Floristic Diversity of Zygophyllum album Communities Associated with Water Towers in the Algerian Sahara

Abstract

Abstract Zygophyllum album L. (Zygophyllaceae) is a species of arid and hyperarid zones that has been the subject of many biochemical, pharmaceutical, and medicinal studies, but this species is largely unknown ecologically. This work aims to study the diversity and describe the characteristics of the functional traits of plant species of Zygophyllum album communities associated with water towers in the Algerian Sahara. Based on subjective sampling, 17 phytoecological relevés were carried out at six sites in the Algerian Sahara. Zygophyllum album plant communities were analyzed using diversity parameters (species richness, Shannon-Weaver index, Pielou equitability) and plant functional traits (life forms, dispersal types, morphological and phytogeographic types). The results revealed the presence of 30 plant species belonging to 16 families and 28 genera. Asteraceae, Poaceae, Amaranthaceae and Apocynaceae were the most species-rich families, accounting for 60% of the total species studied. The plant communities studied were characterized by a high presence of hemicryptophytes (58.84%), anemochores (78.53%), perennial species (86.07%) and cosmopolitan species (41.55%) which witness the anthropogenic impact. Based on ordinary species values, three plant communities were individualized according to the hierarchical ascending classification. The species that dominate these communities are Phragmites communis (82.9%), Imperata cylindrica (35.2%) and Calotropis procera (28%) for community 1, Zygophyllum album (15.1%), Cistanche phelypaea (10%) and Launaea glomerata (5.1%) for community 2, Launaea resedifolia (10.2%), Hyoscyamus muticus (5.3%) and Cistanche Phelypaea (5.1%) for community 3. Community 1 is the most diverse (H’= 2.88; E= 0.88), while community 3 is the least diverse (H’=2.32; E= 0.93). This study provides baseline data for managing and conserving Zygophyllum album plant communities in arid areas.