South Sinai Research Articles

The Role of Geographical Features in Development of Sustainable Tourism in South Sinai: A Case Study of The Sector (Ras-Raya – Ras- Konayesa)

The Role of Geographical Features in Development of Sustainable Tourism in South Sinai: A Case Study of The Sector (Ras-Raya – Ras- Konayesa)

Iron oxide nanoparticles effect on growth, physiological traits and nutritional contents of Moringa oleifera grown in saline environment

BackgroundUsing of nanoparticles in various aspects of life including agriculture, medicine and industry is very crucial. One of the important source for Fe nutrition in plants is Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4NPs) due to its efficiency in releasing under different pH range. Thus, in the Model Farm of National Research Centre Egypt at El Tour South Sinai, a field experiment was carried out, to study the effect of different concentration of Fe3O4NPs (0, 20, 40, 60 ppm) on the physiological parameters and the nutritive value of Moringa under saline condition.ResultsThe obtained results indicate that foliar spraying of Fe3O4NPs significantly promote growth (plant height, branches leaves number per plant, leaf area, stem diameter and biomass). Foliar treatment also increased photosynthetic pigments (chlo.a, chlo b, chlo a/b and carotenoids) and indole acetic acid (IAA) contents comparing with control. Hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation contents of Moringa oleifera leaves were decreased significantly as compared with control plant. The maximum activities of antioxidant enzymes Peroxidase (POX), poly phenol oxidase (PPO), super oxide dismutase (SOD) and nitrate reductase (NR) were observed in plants treated with 40 ppm. Different concentrations of Fe3O4NPs increased significantly crude protein, crude fiber and ash percentages as well as, some nutrient contents of moringa leaves (N, P, K and K/Na) compared with untreated control plants, meanwhile decreased Na contents.ConclusionTreatment of Moringa oleifera plant with Fe3O4NPs at different concentrations greatly decrease the harmful effect of salinity on growth by its promotive role on different studied biochemical and physiological aspects.

Genetic diversity and volatile oil components variation in Achillea fragrantissima wild accessions and their regenerated genotypes

BackgroundWild medicinal plants are suffering natural environmental stresses and habitat destruction. The genetic diversity evaluation of wild accessions and their in vitro raised genotypes using molecular markers, as well as the estimation of substances of pharmaceutical value in wild plants and their regenerated genotypes are convenient approaches to test the genetic fidelity of regenerated plants as a source of substances of pharmaceutical value. In this study, the genetic diversity of 12 accessions of the medicinal plant Achillea fragrantissima, representing five sites in the mountains of South Sinai, Egypt, were estimated by the inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) fingerprinting and their volatile oil components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The same accessions were regenerated in vitro and the genetic diversity and volatile oil components of propagated genotypes were determined and compared to their wild parents. ResultsClustering and principal component analyses indicated that the wild accessions and their regenerated genotypes were genetically differentiated, but the regenerated plants are relatively more diverse compared to their wild parents. However, genetic variation between wild accessions is inherited to their in vitro propagated genotypes indicating genotypic differentiation of the examined accessions. The number of volatile oil compounds in the wild A. fragrantissima accessions was 31 compounds while in the in vitro propagated plants only 24 compounds were detected. Four major compounds are common to both wild and regenerated plants; these are artemisia ketone, alpha-thujone, dodecane, and piperitone. ConclusionsGenome profiling and essential oil components analysis showed variations in A. fragrantissima accessions from different populations. Genetic differences between wild and regenerated genotypes were analyzed and validated with the final conclusion that in vitro conditions elicited higher genetic variation that is associated with reduced amount and diversity in the essential oil components.

Environmental and site characterization investigations using remote sensing and geophysical techniques- a case from Nabq, Gulf of Aqaba, Sinai, Egypt

The present work deals with applying Remote sensing, and geophysical techniques for environmental and geotechnical investigation at a site belonging to the Nabq area located on the Gulf of Aqaba's southern entrance. The study area, which has a prominent position on the tourism activities, represents an old lagoon with a total area of about 6400000 m2 connected to the Gulf of Aqaba through a small bay. The governorate of South Sinai filled this lagoon to use it as space to establish new tourist villages and resorts. Processing and analyzing the old and new satellite images of the study area shows the boundary of the lagoon and the nature of its bottom, where two buried salt masses exist. Also, the drainage pattern in and around the study area has been identified. Water movement either from the land (from drains and desalination plants) or the sea cause soil liquefaction and salt dissolution. We applied the Electrical resistivity imaging technique and shallow seismic refraction in an integrated manner to recognize the subsurface layers' geotechnical characteristics. Data analysis and interpretation of remote sensing and geophysical data show that both water movement and salt dissolution may result in problems such as the occurrence of cracks in the facilities as a result of the continuous changes of the soil on which these facilities are built on the existing projects and seriously affect future constructions.

