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.
Highlights
Archeological sites can provide refuge and shelter for biodiversity, protecting species from human impact and the associated stresses of urban development [1,2]
The plant cover—both natural and cultivated—of the archeological site contributes to its characterization and provides points of interest for visitors far beyond just ornamental value, landscaping, or the possibility of having shade; it represents an important natural heritage that enriches the value of the archeological site, and in some cases offers insight into human actions
Our results show differences among the vegetation types found in archeological sites as a function of the varying degrees of anthropization of the recorded taxa
Summary
Archeological sites can provide refuge and shelter for biodiversity, protecting species from human impact and the associated stresses of urban development [1,2]. There is an urgent need for measures to maintain cultural landscapes while considering the conservation of biodiversity within archeological sites [3]. Human activities, such as pastoralism and agriculture, have strongly modified natural ecosystems within the Mediterranean basin over millennia [4]; these interactions have led to the creation of unique cultural landscapes [5], which provide habitat heterogeneity of great importance for the relationship between natural biodiversity and cultural heritage [6]. The colonization of historic monuments by plant species is controlled by various factors, including the availability of shelter, the substrate, disturbance, the variability of microclimate, and the availability of water [8]
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