PJB-2019-423
MICRO HABITAT AFFECT POPULATION SIZE AND PLANT VIGOR OF THREE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED ENDEMIC PLANTS IN SOUTHERN SINAI MOUNTAINS, EGYPT.
Amal M. Fakhry
Abstract
Endemic species on mountains often have narrow altitudinal range and are more threatened at the higher altitudes, especially with climate changes. However, plants could use special types of habitats at the top of the mountains as refuges. Here, we assessed the effect of microhabitats on population size and plant vigor of Primula boveana, Rosa arabica and Silene leucophylla, three critically endangered endemic species during seven years in their narrow range of distribution in the high mountains of southern Sinai. Both P. boveana and S. leucophylla had very small population size, but significantly increased in 2014. The population of R. arabica is the smallest (around 40 individuals) and not increased, even after the extraordinary rainfall received in 2014. Whereas P. boveana is present in a fewer number of locations and grew in small number of specific microhabitats, both S. leucophylla and R. arabica were recorded in most studied sites and habitat types. Unlike R. arabica, both P. boveana and S. leucophylla were recorded in caves and very steep slopes and on the top of the mountains. This indicates that these sheltered mist microhabitats are the best places for future conservation of these species after climate change.
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