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Plant Diversity of Saint Catherine Protectorate (Southern Sinai, Egypt) By: Dr. Ahmed Faried Lecturer at Botany & Microbiology Dept., Faculty of Science, Assiut University What is Biodiversity? − The term biodiversity is used as a synonym for the “variety of life”. − Biological diversity = (Biodiversity) encompasses all species of plants, animals, microorganisms, the ecosystems and ecological processes of which they are parts. − It is an umbrella term for the degree of nature’s variety, including both the number and frequency of ecosystems, species, or genes in a given assemblage (McNeely et al., 1990). Biodiversity as a concept − In the context of conservation strategies, Soule (1991) distinguishes Three divisions of biodiversity: 1) Genes; 2) Species; 3) And whole systems at the landscape or ecosystem level. − The concept of biodiversity is so broad that it reflect the linkages between genes, species and ecosystems. − Therefore, whether wildlife products or services from ecosystems are required or whether the aim is merely to protect ecosystems for posterity, these linkages must be reflected in the way humans manage the world. − The significance of biodiversity is seen particularly well at species level. Species provide the food we eat, the plants from which much of the world’s medicine comes, the clothes we wear, the trees that re-oxygenate the air we breath and many more benefits. − Genes provides the variations that make the system strong. − Ecosystems provide the habitats in which species can thrive. Taxa No. of Species Notes Flora Bryophyta 337 Liverworts and mosses. Pteridophyta 16 Non-flowering vascular plants. 6 Plants with no protective casing on the seeds. Spermatophyta Gymnospermae Angiosperae 2072 Flowering plants: 62 endemic species. Insecta 10000 New study estimates 15000 species. Arachinda 1517 Mostly spiders, mites and ticks including 24 scorpion species. Amphibia 9 Including 1 endemic. Reptilia 97 Including 6 endemic and 1 endangered species. Aves 470 Resident breeders 150; Migratory and wintering 320. Mammalia 95 Including 6 endemic and 20 endangered species. Terrestrial fauna Invertebrata Vertebrata No. of Species Taxa Notes Maine fauna Invertebrata Fish Vertebrata 1740 This is an extremely low estimate 669 This is an extremely low estimate Turtles 5 All five species are endangered Mammalia 14 Additionally, the Monk Seal and the Killer Whale may be found 124 A low estimate Fish 70 15 species have become extinct in the last century Reptilia 2 The Nile Crocodile and the Nile Soft-shelled Turtle Freshwater Fauna Invertebrata Vertebrata Plant Diversity in Egypt Total number of species 2145 Total number of families Total number of genera 129 755 Gramineae (285 species in 110 genera) Compositae (228 species in 98 genera) Leguminosae (228 species in 45 genera) Cruciferae (104 species in 53 genera) Caryophyllaceae (87 species in 26 genera) Chenopodiaceae (77 species in 20 genera) Boraginaceae (58 species in 19 genera) Scrophulariaceae (60 species in 17 genera) Labiatae (55 species in 23 genera) Euphorbiaceae (55 species in 8 genera) Umbelliferae (49 species in 26 genera) The largest families The largest genera Total number of Endemic Taxa Total number of Near- Endemic Taxa Euphorbia ( 41 species). Astragalus ( 33 species). Silene ( 29 species). Allium ( 21 species). Convolvulus , Plantago ( 20 species). Trifolium , Cyperus ( 19 species). Lotus, Medicago, Atriplex, Bromus (18 species) 60 93 Protected areas of Egypt To date, the nature conservation efforts in Egypt have focused mainly on the establishment of a Protected Areas Network, representative of the nation’s ecosystems, which aim to maintain the diversity and viability of Egypt’s natural heritage and its sustainable utilization. During the past two decades, since the passage of law 102/1983 concerning the establishment of protected areas, 29 protected areas have been