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. 2022 May;29(5):3654-3660.
doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2022.03.003. Epub 2022 Mar 5.

Floristic composition of Jandaf Mountain as biodiversity hotspot area in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Ali A Al-Namazi  1 , Saeed M Algarni  2   3 , Justin S H Wan  4 , Mobarak S Al Mosallam  1 , Fahad Alotaibi  1
Affiliations

Floristic composition of Jandaf Mountain as biodiversity hotspot area in southwestern Saudi Arabia

Ali A Al-Namazi et al. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2022 May.

Abstract

Arid environments around the world are characterized by lower plant diversity. However, some specific locations have relatively high species richness and have significant importance in terms of vegetation structure and plant diversity. Jabal Al-Jandaf is located in an arid area within the eastern side of mountainous region in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. It consists of valleys, lower plain and upper plain habitats with unique and diverse vegetation. These habitats range from 1000 m above sea level near the Tarj valley to 1910 m at the summit. In this study, we conducted a first survey of the floristic diversity at Jandaf Mountain. Furthermore, we applied the criteria of the Important Plant Area (IPA) and the High Conservation Value (HCV) approaches to assess whether the plant community at Jandaf Mountain qualifies as a significant conservation area. We found that the study area has great plant diversity with plant composition varying among the different habitats (e.g., valleys, upper and lower elevations) within the study area. We recorded 118 species from 97 genera belonging to 42 families, including endemic (e.g. Aloe pseudorubroviolacea), near-endemic (e.g. Monolluma quadrangular), and endangered species (e.g. Dracaena serrulata, Combretum molle, and Moringa peregrine). The plant diversity at Jandaf Mountain achieves the criteria outlined in the IPA and HCV approaches. Therefore, we conclude that Jandaf Mountain has a unique vegetation structure, and the area qualifies for conservation as a high value area for biodiversity and conservation of global significance.

Keywords: Arid environment; Endangered species; Mountainous habitat; Rare species; Threatened species.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Topographic map of the study site at Jandaf Mountain, Saudi Arabia. Elevation of the study area at Jandaf Mountain (indicated by white frame) ranges from 1400 to 1900 m a.s.l.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Climate graph showing the monthly mean monthly maximum, average, and minimum temperatures (°C) and rainfall (mm) near the study site (Bishah weather station for the period from 2003 to 2017).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The mean Species Richness ± (SE) in the three different elevation layers (N = 10, df = 9, F = 5.26, P = 0.40).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Al-Namazi A.A., Al-Khulaidi A.W.A., Algarni S., Al-Sagheer N.A. Natural plant species inventory of hotspot areas in Arabian Peninsula: Southwest Al-Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 2021;28:3309–3324. - PMC - PubMed
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Further Reading

    1. Abuzinada, A.H., Al-Wetaid, Y.I. & Al-Basyouni, S.Z.M., 2005. The National Strategy for Conservation of Biodiversity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prepared and issued by: The National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development. Conservation of Biological Diversity, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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