Legumes diversity in the south bank of Nahr Ibrahim river in Lebanon

ABSTRACT

The target of studying biodiversity in the south bank of Nahr-Ibrahim valley was to study 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 few sites on basalt. Habitats were found to be mostly oak dominated open forests. All sites on limestone were highly diverse, with Shannon index reaching 3.691. The high level of heterogeneity characterizes the relatively undisturbed sites of native vegetation. Vegetation on 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 coverage by 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