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

Evaluation of local endomycorrhizal fungi on growth of Solanummelongenaand Capsicumannuumplants in Gaza Strip

The main objective of this study was to compare between the effect of a nutritional substance and local isolated endomycorrhizal fungi on the growth of two important seasonal plants Solanum melongena L. (Eggplant) and Capsicum annuum L. (Pepper). 120 plants from each species were used and distributed into six groups, 20 seedlings in each as follow: 20 mycorrhized plants in sterilized soil; 20 non- mycorrhized plants in sterilized soil; 20 plants with nutritive substance in sterilized soil; 20 plants without nutritive substance in sterilized soil; 20 mycorrhized in non-sterilized soil; 20 non- mycorrhized plants in non-sterilized soil. Our results showed a positive influence of the endomycorrhizal fungi and nutritive substances on the growth of Eggplant and Pepper seedling compared with control in sterilized and non-sterilized soil in all growth parameters (stem length, root length, wet weight of whole plant, leaves number, dry weight of whole plant, root weight and stem weight) in the greenhouse experiments. According to these results, we strongly recommend the use of symbiotic endomycorrhizal fungi as total or partial substitute of chemical fertilizers.The main objective of this study was to compare between the effect of a nutritional substance and local isolated endomycorrhizal fungi on the growth of two important seasonal plants Solanum melongena L. (Eggplant) and Capsicum annuum L. (Pepper). 120 plants from each species were used and distributed into six groups, 20 seedlings in each as follow: 20 mycorrhized plants in sterilized soil; 20 non- mycorrhized plants in sterilized soil; 20 plants with nutritive substance in sterilized soil; 20 plants without nutritive substance in sterilized soil; 20 mycorrhized in non-sterilized soil; 20 non- mycorrhized plants in non-sterilized soil. Our results showed a positive influence of the endomycorrhizal fungi and nutritive substances on the growth of Eggplant and Pepper seedling compared with control in sterilized and non-sterilized soil in all growth parameters (stem length, root length, wet weight of whole plant, leaves number, dry weight of whole plant, root weight and stem weight) in the greenhouse experiments. According to these results, we strongly recommend the use of symbiotic endomycorrhizal fungi as total or partial substitute of chemical fertilizer

حول المنافع التي يقدمها النظام البيئي الرطب في وادي غزة - قطاع غزة

The wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza in the Gaza Strip faces subsequent destruction threatening its ecological integrity and sustainability. This study comes to survey the various benefits provided by the wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza, which in turn may promote raising environmental awareness of all stakeholders towards the conservation and sustainable use of the system. The wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza plays as a refuge for wildlife species including many threatened ones, and hence wildlife hunting is practiced using different hunting tools. Bedouin families residing Wadi Gaza usually practice food collection, herbal medicine and grazing of their livestock on natural vegetation. The production of baskets, carpets, kites, food dishes, chairs and huts along with wood and timber exploitation are direct uses of reeds and woody plants in Wadi Gaza. The system has a storage potential of more than 100,000 m3 of surface water that could be considered as convenient water resource for agricultural uses. It has the potential to partially treat large quantities of wastewater. It reduces the impacts of flood to neighboring agricultural lands and human dwellings. It could act as a recreational facility. It represents a natural laboratory enhancing scientific research in different disciplines. Small scale extraction of sand, stones and gravel from the Wadi bed was documented as well. Finally, this survey may represent a good tool to promote more respect and to enhance public awareness towards conserving the wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza and its environmental resources.The wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza in the Gaza Strip faces subsequent destruction threatening its ecological integrity and sustainability. This study comes to survey the various benefits provided by the wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza, which in turn may promote raising environmental awareness of all stakeholders towards the conservation and sustainable use of the system. The wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza plays as a refuge for wildlife species including many threatened ones, and hence wildlife hunting is practiced using different hunting tools. Bedouin families residing Wadi Gaza usually practice food collection, herbal medicine and grazing of their livestock on natural vegetation. The production of baskets, carpets, kites, food dishes, chairs and huts along with wood and timber exploitation are direct uses of reeds and woody plants in Wadi Gaza. The system has a storage potential of more than 100,000 m3 of surface water that could be considered as convenient water resource for agricultural uses. It has the potential to partially treat large quantities of wastewater. It reduces the impacts of flood to neighboring agricultural lands and human dwellings. It could act as a recreational facility. It represents a natural laboratory enhancing scientific research in different disciplines. Small scale extraction of sand, stones and gravel from the Wadi bed was documented as well. Finally, this survey may represent a good tool to promote more respect and to enhance public awareness towards conserving the wetland ecosystem of Wadi Gaza and its environmental resources

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