declared. Covering an area 91000 km2 or 9% of the land area of Egypt. Protectorates Name Declaration Area (km²) Ras Muhammad National Park 1983 850 South Sinai Azzaraniq Protectorate near Arish 1985 230 North Sinai Ahrash Protectorate near Rafah 1985 8 North Sinai el-Omayed Protectorate near Alamin 1986 700 Matrouh Governorate Gebel Elba National Park 1986 35600 Red Sea Governorate Saluga and Ghazal Protectorate 1986 0.5 Governorate Aswan Saint cathrine National Park 1988 5750 South Sinai Ashtum El Gamil Protectorate 1988 180 Port Said Lake Qarun Protectorate 1989 250 Fayoum Wadi Elrayan Protectorate 1989 1225 Fayoum Wadi Allaqi Protectorate 1989 30000 Aswan Wadi el-Assuti Protectorate 1989 35 Assuit El Hassana Dome Protectorate 1989 1 Giza Petrified Forest Protectorate 1989 7 Cairo Sannur Valley Cave Protectorate 1992 12 Beni Suef Nabaq Protectorate 1992 600 South Sinai Abu Galum Protectorate near Taba 1992 500 South Sinai Taba Protectorate 1998 3595 South Sinai Lake Burullus Protectorate 1998 460 Kafr El Sheikh Nile Islands Protectorates 1998 160 All Governorates on the Nile Wadi Degla Protectorate 1999 60 Siwa Oasis 2002 7800 Matrouh Governorate White Desert 2002 3010 New Valley Governorate Wadi el-Gemal National Park near Hamata 2003 7450 Red Sea Governorate Cairo Saint Cathrine Protectorate Saint Catherine Protectorate is an Egyptian national park in the south of Sinai. It encloses most of the mountainous area of central South Sinai, including the country's highest mountain, Mount Catherine (2641m, above sea level). Saint Catherine protectorate is located in latitude 28° 33′ 20″ N, and longitude 33° 58′ 34″ E. Map 1. Geographical location of St. Catherine protectorate Geographical location * St. Catherine protectorate is located between 33º 30' to 34º 30' E and 28º 50' to 29º 50' N. * The protectorate ara is described as predominantly smoothfaced granite outcrops forming Mountains such as Mt. Serbal and Mt. El-Rabah. Black Mountains consisting of old volcanic rocks are rather common. Map 2. St. Catherine protectorate boundaries. Previous studies The earliest notable accounts on the flora of the peninsula are those of Fresenius and Decaisne which were published in 1834. Boissier’s (1867-1888) monumental work“ Flora Orientalis ”includes the most valuable information about the flora of Sinai during the 19th century. Batanouny (1985) reviewed the history of the botanical related explorations in Sinai. He divided these explorations into seven periods. *Among the contributions related to the flora of Sinai are those of Boulos 1995, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2005; El Hadidi 1969 and 1989; El Hadidi & Fayed 1994/1995; El Husseini & Hosni 1989; El Husseini & Zareh 1989; El Karemy & El Naggar 1989; El Naggar 1989; Fayed 1989; Hassib 1951; Hosni 1989, a&b; Hosny 1989; Kassas 1957; Migahid et al; 1959 Moustafa 1990; Moustafa & Kamel 1995; Moustafa & Klopatek 1995; Täckholm 1969 and 1974;Täckholm & Boulos 1972. FIELD EXCURSIONS •The results presented in this report are based on four excursions to the study area between March and May 2004. *Specimens of the plants have been collected. *Photographs of many species have been taken. *Field observations about the plants, their habitats and their patterns of distribution as possible have also been reported. Flora of Saint Catherine *A Checklist was provided. *Taxa were arranged in alphabetical order. *For each taxon; nomenclature are given. Habitats and distribution in the study area, Egypt as well as the general distribution are also included. Analysis of the checklist 1- Total number of species: 305. 2- Total number of genera: 223. 3- Total number of families: 54. 4- Species endemic to Sinai: 8 1. Bufonia multiceps 2. Euphorbia sanntae-catharinae 3. Phlomis aurea 4. Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum 5. Plantago sinaica 6. Polygala sinaica 7. Silene odontopetala 8. Primula sinaica (5) Species in Egypt confined to Sinai: 36 1. Ajuga chamaepitys, 2. Alcea rosea, 3. Alkanna orientalis, 4. Alyssum marginatum, 5. Anarrhinum pubescens subsp. inaequiglumis, 6. Arenaria deflexa, 7. Bituminaria bituminosa, 8. Bolanthus hirsutus, 9. Cotoneaster orbicularis, 10. Crataegus sinaicus, 11. Crucianella ciliata, 12. Echinops macrochaetus, 13. Ephedra pachyclada, 14. Euphorbia chamaepeplus var. sinaica, 15. Ferula sinaica, 16. Galium ceratopodium, 17. Gypsophila viscosa, 18. Hypericum sinaicum, 19. Juncus punctorius, 20. Malcolmia africana, 21. Malva neglecta, 22. Matthiola arabica, 23. Melica persica, 24. Nepeta septemcrenata, 25. Periploca aphylla, 26. Phagnalon sinaicum, 27. Pterocephalus sanctus, 28. Pycnocycla tomentosa, 29. Reseda stenostachya, 30. Salvia multicaulis, 31. Scandix stellata, 32. Scrophularia libanotica, 33. Sisymbrium septulatum, 34. Solanum sinaicum, 35. Solanum villosum, 36. Tanacetum sinaicum . (6) New records to the flora of Sinai: 17 1. Astragalus cretaceus, 2. Atractylis mernephtae, 3. Carthamus nitidus, 4. Dianthus strictus, 5. Fumaria bracteosa, 6. Galium setaceum, 7. Gymnarrhena micrantha, 8. Helianthemum salicifolium, 9. Ifloga spicata subsp .spicata, 10. Lygeum spartum, 11. Lotus arabicus, 12. Matthiola longipetala, 13. Rumex simpliciflorus, 14. Scorzonera schweinfurthii, 15. .Senecio hoggariensis, 16. Umbilicus horizontalis, 17. Withania obtusifolia. (7) New record to the flora of Egypt Aegilops crassa Boiss. (8) Target Species: Out of 42 target species, the following 34 were recorded: 1. Adiantum capillus-veneris, 2. Anarrhinum pubescens, 3. Blepharis edulis, 4. Bufonia multiceps, 5. Chiliadenus montanus, 6. Cleome droserifolia, 7. Cotoneaster orbicularis, 8. Crataegus sinaica, 9. Deverra triradiata, 10. Ephedra pachyclada, 11. Euphorbia sanctaecatharinae, 12. Foeniculum vulgare, 13. Glaucium arabicum, 14. Globularia arabica, 15. Hyoscyamus pusillus, 16. Hypericum sinaicum, 17. Lindenbergia indica, 18. Moringa peregrina, 19. Nepeta septemcrenata, 20. Origanum syriacum, 21. Otostegia fruticosa, 22. Papaver decaisnei, 23. Phlomis aurea, 24. Pistacia khinjuk, 25. Plantago sinaica, 26. Polygala sinaica, 27 .Primula boveana, 28. Pycnocycla tomentosa, 29. Salvia multicaulis, 30. Solenostemma arghel, 31. Tanacetum sinaicum, 32. Thymus decussatus, 33. Verbascum sinaiticum, 34. Verbascum sinuatum 9. Medicinal plants: 1. Acacia tortilis subsp .raddiana,2. Adiantum capillus-veneris, 3. Anthemis pseudocotula, 4. Artemisia judaica,5 .Asparagus stipularis, 6. Asphodelus tenuifolius, 7. Blepharis edulis, 8. Calotropis procera, 9. Capparis spinosa, 10. Citrullus colocynthis, 11. Cleome deoserifolia, 12. Convolvulus arvensis, 13. Cotoneaster orbicularis ,14. Cotula cinerea, 15. Crotalaria aegyptiaca, 16. Cuscuta planifolia, 17. Cynodon dactylon, 18. Devera tortuosa, 19. Ephedra aphylla, 20. Erodium cicutarium,21 .Euphorbia helioscopia, 22. Fagonia arabica, 23. Fagonia bruguieri, 24. Ferula sinaica, 25. Globularia Arabica ,26 . Haloxylon salicornicum, 27. Heliotropium bacciferum, 28. Imperata cylindrica, 29. Launaea spinosa, 30. Leptadenia pyrotechnica, 31. Malva parviflora, 32. Melilotus indicus, 33. Moringa peregrina, 34. Origanum syriacum, 35. Otostegis frutocosa, 36. Panicum turgidum, 37. Peganum harmala, 38. Pergularia tomentosa, 39. Phlomis aurea, 40. Phragmites australis,41. Plantago afra, 42. Plantago ovata,43. Portulaca oleracea, 44. Primula boveana,45. Pulicaria incisa, 46. Retama raetam,47. Rumex vesicarius, 48. Salvia aegyptiaca, 49. Senna italica, 50. Solenostemma arghel, 51. Teucrium polium, 52. Thymus decassatus, 53. Tribulus terrestis, 54. Urospermum picroides, 55. Verbascum sinuatum, 56. Zilla spinosa, 57. Ziziphus spina-christi, 58. Zygophyllum coccineum. 