Thriving green havens in baking deserts:Plant diversity and species composition of urban plantations in the Sahara Desert  

作　　者：Mohammed SOUDDI Haroun CHENCHOUNI M'hammed BOUALLALA 

机构地区：[1]Laboratory of Saharan Natural Resources,Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences,University of Ahmed Draia-Adrar,Adrar 01000,Algeria [2]Laboratory of Algerian Forests and Climate Change,Higher National School of Forests,Khenchela 40000,Algeria [3]Laboratory of Natural Resources and Management of Sensitive Environments,University of Oum El Bouaghi,Oum El Bouaghi 04000,Algeria [4]Higher School of Saharan Agriculture,Adrar 01000,Algeria

出　　处：《Journal of Arid Land》2024年第9期1270-1287,共18页干旱区科学（英文版）

摘　　要：Hot arid zones represent vital reservoirs of unique species and ecosystems,holding significant importance for biodiversity.This study aimed to explore the plant diversity associated with tree plantations in urban ecosystems under hyper-arid climatic conditions in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.In May 2022,30 quadrats measuring 1 m^(2) each were established at the base of Phoenix dactylifera,Leucaena leucocephala,and Tamarix aphylla,corresponding to the dominant tree species in each of three plantations.In each quadrat,the plant quantitative inventory was conducted to measure plant diversity and similarity among the studied plantations.Based on this,we assessed the plant functional traits and rarity/abundance status of the flora.The findings revealed a diverse flora associated with the studied plantations,comprising 29 plant species grouped into 27 genera and 12 families.Notably,Poaceae(accounting for 30.8% of the flora),Asteraceae(25.0%),and Zygophyllaceae(21.6%)were well-represented.With an overall density of approximately 555 individuals/m^(2),Zygophyllum album(120 individuals/m^(2))and Polypogon monspeliensis(87 individuals/m^(2))emerged as the most abundant species.Functional trait analysis underscored the pivotal role of therophytes(constituting over 50.0% of the flora)and anemochorous species(33.0%-62.5%).Phytogeographic analysis emphasized the prevalence of the Saharo-Arabic element(constituting over 31.0% of the flora)and the Mediterranean Saharo-Arabic element(9.5%-21.5%).The Cosmopolitan element thrived under disturbance factors,recording percentages from 13.0% to 20.0% of the plant community.The rarity/abundance status of the flora emphasized the significance of rare,common,and very common species in the studied plantations.These findings could provide fundamental data for the effective control and management of biodiversity in hot hyper-arid urban ecosystems.

关 键 词：urban plantations plant diversity plant functional traits rarity/abundance status Sahara Desert Algeria 

分 类 号：X171.1[环境科学与工程—环境科学] Q948[生物学—植物学]