Vegetation analysis of the down-stream part of Wadi Gaza, Palestine

Abstract

The analysis of the life form and chorotype spectra of the vegetation of the down-stream part of Wadi Gaza, Palestine, indicated that the Mediterranean component was the highest represented chorotype in most life forms. A data set of 41 stands was analyzed using multivariate techniques (TWINSPAN and DCA) to classify the vegetation of this wadi, and to determine the relationship between the identified plant communities and the prevailing environmental factors. Seven habitat types were distinguished and six plant communities represented by 12 indicator species were identified after TWINSPAN analysis. The axes of the DCA-ordination separated the halophytic species of the moist saline sites of the wadi bed from those of the relatively dry wadi terrace (along the soil moisture, salinity, chloride, carbonate, bicharbonate, silt and K gradients). The species diversity of the plant communities and habitat types were assessed and discussed.