Atallah, T Lebanese University - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Production, Lebanon , Hajj, S Lebanese University - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Production, Lebanon , Mehanna, M. Lebanese University - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Production, Lebanon , Aoun, N. Lebanese University - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Production, Lebanon , Darwish, T National Council for Scientific Research - Center for Remote Sensing, Lebanon , Rizk, H. Lebanese University - Faculty of Agricultural Sciences - Department of Plant Production, Lebanon

LEGUMES DIVERSITY IN THE SOUTH BANK OF NAHR-IBRAHIM RIVER IN LEBANON

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The target of studying biodiversity in the south bank of Nahr-Ibrahim valley was tostudy models for the rehabilitation of degraded areas, with an emphasis on the diversity of wild legumes. In an altitudinal transect, the rock substrate was limestone mostly, with a fewsites on basalt. Habitats were found to be mostly oak dominated open forests. All sites onlimestone were highly diverse, with Shannon index reaching 3.691. The high level of heterogeneity characterizes the relatively undisturbed sites of native vegetation. Vegetationon basalt was less diverse than on limestone. Thirty species of legumes belonging to 15 genera were identified, 23 species were annual and 7 perennial. Most dominant legume species were herbaceous, except for Calicotome villosa an abundant shrub. Legumes diversity was positively linked to the number of species, the Shannon index and the coverageby the herbaceous layer. A significant association was found between Tamus, Hordeum,Dactylocteneum, Trifolium spp, Calicotome villosa, Styrax officinalis and Quercus calliprinos. This could serve as a model for future combination of potentially useful plant species.

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Shannon index , oak dominated forest , legume diversity , humid Mediterranean , species associations

Lebanese Science Journal

26