Floristic diversity and ecological characteristics of Northeastern Gaza strip, Palestine

The current study was carried out to determine floristic diversity and investigate ecological characteristics in the northeastern Gaza Strip, Palestine from 2019-2021 during various seasons. A total of 146 species were recorded belonging to 116 genera and 44 families. Of these Echinops philistaeus is believed to be endemic to Palestine, five endangered taxa were also recorded. The predominant families of the study area were Asteraceae (Compositae) with 27 species Poaceae (Gramineae) with 19 species and Fabaceae (Leguminosae) with 13 species. At the generic level Amaranthus was represented by five species, while Avena, Bromus, Euphorbia, Ficus, and Urtica were represented by three species each. Mediterranean and Irano-Turanian elements made up the majority of the chorotypes (65 species). Therophytesmade up the majority of the life-form class by 87 species followed by hemicryptophytes (22 species), phanerophyte (17 species), chamaephytes (9 species), geophytes and climbers (5 species each), and parasites represented only by one species. This study provides basic information on the area floristic composition for the future biodiversity conservation projects. It is advised that more research be done to find the plant species that have a wide biological range in this area and to create management strategies that will protect floristic diversity—particularly that of endangered species.


Introduction
Palestine is situated in Southwest Asia in the east of the Mediterranean basin, its biogeography has been divided into three regions Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian (semi-desert) and extreme desert.It is considered one of the hotspots and the Floristic diversity and ecological characteristics of Northeastern Gaza strip important sources of biological diversity and plant speciation in the Mediterranean region and globally (Al-Sheikh, 2011).The floristic diversity was subjected to decline and changes in vegetation patterns due to anthropogenic factors (Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous 2018;Qumsiyeh & Al-Sheikh 2023).The urbanization and population growth have an impact on the environment, particularly on the plant cover.The environmental monitoring studies showed that there is an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, as a result of the lack of vegetation cover (Zhang, et al. 2022 a;Al Kafy et al. 2022).There are specific ecological characteristics that distinguish any ecosystem, such as vegetative growth, composition, and structure.These characteristics show ecosystem differences and ecological changes that arise due to human activities (Jyoti et al. 2014;Sharma et al. 2014;Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous 2018).Recent studies have proven that the extinction of many plant species and the threats faced by biodiversity is mainly attributed to the anthropogenic activities, in addition to vulnerability of habitats, pollution, overexploitation, and global climatic change (Sharma et al. 2014;Ali-Shtayeh and Jamous 2018;Ford et al. 2021;Al Kafy et al. 2022;Qumsiyeh and Al-Sheikh 2023).
Palestine is distinguished by its geographical location which contributes to its biodiversity and abundance of plant species; it has about 2,600 species, 260 of which are red-listed (Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous 2018; Al-Sheikh & Qumsiyeh 2022).
In addition, this country is a meeting point for the plant species from Africa, Europe, and Asia, which increases its floral diversity (Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2015).Vascular plant species are widespread, 14% of them are flowering and listed on the IUCN Red List (IUCN 2021).According to Moreira et al. (2023), about 11% of vascular plants are globally threatened due to land use.Globally, recent studies have been conducted to investigate the floristic diversity in terms of taxonomic and morphological diversity (Zaman & Badshat 2021;Rawal & Tewari 2022;Zhang et al. 2022 a) The endemism in the Mediterranean Basin flora, in Palestine is lower than in other regions (Ighbareyeh et al. 2021;Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous, 2018).According to Ali-Shtayeh et al. (2022), 165 taxa of the Palestinian flora are endemic and near-endemic.In total, there are 102 threatened plant taxa belonging to 39 families and 83 genera; that comprising 5.6% of the total Palestinian flora.Few studies dealt with the vascular plants in Palestine; Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous (2018) recorded 1938 vascular plant species comprises 733 genera and 111 families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (GS).Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2022 wrote a new inventory included 1826 species belonging to 686 genera and 108 families for indigenous vascular plants grown in GS and the West Bank, among them 1216 taxa were recorded in GS.Despite the floristic diversity in the GS, was subjected to few studies that dealt with the floral diversity, ecological, and taxonomical in this region (Madi et al. 2002;Abd Rabou et al. 2008;Abou Auda et al. 2009a;Abou Auda et al. 2009b;Abou Auda 2010;Abou Auda 2011;Abou Auda 2012).Many recent studies have been conducted to investigate floristic diversity in terms of taxonomic and morphological diversity (Zaman & Badshat 2021;Rawal & Tewari 2022;Zhang et al. 2022 b).To date of issue, there are no recent studies conducted in the Gaza Strip that have dealt with the floristic composition, chorotype, and biological spectrum of its vascular flora.
The current study aims to explore some of the biological and ecological features of flora of GS including the species diversity, habitats, biological spectrum, spinescences, leaf type, leaf arrangement, and chorotype.This study will provid e valuable knowledge for researchers, students, and decision-makers as a step towards implementing the conservation programs.

