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Anthropogenic effects on population structure of A cacia tortilis subsp. raddiana along a gradient of water availability in S outh S inai, E gypt
Author(s) -
Abd ElWahab Raafat H.,
Seleem Tarek A.,
Zaghloul Mohamed S.,
ElRayes Ahmed E.,
Moustafa Abd ElRaouf A.,
AbdelHamid Ayman
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/aje.12121
Subject(s) - acacia , population , wadi , grazing , geography , balanites aegyptiaca , biology , crown (dentistry) , overgrazing , forestry , ecology , demography , sociology , medicine , cartography , alternative medicine , dentistry , pathology
Abstract Acacia trees in Sinai desert are suffering population decline. This study aims to explore this assumption and to determine the effects of grazing and urbanization on size structure of A cacia tortilis subsp . raddiana along a gradient of water availability in W adi F eiran basin, S outh S inai, E gypt. Size structure of 289 A cacia trees in thirteen isolated populations was analysed. Catchment area and lineament density as water availability indicators were calculated. Effects of grazing and urbanization on A cacia populations were evaluated. A strong positive correlation was recognized between tree height, crown diameter and trunk circumference. A cacia tree density and crown diameter are positively correlated with water availability indicators. Population structure of A . tortilis is characterized by absence of juveniles, clear reduction in numbers of small and large categories and increasing in medium categories. This pattern indicates very low recruitment and high mortality of small and large trees. The variation in water availability may have considerable effects on the structure of A . tortilis . Overgrazing, cutting and urbanization are the main causes of population decline of A cacia in S inai desert. In addition, drought conditions and bruchid seed beetles aggravate the anthropogenic effect on recruitment of A cacia in S outh S inai.

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