Somar Mariam * ¹, Zuheir Shater¹ and Talal Amin¹

1 Department of Forestry and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture Engineering, University of Latakia, Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Souhair Somar Mariam, E mail: mariamsomar80@yahoo.com).

Received: 30/ 09/ 2025     Accepted: 4/ 01/ 2026

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between forest surface cover components and plant biodiversity, both compositionally and functionally, in Lattakia Governorate, Syria. The research was conducted during 2022 and 2023 in 67 square plots (400 m² each), distributed across the forests of the governorate and representing diverse topographic and edaphic conditions, within different types of forest habitats. In each sample, the percentage of surface cover components (rock exposure, stones, bare soil, organic litter, dead wood) was visually estimated, and plant surveys were conducted using the Braun-Blanquet method. Compositional diversity indices were calculated, and functional diversity was assessed based on two traits: life form and dispersal pattern. Correlations between biodiversity indices and surface cover components were measured using Spearman’s coefficient, and means were compared using the Mann-Whitney test at the 0.05 significance level. The results revealed significant differences in forest surface cover components according to the habitat type. Moreover, significant correlations were found between surface cover components and compositional diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson, and evenness), whereas no significant correlation was observed with species richness index. The functional aspect of biodiversity was also affected by the forest surface cover components, particularly litter. Therophytes and geophytes were the most closely associated life forms with these components, while zoochory was the most closely associated dispersal pattern.

Keywords: surface cover components, compositional diversity, functional diversity, functional traits, habitats

Full paper in Arabic: PDF