10. Threatened species: a. Rare : Micromeris sinaica & Scrophularia libanotica. b.Volnerable: 1. Ephedra ciliata, 2. Atraphaxis spinosa var .sinaica, 3. Matthiola arabica, 4. Moringa peregrina, 5. Crataegus sinaica, 6. Cotoneaster orbicularis, 7. Colutea istria, 8. Polygala sinaica, 9. Pistacia khinjuk, 10. Teucrium leucladum, 11. Withania obtusifolia, 12. Pterocephalus sanctus, 13. Conyza stricta, 14. Tanacetum sinaicum, 15. Scariola orientalis, 16. Solanum sinaicum. c.Endangered: 1. Ephedra pachyclada subsp. sinaica 2. Bufinia multiceps, 3. Thymus decussatus, 4. Phlomis aurea, 5. Phagnalon sinaicum, 6. Anarrhinum pubescens. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSERVATION The flora of Sinai is composed of a “Skeleton” of very few common species that almost cover the area most of the time, many rare species have a limited distribution in time or space (Danin et al. 1985( .The rare species are either true rare species that are local endemics or poorly recorded ones. From the floristic point of view based on the field survey, we suggest the following recommendations: * Carrying out a detailed long term botanical survey for the true rare species as well as for the poorly recorded ones. * Establishment of a Botanical Garden for conservation purposes. The first priority should be directed to the threatened species. *Establishment of a National Herbarium at Saint Catherine .The intended herbarium should serve the following purposes: - As a depository for plant collections - As a sourse of plant material. - As an educational facility. - As a mean of confirming the identification of unknown plant specimens. - When coupled with a suitable botanical library and a simple laboratory, the intended herbarium would form an almost self-sufficient which would attract botanists of all disciplines to the area. * We suggest the construction of a Hema system area as well as an encloser: -The Hema system area :Should be in Gebel Serbal region; between Hajar Umm Bardeya and Ain Alloza (حجر أم ;)عين اللوزة- برديةGPS coordinates: 28,63396 N, 33.65151 E & 28.65327 N, 33.63987 E , in order to conserve Pistacia khinjuk var .glabra. Pistacia khinjuk var .glabra. -The encloser should be in Wadi Gebal region, namely at Sadd Abou Hebeeq )( (سد أبو حبيقGPS coordinates: 28.3340 N, 33.5227 E ,1631 alt, in order to conserve Primula boveana). Primula boveana is a true rare species. It is found only in few dripping springs in N-facing cliffs at high elevations in Saint Catherine (Zaghloul, 1997(. According to Boulos (2000), the species seems to be restricted to the Saint Catherine Mountain area, Sinai, where the type was collected by N. Bové in June 1832. Primula boveana: Endemic, Threatened The research team and their assistants heading for an excursion in wadi Gemal. The team used camels in their trips as the only mean of transport in such rocky roads Camping "tents" where the team spent their evenings sleeping for a short time. The leader of the research team "camping" under such rocks with cloth cupboards outside. Assistants preparing dough to make pastries, the main item of the team's meals. Gymnarrhena micrantha: New record to Sinai Ifloga spicata subsp .spicata: New record to Sinai Scorzonera schweinfurthi: New record to Sinai; rare Senecio hoggariensis: New record to Sinai, rare Phlomis aurea: Endemic ;MP Origanum syriacum subsp. sinaicum : Endemic; MP Hyoscyamus boveanus: Endemic Plantago sinaica: Endemic Alkanna orientalis: In Egypt confined to Sinai Periploca aphylla: In Egypt confined to Sinai; rare Pycnocycla tomentosa:In Egypt confined to Sinai; rare Ferula sinaica: In Egypt confined to Sinai; MP Hypericum sinaicum: In Egypt confined to Sinai Nepeta septemcrenata: In Egypt confined to Sinai Salvia multicaulis In Egypt confined to Sinai; rare Echinops macrochaetus: In Egypt confined to Sinai; rare Cleome droserifolia: MP; rare Blepharis edulis: MP;rare Solenostemma arghel: MP; rare Adiantum capillus-veneris: MP; rare Cotula cinerea: MP; rare Teucrium polium: MP; rare Atraphaxis spinosa var .Sinaica: Threatened Colutea istria: Threatened Crataegus sinaicus:Threatened Polygala sinaica : Endemic,Threatened THANK YOU