Palynology and palaeovegetation reconstruction in late Quaternary sediments of the southern Suez Isthmus, Egypt

Toward A Red List of Bryophytes of Egypt. I. Hepatics

“…The rarity and small population size of hepatics in Egypt are quite expected since these plants (known as amphibians of the plant kingdom) are water and shade-loving while Egypt is perhaps the aridest country in North Africa (Wickens, 1992). Furthermore, climate change (drying-up of fresh-water swamps; see Leroy, 1992;Kholeif, 2004;Ziada et al, 2018) and human activities and their impact (Roberts et al, 2004;Shaltout et al, 2018) have become increasingly important agents in the modification of natural environments leading to loss of habitats suitable for bryophytes in general and hepatophytes in particular. As a result of these two main types of threat (climate change and human activities) and taking into consideration that the collection dates of most of the hepatics recorded in Egypt go back to more than 50 years ago it is highly expected that these species are now most probably extinct in Egypt and therefore become assigned under threat category "RE" (Regionally Extinct).…”

“…Azolla, Lycopodium, Selaginella ….etc.) that flourished then in Egypt (Leroy, 1992;Kholeif, 2004;Ziada et al, 2018) became at present extinct in this country. The documentation and conservation of the remaining extant amphibians (i.e.…”

Nonpollen palynomorphs: Indicators of salinity and environmental change in the Caspian–Black Sea–Mediterranean corridor

“…Peaks of Neurospora spores, a fi re indicator, correspond to maxima in charcoal particles and Glomustype spores that indicate soil erosion (Marinova and Atanassova, 2006). The smut fungus Sorosporium parasitizes mainly grasses, including important crops like sorghum, maize, and millet, and the presence of Sorosporium-type spores in the Red Sea marks long-distance transport from highland regions where the crops are mainly grown (Kholeif, 2004). In Issyk-Kul, increased Botryococcus and fungal spore percentages are taken as signs of greater erosion and heavier grazing in the catchment after A.D. 1560 (Giralt et al, 2004).…”

“…Data sources for the sites, which are shown on Figure 1, are as follows. 1-Qarun Lake, Fayoum Depression: Kholief et al (2007); Hamata mangrove swamp: Kholeif (2007); Suez tidal flat: Kholeif (2004). 2-Nile Delta site 6 and Manzala lagoon site 8: Leroy (1992).…”

“…In Europe, a working group, ACCROTELM (Abrupt Climate Changes Recorded over the European Land Mass), has aimed to identify and publish on nonpollen palynomorphs of peat and lakes (www2.glos.ac.uk/ accrotelm/micproto.html). Much less work has been concerned with nonpollen palynomorphs of estuaries, closed seas, and open seas (Leroy, 1992;Matthiessen and Brenner, 1996;Brenner, 2001;Kholeif, 2004;Mudie et al, 2010). In the Black Sea corridor, several studies have been made of dinofl agellate cysts (dinocysts) and some of the acritarchs, starting with Wall et al (1973) and Roman (1974).…”