus conglomeratus Rottb. | G | N | H | ME | 31.3 |
Cyperus laevigatus L. | G | N | H | SA + ME + IT | 12.5 |
Daucus littoralis Sibth. & Sm. | G | N | T | ME | 25.0 |
Deverra tortuosa (Desf.) DC. | G | N | C | SA | 12.5 |
Dipcadi erythraeum Webb & Benth. | G | N | G | SA | 12.5 |
Echinops spinosissimus Turra | G | N | H | ME + SA | 12.5 |
Echiochilon fruticosum Desf. | G | N | C | SA | 18.8 |
Echium angustifolium Mill. | G | N | C | ME | 25.0 |
Eremobium aegyptiacum (Spreng.) Boiss. | G | N | H | SA | 31.3 |
Erodium laciniatum (Cav.) Willd. | G | N | T | ME | 31.3 |
Erucaria hispanica (L.) Druce | G | N | T | ME | 18.8 |
Euphorbia granulata Forssk. | G | N | H | SA | 12.5 |
Fagonia arabica L. | G | N | C | SA | 6.3 |
Filago desertorum Pomel | G | N | T | SA + IT | 25.0 |
Frankenia pulverulenta L. | H | N | T | ME + IT + ES | 18.8 |
Frankenia revoluta Forssk. | H | N | C | ME + IT + ES | 12.5 |
Gymnocarpos decander Forssk. | G | S | C | SA | 25.0 |
Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M.Bieb. | H | S | C | SA + ME + IT | 100 |
Haloxylon scoparium Pomel | H | S | C | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.) A.Juss. | G | N | C | SA | 25.0 |
Helianthemum stipulatum (Forssk.) C.Chr. | G | N | C | SA | 43.8 |
Heliotropium digynum (Forssk.) C.Chr. | G | N | C | SA | 25.0 |
Herniaria hemistemon J.Gay | H | N | H | SA | 43.8 |
Herniaria hirsuta L. | G | N | T | ME + ES + IT | 18.8 |
Hippocrepis areolata Desv. | G | N | T | SA + ME | 25.0 |
Ifloga spicata (Forssk.) Sch.Bip. | G | N | T | SA | 50.0 |
Iris mariae Barbey | G | N | G | SA | 12.5 |
Juncus rigidus Desf. | H | S | H | SA + IT | 25.0 |
Launaea capitata (Spreng.) Dandy | G | N | T | SA | 18.8 |
Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook.f. | G | N | H | SA | 37.5 |
Launaea tenuiloba (Boiss.) Kuntze | G | N | T | SA | 12.5 |
Leopoldia bicolor (Boiss.) Eig & Feinbrun | G | N | G | ME | 6.3 |
Limoniastrum monopetalum (Linn.) Boiss. | G | S | C | ME | 18.8 |
Limonium pruinosum (L.) Chaz. | H | N | C | SA | 12.5 |
Linaria haelava (Forssk.) Delile | G | N | T | SA | 18.8 |
Lobularia arabica (Boiss.) Muschl. | G | N | T | SA | 31.3 |
Lotus halophilus Boiss. & Spruner | G | N | T | SA | 43.8 |
Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult. | G | S | P | SA + SU | 43.8 |
Malva parviflora L. | G | N | T | ME + IT | 25.0 |
Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. | H | S | T | ME + ES | 18.8 |
Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum L. | H | S | T | ME + ES + SA | 18.8 |
Moltkiopsis ciliata (Forssk.) I.M.Johnst. | G | N | C | SA | 43.8 |
Neurada procumbens L. | G | N | T | SA | 43.8 |
Nitraria retusa (Forssk.) Asch. | H | S | P | SA | 50.0 |
Noaea mucronata (Forssk.) Asch. & Schweinf. | G | S | C | IT | 31.3 |
Ononis serrata Forssk. | G | N | T | SA + ME | 18.8 |
Orobanche cernua Loefl. | G | N | T | SA + ME + IT | 68.8 |
Pancratium maritimum L. | G | N | G | ME | 18.8 |
Pancratium sickenbergeri Aschers. & Schweinf. ex C. & W. Barbey | G | N | G | SA | 37.5 |
Panicum turgidum Forssk. | G | N | G | SA + SU | 53.3 |
Paronychia arabica (L.) DC. | G | N | T | SA | 18.8 |
Phoenix dactylifera L. | G | N | P | SA | 12.5 |
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. | G | N | G | COSM | 12.5 |
Plantago albicans L. | G | N | H | SA + ME | 25.0 |
Plantago cylindrica Forssk. | G | N | T | SA | 31.3 |
Plantago ovata Forssk. | G | N | T | SA + IT | 37.5 |
Polycarpaea repens (Forssk.) Asch. & Schweinf. | G | N | C | SU | 12.5 |
Polycarpon succulentum (Delile) J.Gay | G | S | T | SA | 12.5 |
Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth | G | N | T | ME + IT | 37.5 |
Retama raetam (Forssk.) Webb | G | N | P | SA | 53.3 |
Rumex pictus Forssk. | G | N | T | ME | 12.5 |
Salicornia europaea L. | H | S | T | ME + ES | 12.5 |
Salsola kali L. | H | S | T | COSM | 25.0 |
Salsola tetragona Delile | H | S | C | SA | 25.0 |
Salvia lanigera Poir. | G | N | H | SA + ME | 12.5 |
Sarcocornia fruticosa (L.) A.J.Scott | H | S | C | ME | 18.8 |
Schismus arabicus Nees | G | N | T | SA + IT | 50.0 |
Senecio glaucus L. | G | N | T | SA + IT | 43.8 |
Silene villosa Forssk. | G | S | T | SA | 18.8 |
Spergularia marina (L.) Griseb. | H | S | T | ME + IT + ES | 43.8 |
Stipa capensis Thunb. | G | N | T | SA + IT | 12.5 |
Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) de Winter | G | N | H | SA | 18.8 |
Stipagrostis plumosa (L.) Munro ex T.Andersson | G | N | H | SA + IT | 50.0 |
Stipagrostis scoparia (Trin. & Rupr.) de Winter | G | N | H | SA | 31.3 |
Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hasselq.) Zohary | H | S | C | SA | 31.3 |
Suaeda vermiculata J.F.Gmel. | H | S | C | SA | 18.8 |
Tamarix amplexicaulis Ehrenb. | H | S | P | SA + SU | 18.8 |
Thymelaea hirsuta (L.) Endl. | G | N | P | SA + ME | 60.0 |
Traganum nudatum Delile | H | S | C | SA | 25.0 |
Trigonella stellata Forssk. | G | N | T | SA | 25.0 |
Zygophyllum aegyptium Hosny | H | S | C | SA | 18.8 |
Zygophyllum album L.fil. | H | S | C | SA | 86.7 |
Salt tolerances are: H: halophytes and G: glycophytes. Succulence are S: succulent and N: non-succulent. Life-forms are: T: therophytes, G: geophytes, H: hemicryptophytes, C: chamaephytes and P: phanerophytes. The floristic regions are: SA: Saharo-Arabian, ME: Mediterranean, IT: Irano-Turanian, ES: Euro-Sibarian, SU: Sudanian and COSM: Cosmopolitan.
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El-Bana, M.I. Factors affecting the floristic diversity and nestedness in the islets of Lake Bardawil, North Sinai, Egypt: implications for conservation. J Coast Conserv 13, 25–37 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-009-0049-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-009-0049-8