Biodiversity of Halophytic Vegetation in Chott Zehrez Lake of Djelfa (Algeria)

Abstract

Mediterranean large lakes play an important role in providing a range of ecosystem functions and supporting biodiver-sity. The conservation and management of these lakes require more detailed knowledge of their ecology and environ-ment-vegetation relationships. Chotts are probably the most poorly understood lake ecosystems. Chott Zehrez (Djelfa) as a large, shallow lake ecosystem in Algerian steppes, where wetlands are important part of their productivity. Despite the status of chott Zehrez lake as a Ramsar site, the main threat to its conservation is the private nature of surrounding land holdings in addition to the lack of knowledge and awareness by the local population of the importance of lake ecosystems. A wealth of halophytic flora exists which can be exploited for an array of uses like fodder, fuel wood, oil-seed, medicines, landscaping, and environment conservation through carbon sequestration. A total 112 species belong-ing to 26 families and 39 genera were recorded. The sabkha flora includes 9 endangered and endemic species such as Avena bromoides, Cutandia divaricata, Herniaria mauritanica and Salicornia arabica. In this paper we mainly dis-cussed characteristics and importance of Chott Zehrez lake ecosystem, its vegetation potentialities and economic usages will be also presented and discussed. Finally conservation strategy and restoration of this ecosystem are suggested.