Studying Functions and Utilisations of the Vegetation in Al-Kahf Protected Area (Tartous-Syria)

Zuheir Shater*(1) Bassima Al Chikh(1) and Dimah Najjar(1)

(1). Department of Forestry and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Dr. Zuheir Shater. E-Mail: zuheirshater@yahoo.com).

Received: 18/02/2018                     Accepted: 12/05/2018

Abstract

The aim of this study was to study the plant species diversity at Al-Kahaf protected area in A-Sheikh Badr region, Tartous governorate, in terms of functional characteristics of the recorded plant species, its uses. The results can contribute in understanding, and determining the role of those plant species for ecosystem function and local community and help in the management of this protected area. Plant species diversity was studied on three versants; using the intercepted line method; and in the watercourses surrounding Al Kahaf castle. Additional surveys have also been conducted over the whole site. Life forms, dispersal types, and the uses of these species were recorded. The recorded species belong to 53 plant family. Fabaceae was the most represented family (17 species), followed by Asteraceae (12 species), and Lamiaceae (11 species). The number of families represented by one species was 29 species. The dominance life form on different slopes of the studied site was herbs (H) of 52%, followed by trees (T) 18%, shrub (S) and bulbs (B) of 11% for each, and liants (L) of 7%. The zoochores were the most present dispersal type on the studied versants of (57%), followed by barochores (22%), then anemochores (21%). On the other hand, the study recorded 56 medicinal species, 33 were ornamental species, 30 were grazing species, and 27 were edible species, while the number of poisonous species was 7 species, representing 37, 21, 20, 18 and 4% of the total number of species respectively. The results of this study can be incorporated into the management plan of the protected area.
Key Words: Al Kahaf reserve, Life form, Dispersal type, Slope effect, Plant biodiversity, Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF