A Study of Plant Diversity in the Balloran Dam Basin Area, Latakia, Syria
Raneem Shaddod *
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Lattakia University, Lattakia, Syria.
Wafaa Ghandor
Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Lattakia University, Lattakia, Syria.
Mona Barakat
Department of Soil and Water Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Lattakia University, Lattakia, Syria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The Balloran Dam Basin in northern Latakia, Syria, represents a critical Mediterranean ecosystem with high floristic diversity and complex ecological dynamics. This study (April 2023–April 2024) quantitatively evaluated vegetation composition, biodiversity metrics, and conservation priorities using systematic phytosociological sampling (45 quadrats of 100 m² across 5 surveys). We documented 124 plant species across 42 families, with Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae being most dominant. Key biodiversity indices revealed significant diversity (Shannon H′ up to 4.52) but also highlighted areas of severe degradation due to anthropogenic disturbances. Simpson's Index ranged from 0.12 to 0.85, indicating varying dominance patterns. Urgent conservation strategies are needed to mitigate biodiversity loss.
Keywords: Mediterranean flora, biodiversity indices, anthropogenic impact, ecosystem degradation, conservation planning