Quantitative morphometric analysis of three selected Sub-basins using Remote sensing and GIS techniques, East Abu Zenima area, South west Sinai, Egypt

Quantitative morphometric analysis of three selected Sub-basins using Remote sensing and GIS techniques, East Abu Zenima area, South west Sinai, Egypt

Egypt, South Sinai Governorate, Gulf of Suez Coast

Egypt, South Sinai Governorate, Gulf of Suez Coast

Midden site selection in Dorcas gazelle: Larger is not always better.

Dorcas gazelles are believed to use middens to mark their territories and transmit information. Given the commitment to maintaining a midden, it is believed that middens are not placed randomly. We examined how the habitat (tree height and maximum canopy) and anthropogenic disturbance (camel and human presence) influenced the selection of midden sites by Dorcas gazelles in South Sinai, Egypt. Our results showed that Dorcas gazelles did not place middens at larger trees, while favoring relatively smaller trees and shrubs where the anthropogenic disturbance and perceived hunting risk are less. Our results, in light of the previous findings, suggest that selection of midden sites is species context‐dependent behavior. In areas with less anthropogenic disturbance and hunting, Dorcas gazelles have been shown to select the largest trees of the same species as midden sites. In contract, in our study site with high anthropogenic disturbance and no protection from hunting, gazelles did not utilize the presumably optimum landmarks for midden sites. Our study showed that Dorcas gazelles instead utilized smaller trees and some shrubs that are less conspicuous and presumably less effective as advertisement sites, but safer.

Determination of Pesticide Residues in Agricultural Soil Samples Collected from Sinai and Ismailia Governorates, Egypt

AbstractSoil contamination by pesticide residues is a major concern due to their high soil persistence and dangerous effect on humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to detect and determine the concentration of pesticide residues in agricultural soil samples. Agricultural soil samples were collected from three Egyptian governorates and were extracted using the QuEChERS method and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of twenty different pesticide residues (approximately 43% of the tested pesticides) were detected in agricultural soil samples obtained from the three governorates. South Sinai was heavily contaminated by pesticides, with a total concentration of 0.505 mg/kg, followed by Ismailia (0.207 mg/kg) and North Sinai (0.075 mg/kg). According to its use in agriculture, the percentage of pesticide residues detected revealed that 60% of the pesticides were fungicides and 35% were insecticides. In Ismailia governorate, carbendazim was detected in 40% of agricultural soil samples. In North Sinai governorate, boscalid and chlorpyrifos were detected in 66.66% of the soil samples. In South Sinai governorate, thiophanate-methyl, metalaxyl, and carbendazim were detected in 50% of the soil samples. This study revealed the presence of different pesticide residues in Egyptian agricultural soil samples, which can affect agricultural products grown on contaminated agricultural soil. The accumulation of mixtures of pesticide residues in soil constitutes mostly toxic chemicals that are a worldwide environmental issue that must be considered in the agricultural production sustainability assessment. These results could be used as a base for designing environmental maps to cover the pesticide residue contamination that affects agricultural crops in Egypt.

Assess the Extinction Risk of Mountain Endemic Plants in Egypt Under the Current Climatic Condition: A Case Study of Endemic Silene Species

The process of developing a conservation programme for endemic plant species, in particular those with a small geographical size in mountain ecosystems, whether in situ of ex situ, is a very complex matter, especially if data on the state of the environment and conservation are unavailable. Silene leucophylla and Silene oreosinaica are perennial plants endemic to St. Catherine Protected Area (SCPA), which locate at South Sinai, Egypt. For long time, the second species has not been observed in the field. As a result, the purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the two species' ecological and conservation statuses by: The first step is to confirm their existence on the ground; the second step is to determine the present ecological and conservation conditions through an extinction risk assessment by using IUCN Red List methodology; and the third step is the use of Species Distribution Model (SDM) to locate and extract current appropriate habitat suitability. The field research, which was conducted between March to December 2017, resulted in building knowledge of the current distribution, characteristics of current species populations, and status of ecology and habitat, in addition to identifying the main threats. Both species have been recorded in 20 major sites, in a very restricted area, particularly in a high mountain region (19 sites of Silene leucophylla and 3 sites of S. oreosinaica), with Extent of Occurrence about 468.2 km2 for Silene leucophylla and 24.5 km2 for S. oreosinaica. The population size was very small and fragmented and the extreme drought and overgrazing clearly affected both species. Based on the collected data, the extinction risk was calculated as Critically Endangered for S. oreosinaica and as Endangered for S. leucophylla according to IUCN Red List. For both species, appropriate habitat is concentrated in the high mountain ranges in the central north section of the SCPA, according to SDM. For Silene leucophylla, a presence probability of 20.5 km2 was anticipated, whereas for S. oreosinaica, a presence probability of 62.1 km2 had been predicted. Conservation methods are advocated both in situ (via recovery) and ex situ (by seed collecting and storage, awareness building, and grazing control).

