Assessment of Flora and Butterflies in Al-Arqoub Valleys in Palestine: Value in Conservation Plans
Author Name
Johann G. Gedeon, Banan Al-Sheikh, Mazin B. Qumsiyeh
Habitat destruction and fragmentation, climate change, pollution, invasive species, and overexploitation are global causes of biodiversity loss. Area-based conservation measures that consider connectivity are critical. It is extremely challenging to conserve isolated or fragmented areas. The area of the South Jerusalem Hills (9.1 km2) includes several villages collectively called the Al Arqoub area (Al-Khader, Battir, Husan, Al Walaja, and Wadi Fukin) with several valleys that were proposed in 2023 as a new protected area by EQA. The area is rich in cultural and natural heritage. The challenges reported in the conservation of the area warranted serious consideration of how to implement effective conservation measures. Two groups (vascular plants and butterflies/Lepidoptera) were selected to identify key challenges resulting from urbanization and habitat destruction. 387 floral species belonging to 79 families were identified, of which 53 are rare, while 54 are considered very rare. We recorded 63 medicinal and herbal plants, 5 parasitic plants, and 10 introduced invasive species. 44 butterfly species were demonstrated within the targeted region. Their distribution within four poorly connected areas comprising the four valleys in the study areas suggests isolated populations, making protection difficult for the whole area. We suggest that despite the near impossibility of ensuring a connected eco corridor in the area, key plants and associated key butterflies in each of the four areas (like small reserves) ought to be protected. Such studies can be implemented in other fragmented areas of the State of Palestine
Diversity and Distribution of Rodents in Northern Jordan
Author Name
Marwan M. Abu Al-Hana, Mohammad A. Abu Baker and Zuhair S. Amr
Despite the comprehensive literature on the mammals of Jordan published in the last two decades, the rodent fauna in northern Jordan remains largely unknown. This study aims to study rodents’ diversity and distribution in northern Jordan. The survey was conducted during July 2020-April 2021 using Sherman folding live traps for 360 trap nights from 18 different locations along the northern borders of Jordan with Syria extending from Saham to Um el Quttein. A total of 102 individuals representing six species of rodents representing two families (Muridae: The eastern spiny mouse, Acomys dimidiatus; broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus; Wagner’s gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus; Tristram’s jird, Meriones tristrami; and the house mouse, Mus musculus; Cricetidae: Günther’s vole, Microtus guentheri) were identified. In this study, no new records for the rodents of Jordan were added. However, the present study adds new localities for the rodent fauna of Jordan and extends the distribution range for some species. Surveys on rodents and other small mammals should be carried out every two or three years to estimate their population size and monitor changes in their composition
