Seasonal and environmental variability in leaf anatomical traits of Pistacia lentiscus among different sites in Northwestern Algeria

Abstract

Leaf anatomical traits such as cuticle, epidermis, palisade parenchyma, and total leaf thickness play a critical role in plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Mediterranean plants, including sclerophyllous species, have evolved these traits to thrive under these fluctuating conditions. The present study investigates the anatomical variations in Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves in response to environmental factors in Northwestern Algeria. Through a comparative analysis across multiple sites and seasons, we evaluated the influence of climatic and edaphic conditions on leaf structural thickness, particularly the cuticle, ep i dermis, and palisade parenchyma. The results indicate that spatial variability is mainly reflected in changes in cuticle and palisade parenchyma thickness, while seasonal variability primarily affects the epidermis and foliar parenchyma. The highest values were recorded in Bouhriz Forest, the most arid site, during winter, while the h ighest values in summer were ob served in Tessala Mou n tains, the site with the highest altitude. However, the values in Beni Saf Forest were moderate, followed by the lowest values in M'Sila Forest. These anatomical adjustments highlight the adaptive capacity of P. lentiscus to the environmental constraints of the Mediterranean climate. This study underscores the importance of abiotic factors in shaping leaf traits and contributes to a better understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of sclerophyllous species in response to climatic and edaphic variations