Abstract
This study evaluates the species richness, phenology and effect of environmental factors on the composition of canal and drain vegetation in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Altogether, 365 stands were sampled along the terraces, slopes, littoral zones and water zones of 28 canals and 10 drains. Smooth species compositional changes were found in the first three zones. The slope plant community has the highest total number of species and species richness and a medium value of species turnover. The water zone has the lowest values of these variables.
The number of species with seedlings and vegetative plants had two peaks: one in winter and the second in summer, which was related to the contrasted behaviour of the winter and summer weeds. The number of species with vegetative and fruiting plants was relatively higher, while the number with dormant plants was relatively lower in the canal vegetation when compared to that of the drains. The number of species with vegetative, flowering and fruiting plants increased with the decrease of canal-drain width.
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Shaltout, K.H., El-Din, A.S. & El-Sheikh, M.A. Species richness and phenology of vegetation along irrigation canals and drains in the Nile Delta, Egypt. Vegetatio 112, 35–43 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045098
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045098