Analysis of species floristics within the oak forests of Guerrouche (Jijel, Algeria)

Abstract

The Guerrouche forest is home to a fairly important flora heritage which offers this massif a forest cover by the presence of quite remarkable forest stands, from a floristic point of view by the presence of natural vegetation characterized by a diverse flora. This study aims to quantify the floristic diversity of the vegetation associated with the three main tree species (zeen oak, cork oak and afares oak) that inhabit the Guerrouche forest on the basis of distributed floristic surveys, according to a sampling strategy. stratified and systematic, which took into account the species present in each type of tree stand. The floristic surveys thus carried out, numbering 55, made it possible to establish a list of a floristic list made up of 172 species, which belonged to 69 genera and 45 botanical families. Of these, 42 were endemic species, including 4 specific to the study area. The number of rare and very rare species was 70 taxa. The study also revealed the clear degradation of the genus Erica of this ecosystem. Analysis of the overall chorological spectrum showed a dominance of Mediterranean species (209 species), with a dominance (82.3%) of species that were therophyte species. The forest stands of the genus Quercus inhabiting the Guerrouche massif must be supported by the authorities to preserve and conserve this forest heritage against fires, illegal logging, etc. The results of this study will be the subject of development actions and rational management of these natural forest ecosystems.