Abstract
In Jal Az-Zor National Park (330 km 2 ), northwest of Kuwait Bay, 139 of vascular species were identified (45 perennials and 94 annuals that belong to 32 families) with higher proportion of Saharo-Arabian elements and conglomerates of the Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Sudanian elements. Five vegetation clusters were described and recognized after application of TWINSPAN and DCA programs: Stipa capensis-Haloxylon salicornicum, Plantago boissieriCyperus conglomeratus, Zygophyllum qatarense, Nitraria retusa-Zygophyllum qatarense and Bienertia cycloptera-Halocnemum strobilaceum communities. Their ordination indicates soil moisture, salinity and physiographic gradients starting with the xerophytic communities (dry with low salinity and fertility) that inhabit the inland desert plain, non saline depressions, and ridges and ending with the hygrophilous halophytic species (with high salinity and fertility stands) that inhabit the salt marshes near the Arabian Gulf. Floristic composition, diversity indices and soil variables were used to determine the distribution of these plant communities in the habitats within the Park. The habitats of inland desert plain, non saline depressions and rocky ridge; and their plant communities had higher species richness, higher diversity and low dominance than the habitat of salt marshes and its plant communities.
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