Coupled geophysical and geochemical approach to detect the factors affecting the groundwater salinity in coastal aquifer at the area between Ras Sudr and Ras Matarma area, South Sinai, Egypt

The integration of geophysical and hydrochemical approaches successfully reflects the hydrogeological vulnerability of the arid coastal aquifer in the study area. Both techniques defined the high and low groundwater potentialities regarding water quality and quantity and delineated the fresh/saline water interface.The groundwater exploration comprises 36 transient electromagnetic (TEM) sounding and 4 Two-dimensional electrical resistivity imaging (2DERI) lines. The inversion of both geophysical methods reveals four consequent subsurface layers; 1) the surficial unsaturated alluvial sand deposits layer has a resistivity range of 50–538 Ωm, and thickness <10 m, 2) the partially saturated alluvial sand, 3) the saturated alluvial sand and silt with fresh/brackish groundwater, and 4) the lower saturated alluvial sand and gravel layer with saline groundwater and clay sheet intercalations. The third water-bearing layer acts as a thin fresh/brackish groundwater lense of a moderate resistivity (0.8–55 Ωm) floating over deeper saline groundwater with a very low resistivity range (0.8–5.8 Ωm).The relatively moderate to higher resistivity of the fresh/brackish groundwater zone recorded in the eastern side at the downstream portion of the study area indicates promising subsurface recharge. The thickness of this zone ranges from 4 to 24 m (Groundwater Group I; 507 ≤ TDS ≤3920 mg/L & Groundwater Group II; 4031 ≤ TDS ≤4717 mg/L). While the lower resistivity values characterize the northern and southern portions of higher groundwater salinity (Group III; 5144 TDS 6771 mg/L & Group IV 7452 TDS 27573 mg/L), suggesting mixing with deeper saline/seawater and intercalations of clay sheets. Regarding water quality, it is recommended to excavate the groundwater only for the freshwater/brackish zone to avoid up conning of deep saline groundwater. Finally, flash floods are the primary source of groundwater in this vulnerable area. With a recent intensive expansion of groundwater excavation, a continual monitoring program or groundwater modelling is highly recommended.

IUCN Red List and Species Distribution Models as tools for the conservation of poorly known species: a case study of endemic plants Micromeria serbaliana and Veronica kaiseri in South Sinai, Egypt

IUCN Red List and Species Distribution Models as tools for the conservation of poorly known species: a case study of endemic plants Micromeria serbaliana and Veronica kaiseri in South Sinai, Egypt

Metabolic profiling, in vitro propagation, and genetic assessment of the endangered rare plant Anarrhinum pubescens

BackgroundAnarrhinum pubescens Fresen. (Plantaginaceae) is a rare plant, endemic to the Saint Catherine area, of South Sinai, Egypt. Earlier studies have reported the isolation of cytotoxic and anti-cholinesterase iridoid glucosides from the aerial parts of the plant. The present study aimed to investigate the chemical profiling of the wild plant shoots as well as establish efficient protocols for in vitro plant regeneration and proliferation with further assessment of the genetic stability of the in vitro regenerated plants. ResultsTwenty-seven metabolites have been identified in wild plant shoots using the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The metabolites include alkaloids, amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids, vitamins, and a phenol. In vitro propagation of the plant was carried out through nodal cutting-micropropagation and leaf segment-direct organogenesis. The best results were obtained when nodal cutting explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog medium with Gamborg B5 vitamins supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1.0 mg/L) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0.05 mg/L), which gave a shoot formation capacity of 100% and a mean number of shoots of 27.67 ± 1.4/explant. These shoots were successfully rooted and transferred to the greenhouse and the survival rate was 75%. Genetic fidelity evaluation of the micropropagated clones was carried out using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Jaccard’s similarity coefficient indicated a similarity as high as 98% and 95% from RAPD and ISSR markers, respectively. ConclusionsThis study provides the chemical profiling of the aerial part of Anarrhinum pubescens. Moreover, in vitro regeneration through different tissue culture techniques has been established for mass propagation of the plant, and the genetic fidelity of the in vitro regenerated plants was confirmed as well. Our work on the in vitro propagation of A. pubescens will be helpful in ex situ conservation and identification of bioactive metabolites.

