干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Two contrasting Egyptian desert environments are examined by ordination and integrated interpretation methods. A crude site moisture index is strongly related to vegetation in both desert regions. Water quality is an additional strong control of floristic variation on the Sinai coastal plain and disturbance (by grazing and woodfuel collection) is important in the Eastern Desert. Useful indicator groupings of species are obtained as part of the analysis and are potential aids in the development and conservation of desert areas. Modern numerical methods offer considerable advances on the traditional descriptions of Egyptian desert ecosystems.