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. 2016 Nov;23(6):687-697.
doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2016.02.007. Epub 2016 Mar 3.

Main vegetation types and plant species diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Abdullah Al-Aklabi  1 , Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi  2 , Akram Hussain  3 , Nageeb Al-Sagheer  4
Affiliations

Main vegetation types and plant species diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia

Abdullah Al-Aklabi et al. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Plant species composition patterns and vegetation types were investigated along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Sandy plain, wadis, drainage lines, rocky outcrops, hills and fallow lands occur over a wide geographic range encompassing variation in plant species and communities among these different ecological sites. To provide a quantitatively based classification of the vegetation we used Multi Variant Statistical Package (MVSP) software, followed by the re-arrangement of a matrix of the similar plant species in rows and similar sample sites in columns. Plant density and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each quadrat. Two-way indicator species analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used to analyze the relationships between vegetation and environmental variables, while Arc Map was used to analyze the pattern of plant species density. A total of 59 sample plots (25 × 25 m), stratified, randomly-placed relevés were collected in Al Baha region, along a cross section running from south-west to north-west. About 190 plant species belonging to 59 families were recognized. This study showed that these plant species formed 15 vegetation types that primarily correspond mainly to different combinations of elevation, and topography. The study concluded that this research has provided the first quantitative and systematic survey of the vegetation in Al Baha region.

Keywords: Al Baha; MVSP; Plant density; Saudi Arabia; Vegetation types.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Location of the Al Baha region.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Topography of Al Baha region.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Cross section along the study area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Plant density along the cross section.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Maps showing the location of each vegetation type.
Figure 6
Figure 6
MVSP similarity result data.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination biplot of sampling points on main landforms and environmental variables (altitude, rainfall and land form). Arrows represent the environmental data and point in the direction of maximum change of the environmental variable across the diagram. Altitude and rainfall are the most important environmental variables. Altitude and landform are strongly correlated with ordination axis 2. There is a very clear segregation between vegetation types 8 to 12 (left) and of the other vegetation types (right). The first group is strongly correlated with altitude and rainfall, and the second group is strongly correlated with the landforms.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) ordination biplot of plant species and 3 environmental variables. Altitude and moisture (rainfall) are the most important environmental variables.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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