Evaluation of arid rangelands degradation and productivity in response to variable precipitation and land use changes
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2015, Vol 7, Issue 6
Abstract
Several changes have impacted the ecosystem at northwestern coast of Egypt include transformation from extensive to intensive agro-pastoral systems, increasing the rate of urbanization,and frequent drought periods. This study was carried out at the northwestern coast of Egypt to evaluate changes in vegetation composition and rangeland productivity at Wadi Umm Ashtan in 2004 and 2015 as influenced by changes in land use and variable precipitation. Detail plant survey was conducted in each of the studied years, and the plant life of this Wadi was surveyed, plant cover and other vegetation parameters of each plant species were calculated. Rangeland productivity was evaluated of six different habitat represent the main sections of Wadi Umm Ashtan. Results indicated that tremendous changes have been noticed from spring of 2004 to spring of 2015, average vegetation cover at the different parts of the Wadi declined from about 24 % in 2004 to 15 % in 2015. The Wadi has faced increasing in urban encroachment rate whereas several tourism development and land urbanization projects have been established. As an example of the coastal part of the Wadi, vegetation survey in spring, 2015 of mobile sand dunes habitat indicated that total vegetation cover decreased to 7.3 % compared to about 11% in spring, 2004. Drainage lines habitat was rich in species diversity and several palatable plant species were recorded in this part of the Wadi. Overall, Drought, overgrazing, and different land use changes have negatively impacted vegetation cover at the study area and increased soilerosion.
Authors and Affiliations
El Sayed Khalifa
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP38681
- DOI -
- Views 177
- Downloads 0
Diversity and seasonal pattern of Chironomidae (Insecta; Diptera) in seven lotic systems of Southeast Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and seasonal variation of the richness and abundance of Chironomidae larvae and related its distribution to physical and chemical variables in seven lotic systems of Southeast Cô...
Performance of six strawberry cultivars in tropical climate
Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is one the most important fruits in the world. Its growth characteristics, yield and quality are severely affected by environmental conditions, cultivation area and cultivar. This...
The flora of sarigol national park, Northern Khorassan province, Iran
Sarigol National Park is located at Northern Khorassan province, at NW Esfarayen between 36˚ 55΄– 37˚ 02΄N, 57˚ 41΄– 57˚ 47΄E. The vascular flora of this park was investigated in the years 2008–2009. A total of 975 plan...
Mandibular shape variation among different size classes of the ant Camponotus sp.(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
This study was conducted to determine shape differences in the mandibles of different size classes of the ant Camponotus sp.. To do this, landmarks taken from digital images of a total of sixty minor (30) and major worke...
Simulation of Nickel in soils affected by wastewater and sludge by using Hydrus 1D
Transport of heavy metals in contaminated soils can cause groundwater pollution. In the present study Hudrus one dimensional software was used for nickel metal transfer from soil to groundwater. Concentrations of Ni was...