Vegetation analysis, phenological patterns and chorological affinities in Wadi Qena, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

The present study, which was conducted between 2009 and 2010, provides an analysis of the floristic composition, life forms, phenology, chorological spectrum and analysis of the vegetation in the deltaic part of Wadi Qena using multivariate analysis techniques. Twenty-five stands were sampled to represent, as much as possible, the vegetation variation in the study area. A total of 54 species (nineteen annuals and 35 perennials) belonging to 47 genera and nineteen families were recorded. The largest families were Fabaceae and Brassicaceae (nine and seven, respectively), Asteraceae and Poaceae (six for each), Chenopodiaceae (five), and Zygophyllaceae (four). Therophytes are the predominant life form (37%) followed by chamaephytes (24%), phanerophytes (18.5%), hemicryptophytes (9.29%) and cryptophytes (5.5%). Chorological analysis revealed that Saharo-Arabian (48%) and the Sudano-Zambezian (19.2%) chorotypes constitute the main bulk (67.2%) of the total flora of the studied area. The majority of the perennial species behave similarly to each other in their phenology, and usually perennials sprout at the end of February, become leafy in March, flower in April and produce fruits between April and July. Three main vegetation groups resulted from classification of the dominant vegetation. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that magnesium, potassium and pH were the most effective soil variables.

Adaptive responses of Aerva javanica Burm.f. Shult. to severe aridity in the Egyptian deserts

“…Thus the studied species are frequently adapted against drought conditions prevailing in their habitats during summer season, by accumulation of considerable amounts of soluble sugars, soluble proteins and amino acids than in winter when the prevailing ecological conditions may be fairly more favorable for such plants. These results agreed with what was found by Salama et al (2012) on Ochradenus baccatus in Wadi Qena.…”

“…Wadi Qena (220km long) is one of the most notable unique features of the Egyptian Eastern Desert. It runs from north to south (the opposite direction to the Nile Valley) and debouches at the city of Qena 600 km south-East of Cairo (Salama et al, 2012).…”

Ecophysiological responses of Calligonum polygonoides and Artemisia judaicaplants to severe desert aridity

“…The high rate of evaporation concentrated the soil solution. The present data agreed with results obtained by Salama et al (2012).…”

“…The studied species are frequently adapted for drought conditions prevailing in their habitats during the summer season by accumulating more considerable soluble sugars, soluble proteins, and amino acids than in winter when the prevailing ecological conditions may be more favorable for such plants. These results agreed with the study by Salama et al (2012) in Ochradenus baccatus in Wadi Qena.…”

Ecological Study on Vegetation of Abu Tartur Plateau, the New Valley, Egypt

“…Previous studies revealed the economic potentialities of many species growing naturally within Abu Tartur area such as Abad et al (2007), Kumar and Arya (2006), Atta et al (2005) and Scartezzini and Speroni (2000). Salama et al (2014Salama et al ( , 2012 and Abdel-Aleem (2013) reported that environmental stresses reduce species diversity. Stress due to the hostile climatic aridity is reflected remarkably on the composition and structure of the plant communities.…”