Abstract
This study assesses the plant communities and environmental factors that govern species richness and distribution in the coastal lowlands of eastern Saudi Arabia using TWINSPAN, DCA and regression analyses. Thirty-four vegetation groups were identified, some of these occur in only one habitat: Juncus rigidus and Aeluropus lagopoides-Phragmites australis in the high saline flats, Plantago boissieri-Savignya parviflora, Panicum turgidum-Plantago boissieri-Moltkiopsis ciliata and Panicum turgidum-Haloxylon salicornicum in the non-saline flats, and Bassia eriophora-Launaea mucronata in the depressions between dunes. Some other groups are represented in at least four out of six studied habitats: Zygophyllum qatarense-Launaea capitata-Plantago boissieri, Zygophyllum qatarense-Plantago boissieri and Haloxylon salicornicum-Zygophyllum qatarense. Among 20 examined soil and community variables, regression analysis indicates that only six are influential in the stand ordination process (K, lime, sulphates, pH, plant cover and species richness). Some human impacts (e.g. grazing and cutting intensities) also play an important role. The nature of soil surface and salinity are the main factors that affect the species richness.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Razik, M.S. and Ismail, A.M.A. (1990) Vegetation composition of a maritime salt marsh in Qatar in relation to edaphic factors. J. Veg. Sci. 1, 85-8.
Allred, B.W. (1968) Rangelands and their management in Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
Babikir, A.A. and Kürschner, H. (1992) Vegetational pattern within a coastal saline of NE-Qatar. Arab Gulf J. Scient. Res. 10(2), 61-75.
Batanouny, K.H. (1981) Ecology and Flora of Qatar. Oxford: Alden Press.
Black, C.A. (1965) Methods of soil analysis. Part 2: Agronomy Monograph No 9, Madison, WI: ASA.
El-Sheikh, A.M. and Youssef, M.M. (1981) Halophytic and xerophytic vegetation near Al-Kharj springs. J. Coll. Sci., Univ. Riyadh 12, 5-21.
Grime, J.P. (1979) Plant Strategies and Vegetation Processes. London: Wiley.
Halwagy, R. and Halwagy, M. (1974a) Ecological studies of the desert of Kuwait. I. The physical environment. J. Univ. Kuwait (Sci.) 1, 75-86.
Halwagy, R. and Halwagy, M. (1974b) Ecological studies of the desert of Kuwait. II. The vegetation. J. Univ. Kuwait (Sci.) 1, 87-95.
Hill, M.O. (1979a) DECORANA- A Fortran program for detrended correspondence analysis and reciprocal averaging. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.
Hill, M.O. (1979b) TWINSPAN- A Fortran program for arranging multivariate data in an ordered two-way table by classification of the individuals and attributes. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.
Jackson, M.L. (1960) Soil Chemical Analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Mandaville, J.P. (1990) Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia. London: Kegan Paul International Limited.
Migahid, A.M. (1988-1990) Flora of Saudi Arabia. 3 volumes. Riyadh: King Saud University Publications.
SAS (1988) SAS/STAT User's Guide. Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
Shaltout, K.H. and El-Halawany, E.F. (1992) Weed communities of date palm in Eastern Arabia. Qatar Univ. Sci. J. 12, 105-11.
Shaltout, K.H. and El-Halawany, E.F. (1993) Vegetation analysis of the irrigation and drainage canals in Eastern Saudi Arabia. J. Univ. Kuwait (Sci.) 20, 261-74.
Shaltout, K.H. and Mady, M. (1993) Current situation of the raudha's woody plant populations in the Central Saudi Arabia. Feddes Repert, 104, 503-9.
Shaltout, K.H. and Mady, M. (1996) Analysis of raudhas vegetation in Central Saudi Arabia. J. Arid Environ.
Shaltout, K.H., El-Halawany, E.F. and El-Kady, H.F. (1996) Consequences of protection from grazing on diversity and abundance of the coastal lowland vegetation in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Biodivers. Conserv. 5, 27-36.
Thalen, D.C.P. (1979) Ecology and Utilization of Desert Shrub Rangelands in Iraq. The Hague: Dr W. Junk, Publishers.
Vesey-Fitzgerald, D.F. (1957) The vegetation of the central and eastern Arabia. J. Ecol. 45, 779-98.
Zoghet, M.F. and Akabawi, K.A. (1986) Life zones of Saudi Arabia. Proc. Saudi Biol. Soc. 9, 3-48.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shaltout, K.H., El-Halawany, E.F. & El-Garawany, M.M. Coastal lowland vegetation of eastern Saudi Arabia. Biodiversity and Conservation 6, 1027–1040 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018319714993
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018319714993