Phytoecological and phytoedaphological characterization of steppe plant communities in the south of Tlemcen (western Algeria)

Abstract

In Algeria, the steppe areas of southern Sebdou between Tlemcen, El-Aricha and Mecheria are the scene of an adverse and continuous ecological imbalance often caused by the strong support of human pressure in these ecosystems. In arid and semi-arid regions, salinity remains a constraint for the development of plants. This study focuses on the realization of floristic surveys, where attention was paid to areas occupied by the dominant perennial species (Tamarix gallicaL.). A correspondence analysis by Minitab 15 software has allowed us to individualize the groups of species attracted by some parameters (edaphic, nitrates, humidity), and ecological gradients appear to affect the distribution of these taxa. The study of plant diversity shows the dominance of biological type of therophytes (41%) and morphological type of the Chenopodiaceaes with (25%). For geographical types, the strict Mediterranean and circum-Mediterranean element predominates.