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Floristic composition of Jandaf Mountain as biodiversity hotspot area in southwestern Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT: Arid environments around the world are characterized by lower plant diversity. However, some specific locations have relatively high species richness and have significant importance in terms of vegetation structure and plant diversity. Jabal Al-Jandaf is located in an arid area within the eastern side of mountainous region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. It consists of valleys, lower plain and upper plain habitats with unique and diverse vegetation. These habitats range from 1000 m above sea level near the Tarj valley to 1910 m at the summit. In this study, we conducted a first survey of the floristic diversity at Jandaf Mountain. Furthermore, we applied the criteria of the Important Plant Area (IPA) and the High Conservation Value (HCV) approaches to assess whether the plant community at Jandaf Mountain qualifies as a significant conservation area. We found that the study area has great plant diversity with plant composition varying among the different habitats (e.g., valleys, upper and lower elevations) within the study area. We recorded 118 species from 97 genera belonging to 42 families, including endemic (e.g. Aloe pseudorubroviolacea), near-endemic (e.g. Monolluma quadrangular), and endangered species (e.g. Dracaena serrulata, Combretum molle, and Moringa peregrine). The plant diversity at Jandaf Mountain achieves the criteria outlined in the IPA and HCV approaches. Therefore, we conclude that Jandaf Mountain has a unique vegetation structure, and the area qualifies for conservation as a high value area for biodiversity and conservation of global significance.

SUBMITTER: Al-Namazi A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9280213 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The current research was carried out in Wadi Elkor, one of the Sarawat Mountains regions, which is a special location from an environmental standpoint and one of the only places in Saudi Arabia where a range of Palaearctic flora co-exists with Afrotropical species. The study aimed to determine the floristic composition as well as the effects of slope aspect and elevation on species, life forms, and phytogeographical elements distribution. The study area is located in Wadi Elkor, a valley in the Sarawat Mountains that cuts off the Al-Hada escarpment, 47 km southeast of Makkah City, Saudi Arabia. We conducted the research at three different locations, each with a different elevation and slope aspect. Based on floristic composition, Ward classification moreover Jaccard comparisons were performed. A total of 189 species was discovered, divided into 131 genera and 43 families. The current study identified Argyrolobium rarum Dumme as a new vascular plant in Saudi Arabia's terrestrial flora. In the current study, the Gramineae, Leguminosae, and Compositae families contributed 29% of the total plant species, whereas 14 families were represented by one species each. Solanum was the most numerous genus, with seven species, followed by Acacia and Pulicaria, each with six species, while Commicarpos and Euphorbia, each with four species. At an elevation of 1060 m above sea level, the north facing slope had the most plants, genera, and families. Therophytes had the most species, accounting for 44%, followed by Chamaephytes, which accounted for 26%. Hemicryptophytes accounted for 12% of the total, while phanerophytes accounted for 10%. In the studied area, the bioregional Saharo-Sindian and Sudano-Zambesian groups were the most well-represented (41%). The floristic composition, as well as the distribution of life forms and phytogeographical components, were found to be significantly affected by the elevation and slope aspects. The study showed that slope aspect and elevation both affected the distribution of plant species, with elevation being the most influential of the two variables.

Project description:Background and aimsLow-altitude mountains constitute important centres of diversity in landscapes with little topographic variation, such as the Southwest Australian Floristic Region (SWAFR). They also provide unique climatic and edaphic conditions that may allow them to function as refugia. We investigate whether the Porongurups (altitude 655 m) in the SWAFR will provide a refugium for the endemic Ornduffia calthifolia and O. marchantii under forecast climate change.MethodsWe used species distribution modelling based on WorldClim climatic data, 30-m elevation data and a 2-m-resolution LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM) to predict current and future distributions of the Ornduffia species at local and regional scales based on 605 field-based abundance estimates. Future distributions were forecast using RCP2.6 and RCP4.5 projections. To determine whether local edaphic and biotic factors impact these forecasts, we tested whether soil depth and vegetation height were significant predictors of abundance using generalized additive models (GAMs).Key resultsSpecies distribution modelling revealed the importance of elevation and topographic variables at the local scale for determining distributions of both species, which also preferred shadier locations and higher slopes. However, O. calthifolia occurred at higher (cooler) elevations with rugged, concave topography, while O. marchantii occurred in disturbed sites at lower locations with less rugged, convex topography. Under future climates both species are likely to severely contract under the milder RCP2.6 projection (approx. 2?°C of global warming), but are unlikely to persist if warming is more severe (RCP4.5). GAMs showed that soil depth and vegetation height are important predictors of O. calthifolia and O. marchantii distributions, respectively.ConclusionsThe Porongurups constitute an important refugium for O. calthifolia and O. marchantii, but limits to this capacity may be reached if global warming exceeds 2?°C. This capacity is moderated at local scales by biotic and edaphic factors.

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Floristic composition of Jandaf Mountain as biodiversity hotspot area in southwestern Saudi Arabia

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