The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco
Moroccan vegetation faces significant pressure particularly from human activities and climate change, while most ecosystems lack detailed assessments. Phytoecological studies and species assessments are implemented using vegetation sampling, analysis of climate data, geological substrate maps, and t...
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2025-04-01
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| author | Aboubakre Outourakhte Youssef Gharnit Abdelaziz Moujane Khalid El Haddany Aziz Hasib Abdelali Boulli |
| author_facet | Aboubakre Outourakhte Youssef Gharnit Abdelaziz Moujane Khalid El Haddany Aziz Hasib Abdelali Boulli |
| author_sort | Aboubakre Outourakhte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Moroccan vegetation faces significant pressure particularly from human activities and climate change, while most ecosystems lack detailed assessments. Phytoecological studies and species assessments are implemented using vegetation sampling, analysis of climate data, geological substrate maps, and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The study area hosts 565 plant species distributed into 74 families, with Asteraceae being the most abundant family, representing 17.7%. In addition, the correspondence analysis test demonstrates that species are grouped into six distinct blocks. Block 1 comprises a set of <i>Quercus ilex</i> forests. Block 2 encompasses <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> lands and transition zones between <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>. Block 3 represents <i>Pinus halepensis</i> forests and pine occurrences within <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> stands. Block 4 indicates the emergence of xerophytic species alongside the aforementioned species; it forms the upper limits of Blocks 1, 2, and 3. Block 5 corresponds to formations dominated by <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> in association with xerophytes. Block 6 groups together a set of xerophytic species characteristic of high mountain environments. Additionally, <i>Quercus ilex</i> colonizes the subhumid zones and prefers limestone substrates, <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> and <i>Tetraclinis articulata</i>, and <i>Pinus halepensis</i> occupies the hot part of the semi-arid in limestone, clays, and conglomerates, while the <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> and xerophytes inhabit the cold parts and limestone substrates. The thermo-Mediterranean vegetation level occupies low altitudes, dominated by <i>Tetraclinis articulata</i>, <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>, and <i>Olea europaea</i>. The meso-Mediterranean level extends to intermediate altitudes, dominated by <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>. While the supra-Mediterranean level is dominated by <i>Quercus ilex</i>, <i>Arbutus unedo</i>, and <i>Cistus creticus</i>. The mountain Mediterranean level, located in the high mountains, is dominated by <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> associated with xerophytes. Finally, the oro-Mediterranean level, found at extreme altitudes, is dominated by xerophytes. Some species within this region are endemic, rare, and threatened. Consequently, the implementation of effective conservation and protection policies is recommended. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f9ce85bdb3a479b88412daadb04e32f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-4133 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Ecologies |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f9ce85bdb3a479b88412daadb04e32f2025-08-20T03:27:23ZengMDPI AGEcologies2673-41332025-04-01622910.3390/ecologies6020029The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, MoroccoAboubakre Outourakhte0Youssef Gharnit1Abdelaziz Moujane2Khalid El Haddany3Aziz Hasib4Abdelali Boulli5Environmental, Ecological and Agroindustrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoEnvironmental, Ecological and Agroindustrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoEnvironmental, Ecological and Agroindustrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoResearch Team, Regional Management and Territorial Development, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech 40000, MoroccoEnvironmental, Ecological and Agroindustrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoEnvironmental, Ecological and Agroindustrial Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology Beni Mellal, University Sultan Moulay Sliman, Beni Mellal 23000, MoroccoMoroccan vegetation faces significant pressure particularly from human activities and climate change, while most ecosystems lack detailed assessments. Phytoecological studies and species assessments are implemented using vegetation sampling, analysis of climate data, geological substrate maps, and the Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The study area hosts 565 plant species distributed into 74 families, with Asteraceae being the most abundant family, representing 17.7%. In addition, the correspondence analysis test demonstrates that species are grouped into six distinct blocks. Block 1 comprises a set of <i>Quercus ilex</i> forests. Block 2 encompasses <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> lands and transition zones between <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>. Block 3 represents <i>Pinus halepensis</i> forests and pine occurrences within <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> stands. Block 4 indicates the emergence of xerophytic species alongside the aforementioned species; it forms the upper limits of Blocks 1, 2, and 3. Block 5 corresponds to formations dominated by <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> in association with xerophytes. Block 6 groups together a set of xerophytic species characteristic of high mountain environments. Additionally, <i>Quercus ilex</i> colonizes the subhumid zones and prefers limestone substrates, <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i> and <i>Tetraclinis articulata</i>, and <i>Pinus halepensis</i> occupies the hot part of the semi-arid in limestone, clays, and conglomerates, while the <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> and xerophytes inhabit the cold parts and limestone substrates. The thermo-Mediterranean vegetation level occupies low altitudes, dominated by <i>Tetraclinis articulata</i>, <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>, and <i>Olea europaea</i>. The meso-Mediterranean level extends to intermediate altitudes, dominated by <i>Quercus ilex</i> and <i>Juniperus phoenicea</i>. While the supra-Mediterranean level is dominated by <i>Quercus ilex</i>, <i>Arbutus unedo</i>, and <i>Cistus creticus</i>. The mountain Mediterranean level, located in the high mountains, is dominated by <i>Juniperus thurifera</i> associated with xerophytes. Finally, the oro-Mediterranean level, found at extreme altitudes, is dominated by xerophytes. Some species within this region are endemic, rare, and threatened. Consequently, the implementation of effective conservation and protection policies is recommended.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/29floristic analysisvegetation levelsvegetation levelsbioclimatephytoecology |
| spellingShingle | Aboubakre Outourakhte Youssef Gharnit Abdelaziz Moujane Khalid El Haddany Aziz Hasib Abdelali Boulli The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco Ecologies floristic analysis vegetation levels vegetation levels bioclimate phytoecology |
| title | The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_full | The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_fullStr | The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_short | The Floristic Composition and Phytoecological Characterization of Plant Communities in the M’Goun Geopark, High Atlas, Morocco |
| title_sort | floristic composition and phytoecological characterization of plant communities in the m goun geopark high atlas morocco |
| topic | floristic analysis vegetation levels vegetation levels bioclimate phytoecology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/6/2/29 |
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