Egypt is characterized by its hyper-arid desert environment with high temperature, scanty rainfall, high evapotranspiration rate, and patchy scattered precipitation-dependent vegetation. Located in this peculiar ecosystem, the northeastern part of the eastern desert occupies vast areas where this study was conducted. Despite some protection in this area, destruction of plant cover, soil erosion, and degradation of natural habitat are still occurring. Among the complex array of anthropogenic disturbances that directly affect species diversity, over-grazing, road construction, over-collection of plants, salinization, over-cutting, military activities, urbanization, and industrialization were encountered. The aim of this study was to assess the effect on long-lasting anthropopressure on the current floristic and ecological status of the unprotected area in comparison to the protected one. Two areas were chosen for detailed studies: protected (Wadi Degla; WD) and unprotected (Cairo-Suez road, SR). Fourteen soil variables were used to assess the soil–vegetation relationships in the two areas. An assessment of seven human activities (over-grazing, over-collection, introduced species, land degradation, urbanization, solid wastes, and military activities) was carried out at four levels of disturbance intensities. A floristic presence/absence data set of 25 plots × 56 species, including 14 plots for SR and 11 plots for WD, was employed in the analyses. The application of multivariate analysis techniques such as cluster analysis (for classification), indicator species analysis (ISA) and the multi-response permutation procedure (MRPP), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and redundancy analysis (RDA) for ordination were performed in the data analysis. Generally, a total of 85 plant species belonging to 68 genera and 30 families was recorded. Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Geraniaceae were the largest families, constituting more than 50% of the total flora. Chamaephytes, therophytes, hemicryptophytes, and phanerophytes prevail in the life form spectrum. Chorological analysis showed that the Saharo-Arabian element, whether pure or combined with other chorotypes, dominated the current flora, whereas the Mediterranean chorotype was very poorly represented. Application of cluster analysis yielded eight vegetation groups: I–IV for the Cairo-Suez road, and V–VIII for Wadi Degla. This study indicated the disappearance of several plant communities that were previously of common occurrence such as Retama raetam, Anabasis articulata, Ephedra alata, Artemisia monosperma, Zygophyllum decumbens, Lasiurus hirsutus, and Panicum turgidum. Partial CCA (pCCA) for the unprotected area revealed that most of the variance (45.7%) was attributed to the anthropogenic variables more than soil factors (14.5%). Like what was revealed in other unprotected areas, a clear relationship between anthropogenic pressure and habitat fragmentation was observed. Long-term, intensive human activities caused vegetation degradation, species loss, and a decline in plant richness. Hence, the highest species richness value was recorded in the protected area. Over-grazing, land degradation, and military activities were not correlated with the diversity indices, whereas over-collection of plant species, urbanization, and solid wastes were significantly negatively correlated with both α-diversity and the Shannon–Wiener index. Suitable protection measures should be taken to reduce the anthropogenic pressures in this ecosystem as well as some conservation programs and management plans should be implemented to save biodiversity.

Aims: To study vegetation, life-form and chorotype to assess the species diversity between the different community types. Study Design: Several field trips were carried out to the study area. Place and Duration of Study: Wadi Wasaa -Jazan -Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Vegetation diversity, chorology and abundance values were visually estimated and used to form ten clusters of plant community types by statistical methods with Euclidian Distance and Ward method using SPSS program (ver.20). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index was used to estimate diversity, richness and evenness of the recorded species. Results: A total of 95 species belonging to 75 genera and 31 families were recorded. Poaceae and Euphorbiaceae both are the dominant families constituted 23% of the total species followed by Apocynaceae, Malvaceae. Chamaephytes and therophytes were the prevailed life forms, indicating a typical desert life-form spectrum (chameo-therophytic) type. The chorological analysis revealed a total of 26 species representing 27% fall under monoregional, 56 species (59%) as biregional area Original Research Article

Commiphora species are of high medicinal importance. They are distributed in Saudi Arabia, mainly in rocky habitats and regions under mountains, including the east of Tihama, forming a distinct element of Saudi flora. The present study focuses on the botanical characterization of five species of Commiphora, i.e., C. erythraea, C. gileadensis, C. kataf, C. myrrha, and C. quadricincta. The morphological characters for each species were recorded comparatively, and their taxonomic relationships were examined using gross morphology by generating a UPGMA dendrogram, which separated the Commiphora species into two distinct groups. A dichotomous key was generated to facilitate the identification process of the plant, even by naked eye, by obvious characteristics. Because of the similarities in anatomical structure of the stem and petiole of most studied species, only the quantitative variations are illustrated comparatively. Seed macro- and micro-morphological characteristics were recorded comparatively to be used in the identification of a species in the case of leaf absence. The phytochemical study included measurements of total phenolic and flavonoid contents. The phytochemical results were correlated with the ethno-botanic survey. The traditional uses for all species were recorded using the questionnaire and open interviews method for data collecting. The results revealed that the most common Commiphora species that are traditionally used are C. myrrha and C. gileadensis. The study recommends more research on Commiphora species using more advanced techniques and tries to increase public awareness on the importance of these plants.

Aims: To study Floristic diversity, life-form, chorology, edaphic factors affecting the species distribution of Wadi Qusai. Study Design: Several field trips were carried out to the study area -sites soil analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Wadi Qusai -Jazan -Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Floristic composition, vegetation diversity, life form, chorology, soil analysis and cover estimation by TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA. Results: A total of 103 species belonging to 77 genera and 33 families were recorded from 20 sample sites. Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Amaranthaceae are the most highly represented families. Therophytes and phanerophytes are the dominant life forms. Chronological analysis revealed that biregional elements that belong to the Saharo-Arabian and the Sudano-Zambezian together have the highest share of species representing 36 species (35% of the total species). Conclusion: Five vegetation groups were recognized by TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA analysis; group A (Aloe fleurentiniorum, Cadaba glandulosa and Delonix elata) inhabiting the high wadi slope, group B (Anisotes trisulcus , Fagonia indica, Pulicaria undulata, Acacia ehrenbergiana and Panicum turgidum) was occupied the low slope and wadi terraces, group C (Ziziphus spina-christi, Abutilon pannosum and Fagonia indica) was represented the medium wadi slope, Group D