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VegEgypt ecoinformatics: contribution to Sinai flora and vegetation

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Abstract

This study is aimed at collection of all available phytosociological data on vegetation of Sinai Peninsula, a region that is still poorly explored. An overview of the plant communities of Sinai is compiled based on additional field work and inventories. The database for Sinai vegetation will serve as a nucleus for the National Vegetation Databank of Egypt—‘VegEgypt’. Aspects like species richness, species turnover, conservation categories, and endemism were given special attention. The database was set up and analysed using the Turboveg and Juice programs. A matrix of 816 relevés and 496 species belonging to 69 families and 281 genera formed the basis for further analysis. Asteraceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae were the most represented families. The lists contain 52 threatened, 16 endemic and 20 sub-endemic species. The percentage of endemic species is highest in insular floras, peninsulas and mountain chains. The vegetation analysis resulted in 21 associations. The plant associations on sand habitats have the lowest species richness and species turnover because of water scarcity. On the other hand, plant communities or associations inhabiting rocky habitats have the highest species richness and species turnover.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Prof. Sividasan, M. and Dr. Jacob Thomas, Professor of Plant Taxonomy, Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University for correcting the language of this paper. This project was supported by King Saud University, Deanship of Scientific Research, College of Science, Research Center – Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, P.O. Box 31527, Tanta, Egypt

    Mohamed Z. Hatim, Kamal H. Shaltout & Hassan F. El-Kady

  2. Center for Ecosystems Studies, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, Wageningen, 6700 AA, The Netherlands

    Johannes H. Schaminée & John Janssen

  3. Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Mohamed A. El-Sheikh

  4. Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Egypt

    Mohamed A. El-Sheikh

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  1. Mohamed Z. Hatim
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  2. Kamal H. Shaltout
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  3. Johannes H. Schaminée
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  4. Hassan F. El-Kady
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  5. John Janssen
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  6. Mohamed A. El-Sheikh
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Correspondence to Mohamed A. El-Sheikh.

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Hatim, M.Z., Shaltout, K.H., Schaminée, J.H. et al. VegEgypt ecoinformatics: contribution to Sinai flora and vegetation. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 27, 383–399 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-015-0493-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-015-0493-3

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