IJBPAS, April, 2018, 7(4): 443-460 ISSN: 2277–4998 INVENTORY OF MOST RARE AND ENDANGEREDPLANT SPECIES IN ALBAHA REGION, SAUDI ARABIA ABDUL WALI A. AL-KHULAIDI1, 2, NAGEEB A. AL-SAGHEER2, 3*, TURKI AL-TURKI4, FATEN FILIMBAN5 1Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Art, Albaha University, Baljurashi, Saudi Arabia 2Agricultural Research and Extension Authority, Yemen 3Department of Biology, College of Sciences and Art, Albaha University, Qilwah, Saudi Arabia 4Biotechnology Center, The Herbarium and Genebank of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) 5Plant Sciences Division, Department of Biology, College of Sciences, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia *Corresponding Author: E Mail: [email protected] Received 17th Nov. 2017; Revised 15th Dec. 2017; Accepted 5th January 2018; Available online 1st April 2018 ABSTRACT Rare and endangered plant species have been investigated based on intensive field work covering all ecological zones in Albaha region, Saudi Arabia. Different cross sections were placed randomly along different ecological sites. In each different habitat types plant species were recorded and sampled by using quadrates 25 by 25 m, and then most rare and endangered species were identified according to the percentage of frequency. In this investigation 46 rare and endangered plant species belongs to 33 families and 41 genera in which 10 endemic to Arabian Peninsula were identified and documented. Names of plants, frequency percentage and density per hectare were gathered. The distribution of rare species, patterns of some most rare and endangered plant species were mapped by using ARC-GIS techniques. Keywords: Plant species, rare, endangered, endemic, near endemic, Albaha, Saudi Arabia 1. INTRODUCTION Rare and endangered species are a species range (Avise, 2016). However, a species is that faces extinction in all, or a part of its considered endangered when one or more 443 IJBPAS, April 2018, 7(4) Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi et al Research Article of its populations have declined, rare primarily those driving habitat loss, species becoming extinct and extinction is a introduction of exotic species, and global natural process (Starr et al., 2010). warming (Endangered Species, 2009). Biodiversity, including plant species However, nowadays the plant and animal diversity is threatened worldwide (Diaz et species are disappearing worldwide at an al., 2006), as a result of anthropogenic accelerated pace. Based on recent trends, pressures such as an increase of pollutants, 21 % of global plant species are currently human activities, human modifications of threatened with extinction according to the ecosystems and habitat destruction in IUCN Red List Criteria (KEW, 2010). addition to climate change (Baillie et al., There are more than 300,000 known 2004, Kevin, 2016). The current species of plants. The IUCN has evaluated millennium is experiencing a fast of only 12,914 species, finding that about 68 extinction and species introduction posing a percent of evaluated plant species are major threat to the biodiversity (Chaudhury threatened with extinction (Tilman et al., and Khan, 2010). Over 8000 tree species, 1994,Withrow, 2016), as many as half of representing 10% of the planet’s trees, are the world’s plant species may qualify as threatened with extinction due to the threatened with extinction under the World degradation, or destruction of woodland Conservation Union (IUCN) classification and forest habitat, or unsustainable timber scheme (Nigel and Jørgensen, 2002). In production (Chaudhury and Khan, 2010). 2012, the IUCN assessed a total of 63,837 Rare species have a low frequency over species which revealed 19,817 are habitat patches, and consequently a limited threatened with extinction. With 3,947 contribution to the community assembly described as "critically endangered" and process (Bossuyt et al., 2004). 5,766 as "endangered", while more than The rate of extinction raised dramatically 10,000 species are listed as "vulnerable" during a mass extinction when organism (IUCN, 2016). and habitats become extinct in relatively The percentage of rare and endangered short period (Starr et al., 2010), unlike past species is very high in Saudi Arabia in mass extinctions, caused by events like comparison with other Middle Eastern asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions, and countries. As there are about 2250 plant natural climate shifts, the current crisis is species in the Kingdom, 600 species are almost entirely caused by humans. In fact, rare and endangered in their natural habitat there is 99 percent of currently threatened (Al-Qurainy et al., 2013; Collenette, 1998, species are at risk from human activities, NCWCD, 1998). There is no complete red 444 IJBPAS, April 2018, 7(4) Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi et al Research Article list of plants or lists of threatened plants The study aims to determine the initial have been published for Saudi Arabia. The population, the frequency percentage and 1997 IUCN Red List of threatened Plants the density per hectare of 46 most rare and (Walter & Gillett, 1998) included 3 endangered plant species of Albaha region, threatened species from Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia. The evaluation focused on Eritrea, the 2003 Red List included five the determining the conservation status, threatened plant species from Saudi Arabia, mapping the distribution and documenting among them Euphorbia ammak (Miller, the density and the frequency of each rare 1998), Dracaena serrulata (World plant species. This study has been Conservation Monitoring Centre. 1998) and compiled using the recent study by the Juniperus procera (Farjon, 2013) . Non- Authors on the distribution and abundance Red List literature sources however list 14 of plants species to Albaha. flowering plants as endangered, 11 1.1. Site description vulnerable, 23 critically endangered, and 14 Albaha region is located in the south extinct from Saudi Arabia (First Saudi western part of Saudi Arabia and lies Arabian National Report on the Convention between longitude 41/42E and latitude on Biological Diversity, 2005). 19/20N (Fig. 1). Albaha region, Saudi Arabia is one of the Topography plant diversity hotspot region of the world, The topography consists of four main the region includes within the Eastern geographical units (Al-Khulaidi, et al., Afromontane hotspot area (Mallon, 2011). 2016): Tihama plain: undulating to almost It has one of the richest plants in the Saudi sandy plain, the altitude ranges between 50 Arabia; recent study (Al-Khulaidi, et al., and 200 (350 m), Very steep to moderately 2016) recorded 325 plant species (about 12 steep slope foothills facing Tihama plain % of Saudi Kingdom's plants). The richness and ranges between 200 and 2100 m. High and density of the floral biodiversity have altitude mountains and range between 1700 been noted by the authors, with many rare and 2565 m. Eastern dry mountain and and endangered plant species. The region is hills, and range between 1300 and 1700. not just rich in plant species but also in Average annual rainfall ranges between native populations of useful or 142 (Al-Aqiiq), 300 to 316 (Albaha and Al- economically important plants. Tree Mandaq), and 200 m at Al-Mukhwa. species are of particular importance in the region of Juniperus procera and Acacia origena forest and woodland. 445 IJBPAS, April 2018, 7(4) Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi et al Research Article Figure 1: Location of the study area 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS observed distribution of plant species. On Different cross sections were placed the basis of Inventory of rare, endangered randomly along different ecological sites. and threatened plants identification and In each different habitat types plant species collection from different area of Albaha were recorded and sampled by using region as well as carefully documented. quadrates 25 by 25m, and then most rare The plants are enumerated alphabetically and endangered species were identified with their botanical name with author according to the percentage of frequency of citation and family name by using the each plant. The survey was carried out experience of the authors, and referring to during the month of May 2017 to July 2017 standard flora (Collenette, 1998; Qashash, on visited various ecological sites and 2007; Chaudhary, 1999, 2000, 2001; 446 IJBPAS, April 2018, 7(4) Abdul Wali Al-Khulaidi et al Research Article Gushash, 2007; Migahid, 1996). The assessed from the calculation of relative voucher specimens were deposited in the frequency of each taxa. Frequency Albaha University. percentage was used to estimate the rarity 2.1. Data analysis degrees as the following: Relative The distribution of each rare and frequency of plant species (in % ), Very endangered plant species were mapped common ≥ 20 and 35 % , Common ≥ 12 using ARC-GIS techniques. Canonical and <20% , Fairly common ≥ 10 and <12% Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was , Uncommon ≥ 5 and 10% , Rare ≥ 1 and 5 applied using MVSP (Multi-Variate % and Very rare <1% Statistical Package) to study the 3. RESULTS relationship between the species and 3 The results of this study have revealed 46 variables (altitude, exposure and rare, endangered plant species belong to 33 landforms). Frequency is used to describe families and 41 genera. Among them, there the abundance and distribution of species. are 3 endemic and 7 near endemic species Frequency can be used to detect changes in (Tables 1 and 2). All investigated plant plant species over time. It is typically species fall under very rare category with defined as the number of times a species frequency percentage less than 1%. This occurs in the total number of quadrats study shows the maximum number of rare, sampled, usually expressed as a percent. endangered and threatened plant species in Frequency is one of the fastest and easiest which belong to the family Aloeaceae methods for monitoring plant species (Xanthorrhoeaceae) as they cover 4 species, because it is objective, repeatable, and followed by Rubiaceae family with 3 requires just one decision. Frequency is a species (Table 2 and Figure 2). The useful tool for comparing two plant distribution of 46 species was mapped communities; or to detect change within (Figure 3) using Arc Map.