Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt
Abd El-Wahab, R., Zaghloul, M., Moustafa, A. (2018). Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 1(2), 9-20.
Raafat Abd El-Wahab; Mohamed Zaghloul; Abd El-Raouf Moustafa. "Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt". EKB Journal Management System, 1, 2, 2018, 9-20.
Abd El-Wahab, R., Zaghloul, M., Moustafa, A. (2018). 'Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt', EKB Journal Management System, 1(2), pp. 9-20.
Abd El-Wahab, R., Zaghloul, M., Moustafa, A. Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt. EKB Journal Management System, 2018; 1(2): 9-20.

Vegetation and Environment of Gebel Serbal, South Sinai, Egypt

Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences
Article 2, Volume 1, Issue 2, 2018, Page 9-20  XML PDF (359.87 K)
Document Type: Original Article
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Authors
Raafat Abd El-Wahab email 1; Mohamed Zaghloulorcid 2; Abd El-Raouf Moustafa2
1Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
2Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the floristic composition and the distributional behavior of plant
communities in relation to the main physiographic features and soil properties in Gebel Serbal. Canopy
cover of plant species and altitude were measured in 58 stands (20 m x 20 m). Gravel percentage, soil
texture, hygroscopic moisture, pH, electric conductivity, total carbonate, total nitrogen, available
phosphorus, and soil organic matter were determined in each stand. The results revealed that Serbal
Mountain is characterized by distinguished microhabitats and low to moderate human impact that result
in unique floristic composition and vegetation patterns. One hundred and six species were identified in
this study including 11 endemic species, and 36 characteristic species. Based on multivariate analyses,
seven main plant communities were recognized in Gebel Serbal area. Distribution of the plant
communities was more related to altitude, hygroscopic moisture, and gravel percentage rather than to
sand, silt and clay fractions, soil organic matter, and total nitrogen. The present study indicates that Gebel
Serbal is the most diverse area in South Sinai, and has a high conservation value. We recommend that
Gebel Serbal, a part of St. Katherine Protectorate, should be declared as habitat/species management
area.
Keywords
Gebel Serbal; Mountainous habitats; plant communities; Multivariate Analysis; edaphic factors; endemic species; conservation
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