title: Main vegetation types and plant species diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Plant species composition patterns and vegetation types were investigated along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Sandy plain, wadis, drainage lines, rocky outcrops, hills and fallow lands occur over a wide geographic range encompassing variation in plant species and communities among these different ecological sites. To provide a quantitatively based classification of the vegetation we used Multi Variant Statistical Package (MVSP) software, followed by the re-arrangement of a matrix of the similar plant species in rows and similar sample sites in columns. Plant density and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each quadrat. Two-way indicator species analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used to analyze the relationships between vegetation and environmental variables, while Arc Map was used to analyze the pattern of plant species density. A total of 59 sample plots (25 × 25 m), stratified, randomly-placed relevés were collected in Al Baha region, along a cross section running from south-west to north-west. About 190 plant species belonging to 59 families were recognized. This study showed that these plant species formed 15 vegetation types that primarily correspond mainly to different combinations of elevation, and topography. The study concluded that this research has provided the first quantitative and systematic survey of the vegetation in Al Baha region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Science and Arts, Albaha University (BU), Baljurashi, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Aklabi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Studies and Continuous Education, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdul Wali
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Al-Khulaidi
authors.affiliation: Al Baha University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nageeb
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Sagheer
keywords: Al Baha; MVSP; Plant density; Saudi Arabia; Vegetation types