Geoelectrical Exploration of Groundwater by Using Vertical Electrical Sounding Technique at Wadi Morra, South Sinai, Egypt

Wadi Morra area is one of the most important areas targeted by the government for sustainable development. This development depends mainly on groundwater occurrences. This research aims to explore groundwater in this region, which depends on groundwater for its needs. To achieve this aim, the geoelectrical resistivity method was used, represented by Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Soundings (VESs). Seventeen VESs have been carried out with a maximum half current electrode spacing (AB/2) of 700m. The measured VESs are interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively to construct a geoelectrical model. To detect the water-bearing layers and their extensions, three geoelectric cross-sections in addition to a one-panel diagram were constructed using all the available data. Also, both true resistivity and isopach contour maps of waterbearing layers were created based on these data. The interpretation results indicate that there are five geoelectric layers (A, B, C, D, and E), two of them (C and D) are water-bearing layers. The first water-bearing layer is layer C, which represents the Nubian sandstone aquifer, and the second layer is layer D, which represents the fractured basement aquifer. These two aquifers were observed along the northern part of the Saint Catherine - Nuweiba road that dissects the Wadi Morra basin, while it is absent at the southern part of this road. It is due to the presence of a few faults. According to groundwater occurrences, the study area was divided into two zones. The first zone is zone (A) where the groundwater is present, either in the Nubian sandstone aquifer or in the fractured basement aquifer and the second zone is zone (B) where there is no groundwater at all due to the presence of basement rocks at a few depths. This research also recommends that the best places for drilling productive wells be at zone A.

BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH SALINITY TOLERANCE IN BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES (TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.) UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

This investigation was applied to find out the seven bread wheat lines that are more tolerant to saline stress (6195 ppm soil and 8934 ppm irrigated water) at Ras Sudr, South Sinai, Egypt. Data indicated that bread wheat lines greatly varied in their ability to grow and subsequently assimilate and translocate biochemical components. Line1 (L1) surpassed the other lines, it was recorded the maximum values of growth, yield, and proline as well as the lowest malondialdehyde content followed by L3 and L7. ISSR-PCR analysis was used for discriminating between lines. A total of 102 DNA bands are detected across the six ISSR primers, out of which only 72 bands (51 non-unique bands and 21 unique bands) are polymorphic with polymorphism percentages (70.58%). In this regard, primer ISSR2 gave the highest polymorphism (92%) followed by ISSR-13 (86%) and ISSR-11 (78%). Also, patterns of proteins (SDS-PAGE) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) have been successfully used in discriminating between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive lines. Concerning SDS-PAGE, bands number in 7 wheat lines ranged from 13 to 14 with molecular weights ranging between 6 to 130 kDa, and the more intensive bands are presented at 25, 29, and 34 kDa. Moreover, SOD patterns indicated the presence of 5 bands; the major is presented at bands (No. 4 and 5) in all wheat lines. Based on the results obtained, L1 was the best wheat line followed by L3 and L7 which more tolerant to saline stress, and this was associated with increasing growth, yield, and proline as well as decreasing MDA content. In conclusion, SDS-PAGE, SOD, and ISSR analyses are useful biochemical and molecular tools to discriminate different bread wheat lines under saline conditions.

Economic study of the possibilities of expanding the cultivation of olive crops in South Sinai دراسة اقتصادية لممکنات التوسع فى زراعة محصول الزيتون بمحافظة جنوب سيناء

The olive crop represents one of the important fruit crops that bear the environmental stress, so it spreads. Despite the importance of this crop in South Sinai, its productivity does not exceed 1.6 tons per acre, and it is less than its counterpart at the level of the republic, which is about 5.01 tons per acre. The research aims to identify the economic efficiency of the crop.The study confirmed that the human labor volume factors, the amount of organic fertilizer, the amount of pesticides, the amount of chemical fertilizer, and the number of automated work hours are the most influential factors on the productivity of the olive crop within the various holding groups, and the elasticity of these factors is less than the correct one, reflecting the returns of capacity With regard to the costs of producing the olive crop, The estimation of the cost functions indicates that the optimum volume of production amounted to about 2.8, 3.1, 3.2 tons, while the bulk of the profits amounted to about 3.5, 3.7, 3.9 tons. With regard to profit margins, the study indicated achieving net returns estimated at 9.9, 11.9, 13.3 thousand pounds per feddan within the three holding categories, and the added value amounted to 12.1, 14.1, 15.5 thousand pounds per feddan within the same categories.Regarding measures of economic efficiency, the results indicated that the general average return for the invested pound was about 187.7%, and the general average profit margin for the product was about 65.2%.

