10.6084/m9.figshare.5239957.v1
Mohammed El Madihi
Mohammed El
Madihi
Laila Rhazi
Laila
Rhazi
Maarten Van den Broeck
Maarten
Van den Broeck
Mouhssine Rhazi
Mouhssine
Rhazi
Aline Waterkeyn
Aline
Waterkeyn
Er-riyahi Saber
Er-riyahi
Saber
Siham Bouahim
Siham
Bouahim
Moustapha Arahou
Moustapha
Arahou
Abdelmajid Zouahri
Abdelmajid
Zouahri
Anis Guelmami
Anis
Guelmami
Serge D. Muller
Serge
D. Muller
Luc Brendonck
Luc
Brendonck
Patrick Grillas
Patrick
Grillas
Plant community patterns in Moroccan temporary ponds along latitudinal and anthropogenic disturbance gradients
Taylor & Francis Group
2017
anthropogenic pressures
climate change
conservation
North Africa
rare species
wetlands
2017-07-25 05:17:37
Dataset
https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Plant_community_patterns_in_Moroccan_temporary_ponds_along_latitudinal_and_anthropogenic_disturbance_gradients/5239957
<p><b><i>Background</i></b>: Temporary ponds, an abundant habitat in the Maghreb region and notably in Morocco, have a high conservation value. However, they are mainly known from the north of the country.</p> <p><b><i>Aims</i></b>: The aim of this work was to characterise the vegetation of Moroccan temporary ponds along a combined gradient of latitude and anthropogenic pressure.</p> <p><b><i>Methods</i></b>: Eighty-five ponds distributed along a north–south gradient of 750 km were sampled. For each pond, all vegetation was surveyed (flooded and dry parts) and the local abiotic characteristics were measured during two successive hydrological cycles. The prevailing anthropogenic pressures were also identified and were attributed an impact score.</p> <p><b><i>Results</i></b>: Eighty-one characteristic pond species (including 17 rare species) were recorded, with several new distribution data in the southern part of the latitudinal gradient. Plant communities were related to climatic and anthropogenic factors, but mostly to local factors, such as maximum water depth and soil pH. The northern ponds (wettest macroclimate) were rich in characteristic species and rare species, while the southern (driest macroclimate) ponds were more species poor.</p> <p><b><i>Conclusions</i></b>: In addition to the direct impact of increasing human activity, a further reduction of the floristic richness of temporary ponds is expected due to climatic changes. This is particularly the case for characteristic species which have a high conservation value.</p>