Archeological Sites and Relict Landscapes as Refuge for Biodiversity: Case Study of Alexandria City, Egypt

Selim Z. Heneidy, Yassin M. Al-Sodany, Laila M. Bidak, Amal M. Fakhry, Sania K. Hamouda, Marwa W. A. Halmy, Sulaiman A. Alrumman, Dhafer A. Al-Bakre, Ebrahem M. Eid and Soliman M. Toto
Additional contact information
Selim Z. Heneidy: Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
Yassin M. Al-Sodany: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Laila M. Bidak: Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
Amal M. Fakhry: Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
Sania K. Hamouda: Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
Marwa W. A. Halmy: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
Sulaiman A. Alrumman: Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha 61321, Saudi Arabia
Dhafer A. Al-Bakre: Biology Department, College of Science, Tabuk University, Tabuk 47512, Saudi Arabia
Ebrahem M. Eid: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
Soliman M. Toto: Department of Botany & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: The role of heritage sites as a shelter for biodiversity is overlooked. Eight archeological sites representing different landscapes in Alexandria City were surveyed, from which 59 stands were sampled between April 2019 and March 2021. The archeological sites and the relictual landscapes are geographically dispersed and are arranged here from west to east, representing the full range of environmental variation within the study area. The selection of stands in each site was based on the area and the variability within the habitats, the physiography, and the levels of disturbance. A composite soil sample was collected from each site. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended correspondence analysis (DECORANA) were carried out to identify the plant communities in the study area. The recorded taxa, their national geographical distribution, life forms, habitats, chorological types, and vegetation groups are listed. A total of 221 specific taxa, 172 native and 49 alien non-native species (representing some 10.3% of the whole range of Egyptian flora), belonging to 150 genera and 44 families, are reported in the present study. Only two endemic species were recorded in the studied urban habitats. The phytosociological analysis of the sites showed differences among vegetation types found in the archeological sites as a function of the varying degrees of enthronization. A significant effect of archeological site and relictual landscape on species diversity was observed as indicated using the richness, Shannon’s and Simpson’s indices. Flat plains are substantially more diverse than any of the other habitats in the present study, followed by the habitat of rocky ridge slope. The present study found evidence of an ecological legacy that persists today within the semi-arid climatic ecosystem of Alexandria City. The study highlights the urgent need for measures to maintain cultural landscapes while considering the conservation of biodiversity within the archeological sites. It is hoped that the outcomes of the current study can provide guidance on the potential integration of biodiversity conservation in planning the management of archeological sites.

Keywords: historic sites flora; urban habitats; cultural heritage; human disturbance; alien species; plant communities; conservation; Alexandria City (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2416/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/4/2416/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2416-:d:753834

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().