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of some Egyptian medicinal plants used in traditional medicine

ObjectivesMedicinal plants continue to gain popularity on a global scale. Besides, there is a need for discovering new antibacterial natural extracts that could be used as antibiotics alternatives against resistant bacteria. In this respect, the aim of this study was to determine the phytochemicals, antioxidant activity, calorific nutritional value and antibacterial potential of four traditionally used wild medicinal plants (Achillea fragrantissima (Delile) Hayne, Teucrium polium L., Peganum harmala L. and Solenostemma argel (Forssk.) Sch. Bip. grow in Saint Catherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt. MethodsStandard methods were applied to determine the proximate composition, calorific nutritional value, secondary metabolites (phenolics and flavonoids), antioxidant activity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·), ferrous ion chelating (FIC), 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS+) and Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) techniques in addition to the antibacterial potential of the active aqueous extracts by broth dilution technique. ResultsThe results obtained illustrated that T. polium recorded the highest nutritional calorific value (205.63 ± 5.76 calories/100 g dried plant), total phenolics (8.057 ± 0.322 g gallic acid equivalent/100 g dried plant), total flavonoids (2.013 ± 0.034 g catechin equivalent/ 100 g dried plant and antioxidant scavenging activity using DPPH (EC50 = 1.84 mg extract/g DPPH), FIC (IC50 = 0.068 mg extract/ml), ABTS (61.11%) and FRAP (2185.71 mmol Fe (II)/g extract) assays followed descendingly by A. fragrantissima, S. argel and P. harmala, respectively. There was direct relation between the flavonoids/ phenolics ratios and the radical scavenging activity among all extracts. Regarding the antibacterial potential, the extracts expressed broader antibacterial spectrum against Bacillus cereus(ATCC®11778™), Bacillus subtilis (ATCC®19659™), Escherichia coli (ATCC®10536™), klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC®10031™), Listeria innocua (ATCC®33090™), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC®19115™), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC®9027™), salmonella enterica (ATCC®15479™) and Salmonella typhimurium)ATCC®14028™(strains. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of the extracts estimated using broth dilution assay ranged from 0.049 to 1.56 mg/ml. T. polium extract possessed the highest activity among all other extracts. ConclusionsIn conclusion, the studied medicinal plants could be used as nutritional supplements, antioxidants and antibacterial botanicals for combating some of the pathogenic bacteria.

Integrated management of surface water and groundwater to mitigate flood risks and water scarcity in arid and semi‐arid regions

AbstractWater scarcity in arid and semi‐arid regions represents a significant obstruction to social and economic development. Also, flood hazards affect the life of many people in these areas. This study aims to develop a new model for integrated management of surface water and groundwater, which involves rainwater harvesting and recharge to groundwater aquifers. Integrated hydrological models, including geographic information system (GIS), watershed modelling system (WMS) and groundwater modelling system (GMS) were used. This research provides an integrated vision for exploiting the rainwater in Wadi Watier, South Sinai, Egypt and shows new insights on how to protect these areas from flood risks and store water to solve the water scarcity in this region. Based on physical properties of sub‐basins and soil properties, fourteen dams were suggested and designed to protect the study area from flood risks; five dams were used for storage and nine dams for groundwater recharge. The results showed that the dams could collect about 160.72 million m3 of rainwater which can be stored or recharged into groundwater aquifers. This will increase the national income and provide stability for residents in these areas that suffer from water shortage. Decision‐makers can use these models for sustainable flood management in similar areas.

