Analysis of Some Plant Biodiversity Indices in Forest Habitats of Latakia Governorate, Syria
Keywords:
Plant diversity, Biodiversity Indices, Red List, Taxonomic ratios, Forest habitats.Abstract
This research aimed to evaluate plant biodiversity across different types of forest habitats in Latakia Governorate, Syria, by applying a set of quantitative diversity indices and determining the conservation status of the recorded species.
Fieldwork was conducted on 67 sampling plots, each measuring 400 m², distributed throughout the governorate so as to represent a wide range of forest habitat types and environmental heterogeneity. Floristic surveys were carried out during the years 2022 and 2023, and site data were systematically collected. Several biodiversity indices based on species richness and abundance were calculated, followed by descriptive statistical analyses of their values. In addition, raw and corrected taxonomic ratios were computed in order to provide a comparative perspective. A checklist of endemic and rare species was proposed, and the status of all recorded taxa was assessed in accordance with the categories of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The results demonstrated a high level of species richness, contrasted by a marked decline in species abundance. Raw values of taxonomic ratios were found to be relatively lower than those reported in comparable studies, while corrected values showed greater consistency. Overall, the diversity indices proved to be effective tools for assessing plant diversity: species richness indices yielded broadly consistent results, whereas evenness measures were more variable in their expression of biodiversity, with Simpson’s index in particular reflecting its sensitivity to species dominance.
The research documented one endemic, and 17 rare species, along with one taxon categorized as Critically Endangered (CR), one as Vulnerable (VU), two as Near Threatened (NT), three as Data Deficient (DD), and 91 species of Least Concern (LC). In contrast, 252 species (72% of the total) fell into the Not Evaluated (NE) category, underscoring the urgent need for a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the Syrian flora.
