Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt
Irresponsible human interventions, encroachment of natural habitats, and climate change negatively affect wildlife. In this study, the effects of human influence on Wadi Hagul, an unprotected area in the north of the Egyptian Eastern Desert that has recently been subjected to blatant encroachments o...
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1906 |
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| author | Ramadan Bedair Amira A. Ibrahim Amal A. Alyamani Salman Aloufi Samah Ramadan |
| author_facet | Ramadan Bedair Amira A. Ibrahim Amal A. Alyamani Salman Aloufi Samah Ramadan |
| author_sort | Ramadan Bedair |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Irresponsible human interventions, encroachment of natural habitats, and climate change negatively affect wildlife. In this study, the effects of human influence on Wadi Hagul, an unprotected area in the north of the Egyptian Eastern Desert that has recently been subjected to blatant encroachments of vegetation, were studied. The most important of these threats is the construction of the new road Al-Galala–Wadi Hagul–Zafarana. In Wadi Hagul, 80 species are reported in this study; the most represented plant families are Asteraceae (15 species) and Brassicaceae (6 species). Perennial, chamaephyte and Saharo-Arabian species were recorded in the highest percentage. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that latitude, longitude, altitude, silt, sand contents, pH, and CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2</sup><sup>−</sup> content are the factors that have the highest effect on vegetation distribution in the studied stands. Several invasive and alien species such as <i>Euphorbia prostrata</i> have been listed; these species typically have a negative effect on native species. The Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) indicated a decrease in plant cover during the study period, as compared to previous years. In 2013 and 2020, SAVI ranged from −0.02 to 0.42 and from −0.18 to 0.28, respectively. Recently, the violation and destruction of wildlife have increased, therefore, preserving it along with general biodiversity has become an urgent necessity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe3797fc0b4549eea4013958d6353420 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:17:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe3797fc0b4549eea4013958d63534202023-11-22T14:53:32ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-09-01109190610.3390/plants10091906Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, EgyptRamadan Bedair0Amira A. Ibrahim1Amal A. Alyamani2Salman Aloufi3Samah Ramadan4Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11884, EgyptDepartment of the Plant Protection and Biomolecular Diagnosis, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute (ALCRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SARTA, City), New Borg El Arab City 21934, EgyptDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi ArabiaBotany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, EgyptIrresponsible human interventions, encroachment of natural habitats, and climate change negatively affect wildlife. In this study, the effects of human influence on Wadi Hagul, an unprotected area in the north of the Egyptian Eastern Desert that has recently been subjected to blatant encroachments of vegetation, were studied. The most important of these threats is the construction of the new road Al-Galala–Wadi Hagul–Zafarana. In Wadi Hagul, 80 species are reported in this study; the most represented plant families are Asteraceae (15 species) and Brassicaceae (6 species). Perennial, chamaephyte and Saharo-Arabian species were recorded in the highest percentage. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that latitude, longitude, altitude, silt, sand contents, pH, and CO<sub>3</sub><sup>2</sup><sup>−</sup> content are the factors that have the highest effect on vegetation distribution in the studied stands. Several invasive and alien species such as <i>Euphorbia prostrata</i> have been listed; these species typically have a negative effect on native species. The Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) indicated a decrease in plant cover during the study period, as compared to previous years. In 2013 and 2020, SAVI ranged from −0.02 to 0.42 and from −0.18 to 0.28, respectively. Recently, the violation and destruction of wildlife have increased, therefore, preserving it along with general biodiversity has become an urgent necessity.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1906plant diversityanthropogenic impactsvegetation dynamicswildlifeWadi HagulDCCA |
| spellingShingle | Ramadan Bedair Amira A. Ibrahim Amal A. Alyamani Salman Aloufi Samah Ramadan Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt Plants plant diversity anthropogenic impacts vegetation dynamics wildlife Wadi Hagul DCCA |
| title | Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt |
| title_full | Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt |
| title_short | Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Vegetation Dynamics: A Case Study of Wadi Hagul, Eastern Desert, Egypt |
| title_sort | impacts of anthropogenic disturbance on vegetation dynamics a case study of wadi hagul eastern desert egypt |
| topic | plant diversity anthropogenic impacts vegetation dynamics wildlife Wadi Hagul DCCA |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/10/9/1906 |
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