Izvorni znanstveni članak

https://doi.org/10.2478/v10184-011-0057-2

Spatial and temporal plant phenological niche differentiation in the Wadi Degla desert ecosystem (Egypt)

Ahmad K. Hegazy ; Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, P.O. Box 2455, Saudi Arabia
Abdelrahman A. Alatar ; Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, P.O. Box 2455, Saudi Arabia
Jon Lovett-Doust ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Hosam A. El-Adawy ; Natural Resources Surveying Department, Environmental Studies and Research Institute, Minofiya University, Sadat City, Egypt

Sažetak

Twenty dominant plant species representing different life forms were investigated phenologically over a period of 36 months (January 2004 to December 2006). Plant populations were sampled at down-, mid-, and upstream sites in a desert wadi ecosystem. The results were analyzed using TWINSPAN, DCA and CCA techniques. Five phenological niches were apparent: (1) species flowering all year round, with peaks in spring and autumn such as Ochradenus baccatus; (2) species flowering during winter including Lycium shawii and Tamarix nilotica; (3) species flowering during spring, e.g., Zilla spinosa, Zygophyllum coccineum and Capparis spinosa; (4) species flowering during summer including Iphiona mucronata and Deverra triradiata; and (5) species flowering during autumn that include Atriplex halimus and two Anabasis species. The climatic variables, including temperature, rainfall and relative humidity, affect the phenological niches and between-species differences. Within-species variations occurred between years and there were no between-site variations for most study species. The different plant species exhibited phenological diversity along the course of the wadi ecosystem. The phenological niches are species-specific and environmentally dependent rather than local selective pressures.

Ključne riječi

Desert; environment; flowering; Egypt; life forms; phenology; niche

Hrčak ID:

87485

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/87485

Datum izdavanja:

1.10.2012.

Posjeta: 2.052 *