Contribution to the study of the flora in the central-west of Tunisia landscape dynamics and evaluation of plant biodiversity of mountain Bouchebka

TL;DR

This study inventories and analyzes the plant biodiversity and landscape dynamics of Bouchebka's forests in central-west Tunisia, highlighting ecological features, species diversity, and environmental influences in an arid, windy region.

Contribution

It provides a detailed phytosociological analysis of Bouchebka's forest ecosystem, including floristic diversity and ecological characterization, using systematic sampling and statistical analysis.

Findings

26 plant species identified in the region

82% of species are drought-tolerant

Dominance of woody species indicating arid climate

Abstract

The study was conducted during 2013 in Bouchebka, located in the central west of Tunisia.Such territory has a typical landscape of the transfrontier region. The series of the forest in Bouchebka is a part of the great mass of Aleppo pine. It is distinguished by the importance of the forest area which covers 92 % of the surface area (19,700 ha). The study attempts to inventory the natural vegetation and characterize ecological terms while highlighting the importance of environmental conditions. The method is based on a phytoecological analysis to quantify the floristic richness and diversity of the ecosystem in the forest of mountains in Bouchebka on the basis of floristic surveys and transects distributed in a stratified, systematic sampling in different vegetation formations that were previously distinguished. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Factorial Correspondence Analysis (FCA). The results show that the forest is composed primarily of the Aleppo pine trees, these forests are characterized by the abundance of young feet (10-25 cm diameter class). The ecosystem includes 12 families and 17 genera, 26 species. Thus the study has identified that the biological spectrum of the study area is characterized by a clear dominance of shrubs (41%) and chamaephytes (32 %). The distribution of plant species is influenced by ecological features of the region: the results show that 82% of species are drought tolerant which shows the arid environment. The region is also characterized by its windy side: 32% of species spread via anemochory. Factor analysis showed a pastoral aspect in the study area, with a presence of cultured human action exerted on the forest land species. Phytological spectrum indicates a predominance of woody species reflecting a territory dominated by open grassy areas, predominantly reflecting an arid climate.