Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University.
2
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, South Valley University, Aswan
3
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Helwan University
Abstract
The floristic features and plant communities of Lake Edku were analyzed
using 150 sampled stands representing the apparent variation in habitats and
vegetation. A total of 114 species of vascular plants were recorded. Life forms
range from hydrophytes to phanerophytes, with the most species being
therophytes, followed by geophytes-helophytes and hydrophytes. Four main
habitats, differentiated into 11 zones, were recognized in this lake; 1- lake
proper (includes shoreline, water edge and open water), 2- drain mouths
(include terraces, slopes, water edge and open water), 3- islets, and 4- fish
farms (include shoreline, water edge and open water). The vegetation of the
drain and fish farm open waters is the most similar among the 11 zones. The
drain slopes have the highest species richness), while the lake water edges
have the lowest. Multivariate analysis of the vegetation and environmental
variables of the 150 sampled stands led to the recognition of 15 vegetation
groups. These groups were separated on the basis of the moisture gradient
from the shoreline to the open water. They are named after their diagnostic
species as follows: 1) Eichhornia crassipes, 2) Echinochloa stagnina-
Eichhornia crassipes, 3) Ceratophyllum demersum-Eichhornia crassipes, 4)
Potamogeton pectinatus, 5) Cyperus articulatus, 6) Typha domingensis, 7)
Phragmites australis, 8) Arundo donax, 9) Juncus acutus-Typha domingensis,
10) Phragmites australis-Typha domingensis, 11) Halocnemum strobilaceum-
Sarcocornia fruticosa, 12) Rumex dentatus-Suaeda vera, 13) Bassia indica-
Limbarda crithmoides, 14) Centaurea calcitrapa and 15) Cynodon dactylon-
Medicago polymorpha. The vegetation groups (i.e. communities) representing
the open water zones were less diverse than those of the other groups
particularly those of the shorelines.
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