The Vegetation of Egypt

About this book

The position of Egypt - at the cross-roads between the Middle East and Africa - has attracted the attention of naturalists and explorers for many centuries. Yet while there are many studies relating to the ecology and biology of Egyptian vegetation, the first issue of Zahran and Willis' Vegetation of Egypt (1992) represented the first attempt to draw this diverse information together. In this second edition, this invaluable text is both updated and expanded to include additional topics such as the role of remote sensing in mapping Egypt's vegetation, and the economic potential of major desert species.

Covering each of the four major eco-geographical regions of Egypt - the Western Desert, the Eastern Desert, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Nile Region - the book integrates a wealth of detail and represents an important landmark in the vegetation of arid and Mediterranean-type regions. As such, it will provide an essential reference to advanced students and researchers in plant science, ecology, biogeography, climatology, economic botany and remote sensing.

Contents

About the authors.- Preface.- Foreword.- Introduction. 1. Egypt: the gift of the Nile.- 2. Physiography, climate and soil-vegetation relationships. 2.1 Geological characteristics. 2.2 Geographical characteristics. 2.3 The climate of Egypt. 2.4. Soil-vegetation relationships.- 3. The Western Desert. 3.1 General features. 3.2 The western Mediterranean coastal belt. 3.3 The oases and depressions. 3.4 Gebel Uweinat. 3.5 The Gilf Kebir.- 4. The Eastern Desert. 4.1 Geology and geomorphology. 4.2 Ecological characteristics.- 5. The Sinai Peninsula. 5.1 Geomorphology. 5.2 Climate. 5.3 Water resources. 5.4 The vegetation.- 6. The Nile region. 6.1 Geomorphology. 6.2 Climate. 6.3 Vegetation types.- 7. The history of the vegetation: its salient features and future study. 7.1 The history of the vegetation. 7.2 Future study of phytosociology and plant ecology. 7.3 The main types of vegetation and its features: synopsis.- 8. Remote sensing and vegetation map of Egypt.- 9. Sustainable development of Egypt's deserts.- Appendix: Photographs covering Western Desert, Eastern Desert, Sinai Peninsula, Nile Region.- References.- Species Index.- Subject Index.-

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