On the ecology and range potential of plants growing at mahazat as-sayed reserve area, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

One hundred and seventy nine desert plant species belonging to 39 families were collected from the Mahazat as-Saied protected area of the Taif region in south- western Saudi Arabia.

Some of these plants were analyzed to evaluate their nutritional status and potential for rehabilitation in this arid region.

The present study is a survey of plant species at the Mahazat as-Saied reserve (Saudi Arabia) that covers an area of about 2244 Km2.

The relations between the collected plants and their habitat types are briefly discussed.

Plant samples were also analyzed for their water content, water saturation deficit, total and total soluble nitrogen, total proteins, and total available and total soluble carbohydrates and total ash content. The plants collected were dried, identified and kept in the herbarium of NWRC, Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Some birds and animals as Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), red necked Ostrich (Struthio camelus syriacus), sand gazelle (Gazella gazella), and Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) have been introduced to the Mahazat as-Saied reserve. Continuous observations of the animals to see which plant species they eat were carried out during two successive years (1995–1996).

A checklist of the plants eaten by them was tabulated.

They are arranged according to their palatability and the dependence by the animals on these wild plants.

The present study also showed that with careful and selective rehabilitation of suitable species, the biotic status of the Mahazat as-Saied protected area could be considerably improved.

Overall, light to moderate grazing and removal of livestock before growth of cool season species had the least negative effects on population dynamics during a two year drought period.

This grazing regime increased survival, nasality and palatability of certain species in the area.