Floristic Structure and Ecological Indices of Vascular Flora in the Atteuf Region, Northern Algerian Sahara
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22399/ijcesen.5360Keywords:
Saharan flora, ecological indices, biological spectrum, phytogeography, AtteufAbstract
This study presents a computational and ecological assessment of the floristic structure, ecological spectra, and diversity indices of the vascular flora of the Atteuf region in the northern Algerian Sahara. Field surveys were conducted at two stations, and abundance data were compiled for 26 species belonging to 15 botanical families, with a total of 84 individuals. The data were used to establish familial, Raunkiaer biological, and phytogeographic spectra and to compute Shannon-Wiener diversity, maximum diversity, Pielou evenness, and Sorensen similarity indices. The familial spectrum was dominated by Asteraceae and Amaranthaceae, each representing 15.4% of the recorded flora, followed by Poaceae (11.5%). The biological spectrum showed the predominance of hemicryptophytes (38.5%) and chamaephytes (30.8%), with a substantial proportion of therophytes (23.1%), confirming adaptive strategies typical of arid ecosystems. The phytogeographic spectrum was dominated by Saharo-Sindian elements (38.4%), whereas endemic taxa represented 11.5% of the flora. The Shannon-Wiener index reached 4.179 bits, with high Pielou evenness (0.889), indicating a relatively balanced community despite severe water stress. The Sorensen index between stations was 0.323, reflecting moderate floristic similarity and strong spatial heterogeneity. These findings highlight the ecological and conservation value of the Atteuf flora and provide a quantitative baseline for monitoring Saharan plant communities.
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