The Palestinian Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Preserved at the Biology Exhibitions of the Universities of the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip (365 km2 ) of Palestine (27,000 km2 ) is home to a wealth of terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Some of these faunistic species find their ways to preservation at the local universities. Hence, the current study comes to document the Palestinian terrestrial vertebrate fauna acquired by the biology exhibitions (BEs) of Al-Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Aqsa University that are located at the Gaza City of the Gaza Strip. The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals preserved at BEs of the universities in question were surveyed and scientifically classified during a three-month period extending from January to March, 2012. The study showed that all BEs of local universities are underdeveloped, lacking attention and suffer from specimen scarcity and good preservation. The BE at Al-Azhar University is the best in the arrangement and preservation of bird specimens. A total number of 200 specimens belonging to 54 terrestrial vertebrate fauna species, 39 families and 17 orders was recorded at BEs. Reptiles constituted 40.7% of the total species recorded, followed by birds (38.9%), mammals (14.8%) and amphibians (5.6%). The Islamic University of Gaza was considered the best in terms of the number of preserved species (39.8%), followed by Al-Azhar University (36.3%) and Al-Aqsa University (23.9%). The Common Toad (Bufo viridis) was the most preserved among the amphibian species recorded. Squamata was the biggest reptilian order, comprising 20 species (8 lizards and 12 snakes), with the Syrian Black Snake (Coluber jugularis asianus) was the commonest. The Palestine Viper (Vipera palaestinae) is endemic to Palestine and most venomous and dangerous to human health. The Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was the largest Palestinian bird preserved at BE of Al-Azhar University. The Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the Common Badger (Meles meles) were the biggest mammalian specimens preserved, while the Palestine Mole-rat (Spalax leucodon ehrenbergi) was the only Palestine endemic species encountered among the preserved mammals. Finally, the improvement of BEs of local universities and the construction of a Central Museum of Natural History is highly recommended in order to change the Palestinians’ attitudes toward a sustainable ecological conservation in the Gaza Strip

الأشجار والشجيرات المتزاجدة في الحرم الرئيس للجامعة الإسلامية بغزة، قطاع غزة، فلسطين

The Gaza Strip, which has a population of about 2.0 million and an area of about 365 km2, has many higher education institutions. The green quadrates, corridors and gardens of these institutions are commonly cultivated with many horticultural plants including trees and shrubs that provide many environmental, health, and aesthetic values. The Palestinian universities of the Gaza Strip have never been studied for the composition and numbers of their trees and shrubs. Therefore, the current study aims at identifying and recording the trees and shrubs prevailing and enhancing the ecology and environmental health aspects of the main campus of the Islamic University of Gaza (MC-IUG). Frequent surveys and observations were carried out during a six-month study extended from February, 2018 to July, 2018 in order to identify and totally count the trees and shrubs existing at MC-IUG. A total number of 2248 trees and shrubs belonging to 53 species, 25 families and 16 orders were identified and recorded at the MC-IUG. The Gymnosperms included 5 species (9.43%) only, while the Angiosperms was represented by 48 species (90.57%), of which the monocots were 9 species (16.98%) and the dicots were 39 species (73.59%). Rosales was the biggest order and comprised 9 (16.98%) of the recorded species. It was followed by Lamiales and Myrtales which comprised 5 (9.43%) for each. The orders Pinales, Arecales, Asparagales and Malpighiales were represented by 4 species (7.55%) for each. Moraceae was the biggest family and comprised 8 (15.09%) of the recorded species. It was followed by the two families Arecaceae and Asparagaceae, which comprised 5 species (9.43% for each). Six tree and shrub species (11.32%) of MC-IUG were found to exceed the threshold of 100 individuals for each. These comprised 1657 individuals (73.71%) of the 2248 counted. The Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) was, by far, the most common species. It comprised 31.98% of the individuals counted. This was followed by the Benjamin Fig (Ficus benjamina) (10.45%), Hopbush (Dodonea viscose) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) (8.63% for each), Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola) (8.19%) and Weeping Fig (Ficus nitida) (5.82%). The majority of tree and shrub species 49 (92.45%) recoded in the current study are exotic, while the native ones are restricted to only 4 species (7.55%). Finally, the current study recommends the selection of tree and shrub species corresponding with the local prevailing environmental conditions in order to ensure the ecological and environmental health values needed by the university community.The Gaza Strip, which has a population of about 2.0 million and an area of about 365 km2, has many higher education institutions. The green quadrates, corridors and gardens of these institutions are commonly cultivated with many horticultural plants including trees and shrubs that provide many environmental, health, and aesthetic values. The Palestinian universities of the Gaza Strip have never been studied for the composition and numbers of their trees and shrubs. Therefore, the current study aims at identifying and recording the trees and shrubs prevailing and enhancing the ecology and environmental health aspects of the main campus of the Islamic University of Gaza (MC-IUG). Frequent surveys and observations were carried out during a six-month study extended from February, 2018 to July, 2018 in order to identify and totally count the trees and shrubs existing at MC-IUG. A total number of 2248 trees and shrubs belonging to 53 species, 25 families and 16 orders were identified and recorded at the MC-IUG. The Gymnosperms included 5 species (9.43%) only, while the Angiosperms was represented by 48 species (90.57%), of which the monocots were 9 species (16.98%) and the dicots were 39 species (73.59%). Rosales was the biggest order and comprised 9 (16.98%) of the recorded species. It was followed by Lamiales and Myrtales which comprised 5 (9.43%) for each. The orders Pinales, Arecales, Asparagales and Malpighiales were represented by 4 species (7.55%) for each. Moraceae was the biggest family and comprised 8 (15.09%) of the recorded species. It was followed by the two families Arecaceae and Asparagaceae, which comprised 5 species (9.43% for each). Six tree and shrub species (11.32%) of MC-IUG were found to exceed the threshold of 100 individuals for each. These comprised 1657 individuals (73.71%) of the 2248 counted. The Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) was, by far, the most common species. It comprised 31.98% of the individuals counted. This was followed by the Benjamin Fig (Ficus benjamina) (10.45%), Hopbush (Dodonea viscose) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) (8.63% for each), Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola) (8.19%) and Weeping Fig (Ficus nitida) (5.82%). The majority of tree and shrub species 49 (92.45%) recoded in the current study are exotic, while the native ones are restricted to only 4 species (7.55%). Finally, the current study recommends the selection of tree and shrub species corresponding with the local prevailing environmental conditions in order to ensure the ecological and environmental health values needed by the university community