Vegetation of Beni Bousera (northern Morocco) ultramafic soils and adjacent non-ultramafic soils in relation to edaphic factors
A. El Ghalabzouri A B , R. Ajbilou A , M. G. Mariotti B , K. Targuisti C and M. Ater A D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Diversité et Conservation des Systèmes Biologiques, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, BP 2062, Tétouan, Morocco.
B Polo Botanico, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e della Vita, Università degli studi di Genova, Corso Dogali 1 m, 16136 Genova, Italy.
C Département de Géologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Abdelmalek Essaâdi, BP 2121, Tétouan, Morocco.
D Corresponding author. Email: mohammed.ater@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Botany 63(4) 353-366 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT14320
Submitted: 26 November 2014 Accepted: 7 May 2015 Published: 18 June 2015
Abstract
Vegetation and soil sampling were undertaken in 47 relevés in two different sites in Beni Bousera (northern Morocco), 32 relevés were on ultramafic sites (peridotite) and 15 were on adjacent non-ultramafic soils (mica-schist). Soil composition of exchangeable elements (nickel, calcium, magnesium, calcium : magnesium ratio, iron, copper) and physicochemical characteristics (e.g. pH, cation exchange capacity, conductivity, carbonate) were investigated and the species composition and cover were recorded. Although there was a significant difference between the two types of soil shown by Student’s t-test and principal component analysis, the ‘serpentine factor’ can be considered moderate on the basis of the observed heavy metal concentrations and of the related calcium : magnesium ratio. Correspondence and canonical analysis were used to detect the principal factors associated with gradients in species composition. This analysis showed a clear differentiation of vegetation among the plant communities. Preferential or strict serpentinophyte species were recognised, whereas no hyperaccumulator species have yet been found.
Additional keywords: canonical analyses, relevés, species diversity, ultramafic soils, vegetation ecology.
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