Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Botany and Microbiology

This study covered the eastern and western mountainous ecosystems in north of Libya. At the level of species composition and diversity, life form structure, and reproductive phenology, plant communities in the eastern Al-Akhdar mountainous landscape were characterized by higher resistance and stability as compared to that in the western Nafusa Mountains. Populations of the keystone species Juniperus phoenicea L. showed significant variations on the vegetative types and reproductive traits along altitudinal gradient. As for the endemic Arbutus pavarii Pamp., the young trees are susceptible to dieback where none of the populations showed a stable distribution of size classes. In some of the tree species populations, the lack of recruitment, the failure of successful fruit production, and increased dieback constitute serious demographic threats. There is a pressing need to conserve the keystone species from further dieback through targeted management plans

Issued also as CD