I. Study area
Palestine is located between 34˚15' and 35˚40' E and between 29˚30' and 33˚15' N.This location plays a major role in the impact on determination of its biodiversity, floral characteristics, vegetation cover patterns, and climate conditions (Ighbareyeh et al. 2017).Despite the small area of Palestine, it is characterized by remarkable climatic and topographical diversity as noticed in Gaza and the West Bank areas.This study will cover the Northeastern GS, which is situated between 31° -32° N and 34° -35° E. The area of GS is about 365 km 2 and is bordered to the south by Egypt and to the west by the Mediterranean Sea.The average temperature ranges from 13 ºC in winter to 25 ºC in summer.In contrast, the maximum temperature ranges from 17 -29 ºC in summer, and the least is 9 -21 ºC in winter.On the other hand, the daily humidity fluctuates between 65% in the daytime and 85% at night in summer and 60% -80%, in winter (UNEP 2003;Abd Rabou & Radwan 2017).
The climate in Palestine is hot, and dry in summer, warm, and rainy in winter this supporting the abundance of plant species.In the current study, samples of plant species were collected from different locations such as the city of Beit Hanoun and the village of Om el Nasser (Map 1) which includes different sites such Alezba, Salah Al-Deen, Hamouda, Qatabania, Aboramadan, Abosafia, Gazalat, Farata, Abugazala, Poura, and Aldooh ((Map 1).

II. Data collection and species identification
Several field and exploratory visits from June 2019 to December 2021 were carried out with the aim of conducting a comprehensive survey of the selected study areas.Different habitats were visited to record the different plant species in the study area i.e., semi-open and open habitats, disturbed areas, cultivated lands, steppes, sands, salty habitat, shady rocks, walls, etc.), a detailed botanical inventory was conducted.Samples were collected and herbarium samples were prepared using the standard herbarium method (Smith & Chinnappa 2015;Jain & Rao 1976).Samples were identified using relevant literatures, publications, databases, and previous Floras (Zohary 1966, 1972, Feinbrun 1978, 1986, Täckholm 1974;Boulos 1999Boulos -2005;;Horvitz & Danin 2015;Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2022;Ighbareyeh et al. 2022).
For each taxon, the following information is provided: currently accepted name (according to POWO) and family (according to APG III.APG IV), habitat, habitat classes, duration, life-form according to Raunkiaer (1934) and Ellenberg (1967).Leaf type, leaf arrangement, spinescence, summer shedding were recorded.In addition to the threat status according to the IUCN, and chorology according to Ali-Shtayeh & Jamous (2018), vernacular names and notes on their possible uses were also provided.
Map 1.The location map of the study area in northeastern Gaza strip, Palestine.

Results
Floristic diversity refers to all plant species within the boundaries of the study area, which reflects the natural vegetation cover of the area and its plant resources.A comprehensive documentation of the inventory of vascular plant species in the study area is presented in Table (1).The data related to vernacular names were identified according to previous studies (Horvitz & Danin, 2015;Ali-Shtayeh et al., 2022;Ighbareyeh et al. 2022).
The total number of taxa accounted for in this study was 146 species, 116 genera, belonging to 44 families; out of these families, Gymnospermae are less represented by two families (Cupressaceae and Ephedraceae).Most of the taxa are included in Eu-dicots, (37 families), while monocots are represented by only six families.
Asteraceae (Compositae) was the largest family with 27 species (18.4 % of the recorded species) followed by Poaceae (Gramineae) with 19 species (13 %) and Fabaceae (Leguminosae-subfamilies: Mimosoideae and Papilionoideae) with 13 species, (8.9 %), while Amaranthaceae s.l.(incl.Chenopodiaceae) including nine species (6.1 %); Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), Solanaceae, and Euphorbiaceae represented by five species each (3.4 %); whereas 23 families were represented by only one species for each one.At the generic level, , 97 genera out of 116 genera were represented by one species; 13 genera represented by two species, five genera by three species, whereas Amaranthus represented by five species (Table 1, Figure 1).According to different studies of the flora of the Mediterranean Basin, the endemic plant species diversity in Palestine is lower than in other regions (Ighbareyeh et al. 2021;Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2022), in the present study only the endemic species Echinops philistaeus is recorded.Furthermore, five species are believed to be threatened viz.: Cupressus sepmervirens, Ficus palmata (Endangered), Epherda alata (Near threatened) while Amaranthus spinosus and Anchusa azurea were very rare species.

