Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines
Mining activities have significant impacts on the environment, particularly in terms of the destruction of natural habitats andbiodiversity loss. With the increasing awareness of the importance of ecological restoration and conservation, there is a growing need to study and understand the flora that...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Biodiversity Data Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/104592/download/pdf/ |
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| author | Hamza Zine Rachid Hakkou Abdelhak Elmansour Sara Elgadi Ahmed Ouhammou Mostafa Benzaazoua |
| author_facet | Hamza Zine Rachid Hakkou Abdelhak Elmansour Sara Elgadi Ahmed Ouhammou Mostafa Benzaazoua |
| author_sort | Hamza Zine |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mining activities have significant impacts on the environment, particularly in terms of the destruction of natural habitats andbiodiversity loss. With the increasing awareness of the importance of ecological restoration and conservation, there is a growing need to study and understand the flora that thrives in mining sites in order to facilitate successful reclamation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the floristic composition and plant diversity of four phosphate mine sites (PMSs) in Morocco, namely Bou Craa mine (BCM), Ben Guerir mine (BGM), Youssoufia mine (YSM), and Khouribga mine (KHM).The study found a total of 215 vascular plant species from 166 genera and 49 taxonomic families across the four sites. BGM was the most diverse site with 120 plant species, followed by KHM with 75, YSM with 57, and BCM with 54. Compositae family species were the most common at BGM and KHM, while Amaranthaceae species were dominant at BCM, and Poaceae and Compositae at YSM. Therophytes (annual species) were the most common functional group (45.0%), followed by chamaephytes (19.6%) and hemicryptophytes (15.9%).Atriplex nummularia and Chenopodium album were the most common species found at all four sites, while Atriplex semibaccata, Bassia muricata, Haloxylon scoparium, and 12 other species were common at three sites. However, 156 plant species were found at only one site. The findings of this study highlight the significant abundance of plant species in Moroccan PMSs and provide a basis for successful ecological engineering rehabilitation plans. The study emphasizes the importance of studying the indigenous plant species that naturally populate these marginal lands to ensure successful reclamation efforts. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:01:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0b0dd643e6c4461b91f3a000a25a6af4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1314-2828 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T00:01:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biodiversity Data Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-0b0dd643e6c4461b91f3a000a25a6af42023-07-13T08:11:03ZengPensoft PublishersBiodiversity Data Journal1314-28282023-07-011112610.3897/BDJ.11.e104592104592Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate minesHamza Zine0Rachid Hakkou1Abdelhak Elmansour2Sara Elgadi3Ahmed Ouhammou4Mostafa Benzaazoua5Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic UniversityGeology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic UniversityGeology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic UniversityLaboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and, Environment (BioMAgE), Phytobiodiversity and Environment team, regional herbarium 'MARK', Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad UniversityLaboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and, Environment (BioMAgE), Phytobiodiversity and Environment team, regional herbarium 'MARK', Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad UniversityGeology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic UniversityMining activities have significant impacts on the environment, particularly in terms of the destruction of natural habitats andbiodiversity loss. With the increasing awareness of the importance of ecological restoration and conservation, there is a growing need to study and understand the flora that thrives in mining sites in order to facilitate successful reclamation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the floristic composition and plant diversity of four phosphate mine sites (PMSs) in Morocco, namely Bou Craa mine (BCM), Ben Guerir mine (BGM), Youssoufia mine (YSM), and Khouribga mine (KHM).The study found a total of 215 vascular plant species from 166 genera and 49 taxonomic families across the four sites. BGM was the most diverse site with 120 plant species, followed by KHM with 75, YSM with 57, and BCM with 54. Compositae family species were the most common at BGM and KHM, while Amaranthaceae species were dominant at BCM, and Poaceae and Compositae at YSM. Therophytes (annual species) were the most common functional group (45.0%), followed by chamaephytes (19.6%) and hemicryptophytes (15.9%).Atriplex nummularia and Chenopodium album were the most common species found at all four sites, while Atriplex semibaccata, Bassia muricata, Haloxylon scoparium, and 12 other species were common at three sites. However, 156 plant species were found at only one site. The findings of this study highlight the significant abundance of plant species in Moroccan PMSs and provide a basis for successful ecological engineering rehabilitation plans. The study emphasizes the importance of studying the indigenous plant species that naturally populate these marginal lands to ensure successful reclamation efforts.https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/104592/download/pdf/arid and semi-arid climatebiodiversityecology |
| spellingShingle | Hamza Zine Rachid Hakkou Abdelhak Elmansour Sara Elgadi Ahmed Ouhammou Mostafa Benzaazoua Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines Biodiversity Data Journal arid and semi-arid climate biodiversity ecology |
| title | Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines |
| title_full | Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines |
| title_fullStr | Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines |
| title_short | Native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in Moroccan open-pit phosphate mines |
| title_sort | native plant diversity for ecological reclamation in moroccan open pit phosphate mines |
| topic | arid and semi-arid climate biodiversity ecology |
| url | https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/104592/download/pdf/ |
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