Ousama Radwan *⁽¹⁾  and Muhammad Ghazal ⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of forestry and environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen university, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding Author:Dr. Ousama Radwan, E-mail: osamagr3@gmail.com )

Received: 4/04/2023                     Accepted:24/05/2023

Abstract: 

This study was conducted on Al-Abrash Riverbanks in Tartous Governorate in 2020. It aimed to assess the changes in the spread of riparian plants and their response to these changes caused by the construction of Al-Basel dam. In addition to inventorying and documenting encountered plant species. Three sites have been identified (riverbank before the dam – lake bank – riverbank after the dam) and studied using the systematic sampling method. The results of the study showed the following: 54 plant species (14 trees – 4 shrubs – 36 herbs) were recorded in the study sites. There are significant differences between the three studied sites in specific richness, especially between riverbanks before and after the dam. However, the differences caused by the dam were within the natural level of diversity found in the riparian plant community in the riverbanks before the dam. Some plant species with floating seeds (Typha latifolia L.) (Typha australis Schum, et Thonn) increased significantly on the riverbanks after the dam compared to the rest of the species. While the prevalence of tree species decreased significantly, especially species with seeds that don’t float on the water. The construction of Al-Basel Dam on the course of Al-Abrash River caused change in the nature of the riparian habitats, especially between the riverbanks before the dam and after the dam.

Keywords: Riparian plants, Riverbanks, Ai-Basel Dam, Al-Abrash River, Tartous.

Full paper in Arabic:  pdf