Vegetation Monitoring in the Saudi Marsh Environment Using Geospatial Technologies

(Amani Hussein Mohamed Hassan)

---

Abstract

Vegetation in a salt marsh environment differs from that in other environments in terms of species, density, and frequency. In this research, plant communities in some coastal and inland marshes of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia were monitored through a quantitative analytical approach using geospatial techniques, namely ArcGIS 10.5 and Erdas Imagine software. Field verification monitored the plant community in each marsh by vision and imaging with regard to the quantitative and qualitative characteristics. Samples were collected in April 2019 and processed by space visuals, extraction of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with 30m spatial accuracy, analysis of the mechanical and chemical laboratory, and extraction of X-ray beams for 16 samples. The cartographic analysis of the NG39.SW topographic plate and the MG-A108 geological plate and the analysis of meteorological data for Al-Qaysumah, Al-Dammam, and Al-Ahsa stations for the period 1985–2018 was conducted using SPSS. The results showed that 14 plant species were found in six coastal and inland marsh plant communities. They were distributed in the form of specific areas in which soil salinity plays a prominent role in their distribution. These communities were Zygophyllum Qatarens, Saueda Fruticosa, Halopeplis Perfoliata, Aeluropus Lagopoides, Salsola Imbricate, and Seidlitzia Rosmarinus. The study recommends that grazing, the cultivation of degraded species, and environmental awareness should be regulated.

KEYWORDS
Dhabia, plant communities, qualitative characteristics, quantitative characteristics, umm haisha

