Effect of Invasion by Exotic Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. on Native Species Diversity Across an Aridity Gradient Along the Coastal Mediterranean Dunes of Sinai Peninsula
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt
Abstract
Exotic plant invasions represent a threat to natural and conserved ecosystems. In this study, the effect of
the invasive exotic Acacia saligna on native floristic diversity was evaluated at Zaranik and Ahrash
Protectorates that representing arid and semi-arid climate, respectively along the Mediterranean dunes of
Sinai. At each site, 35 plots were randomly established. The community attributes of native species
including species number, species richness, species evenness and dominance–diversity curves were
measured and compared between invaded and uninvaded patches. Results showed that all the measured
community attributes were significantly lower in the invaded than uninvaded patches at both sites. In
addition, the dominance–diversity curves indicated that invaded patches had less species richness with
monospecific communities. Furthermore, the effect of A. saligna on the native flora is dependent on its
canopy size and the aridity. Larger canopy at the arid site has negatively greater impact on the diversity
of native species. The vitality survey showed that the leaf litter accumulation of A. saligna has a
detrimental effect on the health of the native dominant Artemisia monosperma shrubs in the adjacent
uninvaded patches. Markedly, the present study indicates that A. saligna has a potential threat to the
native plant diversity within the two Mediterranean conservation protectorates. Restoration options to
reduce exotic A. saligna plants in the North Sinai sand dunes were found to be the introduction and
management of native sand trapping plant species.
El-Bana, M. (2008). Effect of Invasion by Exotic Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. on Native Species Diversity Across an Aridity Gradient Along the Coastal Mediterranean Dunes of Sinai Peninsula. Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(2), 41-48.
MLA
Magdy El-Bana. "Effect of Invasion by Exotic Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. on Native Species Diversity Across an Aridity Gradient Along the Coastal Mediterranean Dunes of Sinai Peninsula". Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3, 2, 2008, 41-48.
HARVARD
El-Bana, M. (2008). 'Effect of Invasion by Exotic Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. on Native Species Diversity Across an Aridity Gradient Along the Coastal Mediterranean Dunes of Sinai Peninsula', Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 3(2), pp. 41-48.
VANCOUVER
El-Bana, M. Effect of Invasion by Exotic Acacia saligna (Labill.) H. Wendl. on Native Species Diversity Across an Aridity Gradient Along the Coastal Mediterranean Dunes of Sinai Peninsula. Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2008; 3(2): 41-48.
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