Effects of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill) Plantation on Plant Biodiversity in the High Plains of Saïda (Algeria)
Djebbouri Mohammed *
Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Saida - Dr. Tahar Moulay, Algeria.
Terras Mohamed
Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Saida - Dr. Tahar Moulay, Algeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The effect of the monoculture of Aleppo Pine in the high plains of Saïda on biodiversity, richness and rate of endemic flora is the subject of our study. For this purpose, 30 floristic surveys were carried out to evaluate the biodiversity indices inside and outside the wooded sites. Vegetation analysis using the TWINSPAN method resulted in two groups of ecological species; the similarity study showed a clear separation between the groups, the overall value of ANOSIM-R was 0.99 (P <.001). The average species richness and the Shanoon index are 2.063, 2.23 higher in non-wooded sites than in wooded sites respectively. The results of the survey indicated the presence of 98 plant species. Among them, 14 species are classified as threatened, endemic or rare. A total of 27 species has been eliminated by reforestation, of which 11 are classified as threatened, endemic or rare. It is therefore recommended that biodiversity should be taken into account in afforestation operations in order to maintain natural habitats and minimize the loss of native species.
Keywords: Chromosome structure and function, Aleppo pine, Fragile sites, reforestation, plant biodiversity, Saïda