PDF

References

Al Awdat, M.A., Abdullah, A.M.  and Elsheikh, A.M. (1997). Aljughrafiat Alnibatiatu 'Plant Geography'. 3rd edition. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Library Affairs Deanship, King Saud University. [in Arabic]
Al Barrak, S.A. (1993). Khasayis Aradi Al-Ahsa Alziraeia 'Characteristics of Al-Ahsa Agricultural Lands'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Al-Husseini Press. [in Arabic]
Al Batanouni, K.H. (1986). Albiya and Haya Alnabaatya fi Dawlat Qatar 'Environment and Plant Life in the State of Qatar.' Doha, Qatar: Doha University. [in Arabic]
Al Dossary, H.M. (1999). Alnbat Albariyi fi Almintaqat Alsharqiat Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsewdyt: Dirasat Maydaniat and Bihawth lighawiati 'Wild Plant in Eastern Saudi Arabia: Survey Studies and Language Research'. Damam, Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Information. [in Arabic]
Al Dossary, H.M. (2017). Alnbat Albariyi fi Almintaqat Alsharqiat Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsewdyt: Dirasat Maydaniat and Bihawth lighawiati 'Wild Plant in Eastern Saudi Arabia: Survey Studies and Language Research'. 3rd edition. Damam, Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Information. [in Arabic]
Al Nafeh, A.H. (1995). Alnabat Altabieiu and Aljughrafia Alhayawiat Lilbihar Alramliat fi Wasat and Shamal Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiati 'Natural Vegetation and the Biogeography of Sandy Seas in Central and Northern Saudi Arabia'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Fahd National Library. [in Arabic]
Al Nafeh, A.H. (1999). Turuq almasahu alhaqliu lilmujtamaeat alnabatiat fi almanatiq alsahrawiat aljafa 'Field survey methods for plant communities in dry desert areas'. In: Second Geographical Symposium, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria, 27–29/04/1999. [in Arabic]
Al Nafeh, A.H. (2004). Aljughrafia Alnabatiat Lilmamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiati 'The Plant Geography of Saudi Arabia'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Knowledge Star Prints. [in Arabic]
Al Nushwan, A.A. (2012). Jughrafiat Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiatu 'Geography of Saudi Arabia.' Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Fahd National Library. [in Arabic]
Al Qadi, E.A. (2003). Athar Almunakh fi Alghita Alnabatii Altabieii bi Almintaqat Alsharqiat min Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudia (Drrasat fi Almunakh Alttbyqy) 'Impact of Climate on Natural Vegetation in Eastern Saudi Arabia, Applied Climate Study'. MSc. Thesis, Al Damam University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. [in Arabic]
Al Qadi, E.A. (2012). Athar almanashit albashariat fi alghita alnabatii altabieii and subul almuhafazat ealayh bi albayyat alssahiliat fi aharqii almamlakat alearabiat alsaeudiati-dirasat fi himayat albayyati 'Impact of human activities on natural vegetation cover and ways of conserving it on the coastal environment in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia -Study on environmental protection'. Geographical Messages, n/a(376), 1–112. [in Arabic] 
Al Sharif, A. A. (2006). Jughrafiat Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiat 'Geography of Saudi Arabia'. 3rd Edition. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Mars House. [in Arabic]
Al Taahir, A.A. (1999). Al-Ahsa - Dirasat Jughrafi 'Al-Ahsa- Geographical Study'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Fahd National Library. [in Arabic]
Al Turkomani, J.F. (2015). Jughrafiat Al-Aradi Aljafa and Altashur 'Geography of Drylands and Desertification'. 6th edition. Cairo, Egypt: Arab Culture House. [in Arabic]
Al Turkomani, J.F. (2019). Asul Albahth Aljghrafy: Alnazariat and Altatbiq 'Geographic Search Assets: Theory and Practice'. Cairo, Egypt: Arab Culture House. [in Arabic]
Al Turkomani, J.F. and Attia, S.B. (2019).  Jughrafiat Alturbat and Tatbiqatiha- Dirasat Mueasirat 'Soil Geography and Application- A Contemporary Study'. Cairo, Egypt: Arab Culture House. [in Arabic]
Al Walei, A.N. (2008). Jiumurfulujiat Almamlakat Alearabiat Alsaeudiata 'Geomorphology of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'. 6th edition. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King Fahd National Library. [in Arabic]
Askaril, H., Edqvist, J., Hajheidari, M., Kafi, M. and Salekdeh, G.H. (2006). Effects of salinity levels on proteome of Suaeda aegyptiaca leaves. Proteomics, 6(8), 2542–54.
Assegid, A. and Tesfaye, A. (2010). Wild edible trees and shrubs in the semi-arid lowlands of Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Science and Development, 1(1), 5–19.
Belskey, A.S. (1998). The Management of Ziziphus Spina Christi as a Component of Integrated Farming System in Wadi Hadhramaut-Yemen. MSc. Thesis, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan. 
FAO. (2012). Harmonized World Soil Database (version 1.2). Rome: FAO. 
Lopez, C.M., Takahashi, H. and Yamazaki, S. (2002). Plant-water relations of kidney bean plants treated with NaCl and foliarly applied glycinebetaine. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 188(2), 73–80.
Loreau, M. (2010). Linking biodiversity and ecosystems: Towards a unifying ecological theory. Phil. Trans. Res. Soc. Bull., 365(1537), 49–60. 
Mandaville, J.P. (1990). Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia. London: Kegan Paul Int., Jointly with the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Migahid, A.M. (1996). Flora of Saudi Arabia. 4th Edition. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:  Ministry of Agricultural and Water of Saudi Arabia.
Ministry of Economy and Planning. (2010). Natayij Altaedad Al-Awaliat Liltaedad Aleami Lilsakan and Almasakin Liaewam 1974, 1993, 2004 and 2010. 'Results of the Preliminary Census of the General Population and Housing Census for the Years 1974, 1993, 2004 and 2010'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Department of Public Statistics. [in Arabic]
Ministry of Municipal Affairs. (2010). Al-Awdae Alrrahinat Lihadirat Al-Ahsa 'The Current Conditions of the Metropolis of Al-Ahsa'. Second Report, Ten Part. Dammam, Saudi Arabia: Eastern Province Municipality. [in Arabic]
Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. (1984). Kharitat Tabughirafiat Lawhat NG39.SW 1: 500000 'Topographic Map of NG39.SW 1: 500000'. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Air Area Management. [in Arabic]
Muhammad, S.K. and Mahal, M.A. (2015). Almaraei Altabieiat and Ahamiyatuha Alaiqtisadiat 'Natural Pastures and their Economic Importance'. Amman, Jordan: Safe House. [in Arabic]
Munns, R. and Tester, M. (2008). Mechanisms of salinity tolerance. Annul. Rev. Plant Biol., 59(n/a), 651–81.
Twitchell, K.S. (1944). Water resources of Saudi Arabia. Geographical Review, 34(3), 365–86. 
US Geological Survey. (2020). Namudhaj Alairtifae Alraqamiu SRTM and Almaryiyaat Alfadayiyat Sentinel-2B 2019 'Digital Height Model SRTM And the Sentinel-2B 2019'. Available at: https://www.usgs.gov/(accessed on 18/05/2020) [in Arabic]
Western, A.R. (1989). The Flora of the United Arab Emirates: An Introduction. United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates University. 
Yang, G., Zhou, R., Tang, T., Chen, X., Ouyang, J., He, L., Li, W., Chen, S., Guo, M., Li, X., Zhong, C. and Shi, S. (2011). Gene expression profiles in response to salt Stress in Hibiscus Tiliaceus. Plant Mol. Bio. Rep, 29(3), 609–17.
Zhang, H.J., Dong, H.Z., Li, W.J. and Zhang, D.M. (2012). Effect of soil salinity and plant density on yield and leaf senescence of field-grown cotton. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 198(1), 27–37.