Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Jabal Al-Ward is one of the Hijazi mountains situated between Al-Ulā and Al-Wajh, southwest Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia’s northwesterly border region. It is considered the highest mountain in this area and is enriched in wildlife. For the first time, the present research aimed to investigate the fl...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2626 |
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| author | Ahmed Elkordy Iman H. Nour Faten Y. Ellmouni Najla A. Al Shaye Dhafer A. Al-Bakre Ahmed EL-Banhawy |
| author_facet | Ahmed Elkordy Iman H. Nour Faten Y. Ellmouni Najla A. Al Shaye Dhafer A. Al-Bakre Ahmed EL-Banhawy |
| author_sort | Ahmed Elkordy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Jabal Al-Ward is one of the Hijazi mountains situated between Al-Ulā and Al-Wajh, southwest Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia’s northwesterly border region. It is considered the highest mountain in this area and is enriched in wildlife. For the first time, the present research aimed to investigate the floristic composition, phytogeographical distribution, and plant diversity in Jabal Al-Ward. One hundred ninety-eight species representing 47 plant families have been identified. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae represented more than a third of the region’s floristic composition. The perennial species (53.5%) were dominant over the annuals (46.46%). This is a prominent feature in Jabal Al-Ward, where the perennial species may be more tolerant of climatic changeability than the annuals. Seven life form categories were found; therophytes (46.46%) showed to be the most common life form. In addition, there were four main phytogeographical groups: Mono-regional, Bi-regional, Pluri-regional, and Worldwide. The Mono-regional and Bi-regional categories had the highest participation, with 38.5% and 37.4%, respectively. Thirty-six species (18.2%) were found to be native to the Saharo-Arabian region. The Saharo-Arabian region was combined with eight more regions, including Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (12.6%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian (9.1%), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (5.6%), Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (4.5%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (2%), Euro-Siberian/Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian and Saharo-Arabian/Sudanian (1% each), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian, and Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Saharo-Zambesian (0.5% each). The current study demonstrated the highest species richness compared to earlier research on various locations in Tabuk Province. In future work, the species and endemic richness along elevation gradients should be studied in Jabal Al-Ward. As well as the IUCN status of each taxon, the DNA barcoding of endangered species will be of great significance if applied in the surveyed area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:21:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3462dd308f064b89be48356a9f7240e2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:21:47Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-3462dd308f064b89be48356a9f7240e22023-11-24T03:19:29ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-10-011211262610.3390/agronomy12112626Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaAhmed Elkordy0Iman H. Nour1Faten Y. Ellmouni2Najla A. Al Shaye3Dhafer A. Al-Bakre4Ahmed EL-Banhawy5Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, EgyptBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, EgyptBotany Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum 63514, EgyptDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, College of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 47512, Saudi ArabiaBotany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, EgyptJabal Al-Ward is one of the Hijazi mountains situated between Al-Ulā and Al-Wajh, southwest Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia’s northwesterly border region. It is considered the highest mountain in this area and is enriched in wildlife. For the first time, the present research aimed to investigate the floristic composition, phytogeographical distribution, and plant diversity in Jabal Al-Ward. One hundred ninety-eight species representing 47 plant families have been identified. The Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae represented more than a third of the region’s floristic composition. The perennial species (53.5%) were dominant over the annuals (46.46%). This is a prominent feature in Jabal Al-Ward, where the perennial species may be more tolerant of climatic changeability than the annuals. Seven life form categories were found; therophytes (46.46%) showed to be the most common life form. In addition, there were four main phytogeographical groups: Mono-regional, Bi-regional, Pluri-regional, and Worldwide. The Mono-regional and Bi-regional categories had the highest participation, with 38.5% and 37.4%, respectively. Thirty-six species (18.2%) were found to be native to the Saharo-Arabian region. The Saharo-Arabian region was combined with eight more regions, including Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (12.6%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian (9.1%), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (5.6%), Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian (4.5%), Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian (2%), Euro-Siberian/Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian and Saharo-Arabian/Sudanian (1% each), Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Sudano-Zambesian, and Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean/Saharo-Arabian/Saharo-Zambesian (0.5% each). The current study demonstrated the highest species richness compared to earlier research on various locations in Tabuk Province. In future work, the species and endemic richness along elevation gradients should be studied in Jabal Al-Ward. As well as the IUCN status of each taxon, the DNA barcoding of endangered species will be of great significance if applied in the surveyed area.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2626Arabian Peninsulachorologyflora of Saudi Arabiaflora of West AsiaHijazi MountainsJabal Al-Ward |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Elkordy Iman H. Nour Faten Y. Ellmouni Najla A. Al Shaye Dhafer A. Al-Bakre Ahmed EL-Banhawy Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Agronomy Arabian Peninsula chorology flora of Saudi Arabia flora of West Asia Hijazi Mountains Jabal Al-Ward |
| title | Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full | Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_fullStr | Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_short | Floristic Diversity of Jabal Al-Ward, Southwest Tabuk Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
| title_sort | floristic diversity of jabal al ward southwest tabuk region kingdom of saudi arabia |
| topic | Arabian Peninsula chorology flora of Saudi Arabia flora of West Asia Hijazi Mountains Jabal Al-Ward |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/11/2626 |
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