DIVERSITE FLORISTIQUE DES ZONES HUMIDES DE LA VALLEE DE L’OUED RIGH, (SAHARA SEPTENTRIONAL ALGERIEN)

Abstract

Wetlands are an essential ecological ecosystem in Saharan. Their ecological study is necessary for any conservation project. The aim of this study was to explore the composition and dynamics of the natural vegetation in five saline wetlands of Oued Righ region, locating in the north east of Algerian septentrional Sahara. A total of 17 species belonging to 10 families were identified from the five studied habitats. Water bodies are devoid of submerged plants. Species distribution of wetlands is heterogeneous so Ayata and Megarine lakes are the richest with 10 species. The most frequent biological types are Chamephytes (41%) and Geophytes (17%), which characterize the desert vegetation with low cover and low height. Chenopodiaceae includes the main number of species with six plants which resist salinity and drought. The major of the inventoried species are halophytes as well as Arthrocnemum glaucum, Halocnemum strobilaceum and Salicornia fruticosa, or hydrophytes especially Phragmites communis, Juncus maritimus and Tamarix gallica. Wetlands of Oued Righ region habitat a little diverse flora adapted to difficult environmental conditions as high soil salinity and drought climate.