Discussion
The present study presented an overview of floristic diversity and ecological characteristics in the northeastern Gaza Strip (GS), Palestine, with special emphasis on floral species, habitats, life forms, and chorology of plant species.The current investigation was the first research related to plant biodiversity in this area.This study showed the vascular plant diversity, where 146 species were found distributed in 116 genera and 44 families.Most families identified were Asteraceae (Compositae), Poaceae (Gramineae), Fabaceae (Leguminosae), Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), and Solanaceae.This result is in accordance with that of (Ali-Shtayeh & Jamus, 2018;Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2022).Based on the results obtained, it was clear that GS is characterized by the abundance of vascular plants among the common species recorded were: Adonis microcarpa, Alhagi graecorum, Allium ampeloprasum, Amaranthus blitoides …etc.This may be a result of the geographical location, abundance of water, and medium-moderate climate (Ali-Shtayeh et al. 2022).This indicated that they may be rare vascular plant species, and this was pointed out by Ssegawa & Nkuutu (2006).The analysis of floristic checklist of northeastern GS revealed that there are numerous recorded species of special importance, and many have medicinal uses such as Paronychia argentea, Silybum marianum, Chrozophora tinctoria, Ricinus communis, Solanum nigrum, Amaranthus spinosus, A. viridis, Asparagus horridus, Ficus carica, F. sycomorus, Urtica pilulifera, U. urens, Nerium oleander, Cupressus sempervirens, Cyperus rotundus, Cynodon dactylon, Malva parviflora, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Olea europea, Phoenix dactylifera, Alhagi graecorum, Portulaca oleracea, Tamarix nilotica, Thymelaea hirsuta and Lantana camara which is consistent with the study conducted by Abou Auda (2011), Abd Rabou et al. (2008);Ali-Shtayeh et al. (2014) According to the analysis of preferable habitats, results showed that the most common habitats are semi-steppes, (Batha) represent 34.9% of the total area, followed by disturbed habitats (22.7%), cultivated areas (12.3%) and nutrient-rich soils (11.6%).Conversely, the least common habitats of recorded species were shady rocks (0.6%), walls (0.6%), Mediterranean grasslands (1.3%), hard rock outcrops (2%), and salty habitats (2.7%) (Table 1; Figure 2).This variation in the distribution of vascular plant species in different habitats may be due to several factors including climate, topography, and geology (Wubu et al. 2023).
According to the leaf type, the entire leaves were noticed in 104 species (71.2%), while the dissected were observed in 27 species (18.4), compound leaves in 11 species (7.5%), while in the remaining 5 species (3.4%), leaves was scale leaves (outlined in Table 1).The most dominant leaf arrangement was alternate in127 species (87%), followed by opposite in 17 species (11%), rosette in 8 species (5.4%), while the least common leaf arrangement was whorled recorded in one species (Table 1).
The results showed that therophytes (annual plants) represented the dominant life forms representing 59.5% of the studied species (87 species).This may be attributed to the seasonal character of the water supply that supports the annual plants similar finds were reported by Naqinezhad et al. (2009.These findings are consistent with many previous studies (Badshah et al. 2013;Kherissat & Al-Esawi 2019;Zaman & Badshat 2021;Haq & Badshah 2021).

Conclusion
According to the results, the study area in the northern Gaza Strip (GS) had floral diversity and many flower species belonging to vascular plants.This may be due to the availability of ecological factors suitable for its presence.Although there was an abundance of diversity in flowering vascular plants, however, some of these species are threatened with extinction and decrease.As well as there were differences in the distribution patterns of plant species.This research provides background information on floristic composition and ecological characteristics, which can be an important source and reference for biodiversity conservation.Further studies are recommended to explore other previously unidentified plant species and to promote effective systems to conserve floristic diversity, especially endangered species.

Fig. 1 .
Fig.1.Number of species distribution in plant families of the study area