THE ECONOMICS OF PRODUCTION AND COSTS OF THE BARLEY CROP IN SOUTH SINAI

The research mainly aimed at the economics of production and costs of the barley crop in South Sinai Governorate with determining the optimal volume of production, and the research was conducted in the Al-Tur Center in South Sinai Governorate, which ranked first in barley cultivation for the year 2019-2020, and the selection was for the villages of Jubail and Wadi Al-Tour in the Tor Sinai Center. Where it was found from the total product function (Q) that the most important productive elements that have a significant effect on the total output per feddan of the barley crop are human labor, mechanical work, nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer, and by estimating the different partial production elasticities of these elements, it was found that the productive flexibility of human labor and machine work It amounted to about 0.153 and 0.261, respectively, which indicates that an increase in the quantity used of the two elements by 10% leads to an increase in the feddan production of barley by 1.53% and 2.61%, respectively, and the productivity elasticity of nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer was estimated at about 0.498 and 0.124 respectively. Which indicates that increasing the nitrogen fertilizer and phosphate fertilizer by 10% leads to an increase in barley feddan production by 4.98% and 1.24%, respectively. The significance of these results was statistically proven at a significant level (0.01). It was also found that the optimal production volume, that lowers costs, of producing barley in the study sample amounted was about 11.09 ardeb/feddan, and that the actual total output amounted to about 10.48 ardeb/feddan. As for the volume of economic production that maximizes profit, it reached about 12.81 ardeb/feddan. The study also recommended increasing attention to the human element, using modern agricultural mechanization in agricultural operations and adding appropriate amounts of organic fertilizer and phosphates. To increase farms less than 5 acres.

Relations Between Radionuclides Activities and Pb Concentration on Different Rock Types.

The level of natural radioactivity in eight sediment rock samples from western south Sinai were collected from three different locations Um Bogma, Wadi Um Hamd and wadi Sad El-Banat, also two granite samples were collected from Gabal Gattar, north eastern desert in Egypt was investigated. The gamma-ray spectrometry system with hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector has been used to determined radioactivity concentrations. Samples were subjected to sulphuric acid leaching processes with the same parameters of solid liquid ratio S/L, acid concentration and leaching time. After leaching process, the pregnant solution was separated from the residual and the latter was dried. The two units, named the pregnant solutions and residuals were also measured radiometrically using the hyper-pure germanium detector to determine the activity concentrations (Bq/kg) of the different radionuclides of samples. The results showed that the relation between the sum of activities of 238U in both solutions and residuals with originals have two modes. The first mode is represented by the sum of 238U activities in leachate and residual is nearly equal the activity in the original sample. In the second mode, the sum is higher than the original. These variations depend mainly on the grain surfaces in the different rock types and its content high concentration of Pb. This phenomenon varied in magnitude within the different radionuclides in each sample. Also the leachability of U by the chemical analysis using several acidic leaching experiments for uranium have been performed by sulfuric acid.

Can we save critically endangered relict endemic plant species? A case study of Primula boveana Decne ex Duby in Egypt

Primula boveana Decne ex Duby is a threatened paleo-endemic plant in St. Catherine Protected Area (SCPA), south Sinai, Egypt which represents the remaining evidence from the Tertiary relict floras. Listed by IUCN Red List in 2014 as Critically Endangered, and there are urgent needs to carry out on-ground conservation actions. In this research we present steps to conserve Primula boveana through in-situ practices from planning to implementation, respectively through: a) evaluating the current conservation status through IUCN Red List and determining the environmental factors controlling the distribution of the species that are necessary for establishing the recovery program, b) determine the potential species habitat suitability under the current climate conditions using Maxent software, and c) based on the previous two steps, and in an experiment that is the first in this area, an attempt was done to cultivate dormant treated seeds directly in the suitable habitat for recovery. All of these steps aim to increase population size, Extent of Occurrence (EOO), and Area of Occupancy (AOO), which will contribute to minimize the impact of threats on the target species and reducing the risk of extinction. Environmental factors controlling the distribution of the P. boveana and habitat suitability range were extracted in detail using IUCN Red List Assessment and Species Distribution Model (SDM). Despite the low survival rates of seedlings, which reached 1% of the germinated seeds after 8 months from germination, about 140 new individuals were obtained to be added to the current population as a result of this step with an increase of more than 25 %. Also, the geographical range (EOO) after adding the recovery sites has increased by 230 %, which, if continued, could help reduce pressures on the species as well as the risk of extinction. During this study, we emphasized that the target species is marching toward extinction very quickly and needs rapid intervention to try to save it from the imminent extinction risk due to drought and climate change. Carrying out ex-situ conservation practices has become urgent due to the difficulty in ensuring the success of the in-situ conservation process in the future. Collecting and storing seeds, along with cultivation in greenhouses and botanical gardens, will aid in the conservation of the plant if it is extinct in the wild.