J. For. Sci., 2026, 72(2):73-81 | DOI: 10.17221/92/2025-JFS

Altitudinal patterns of woody vegetation diversity in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, a Mediterranean mountainOriginal Paper

Moussa Masoud ORCID...1,2, Hazandy Abdul-Hamid ORCID...1,3, Johar Mohamed ORCID...1,3, Attia Alsanousi ORCID...1,2
1 Department of Forestry Science and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2 Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Omar Al-Mukhtar Al-Bayda, Bayda, Libya
3 Laboratory of Bioresource Management, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

This study examines the floristic composition, structural attributes, diversity patterns, and distribution of endemic woody species along an altitudinal gradient in the Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar mountain of northeastern Libya. Stratified sampling was conducted across four elevation zones on the northern and southern slopes. Phytosociological parameters – including density, basal area, importance value index, and diversity indices – were assessed, and Pearson correlations were used to evaluate relationships with altitude and aspect. A total of 61 woody species from 43 genera and 26 families were recorded, highlighting the region's biodiversity. Tree and shrub density and basal area increased with elevation, particularly on northern slopes. Juniperus phoenicea L. emerged as the most dominant tree, while Phlomis floccosa D. Don and Pistacia lentiscus L. dominated the shrub layer. Diversity indices showed negative correlations with altitude, indicating declining species richness and evenness at higher elevations under cooler temperatures and greater environmental stress. Ten endemic woody species were documented, with endemic richness positively associated with altitude, reflecting the role of habitat isolation and environmental filtering. These findings provide essential insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and ecosystem management in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar and comparable mountainous ecosystems.

Keywords: elevation; forest ecology; phytosociology; species richness

Received: December 7, 2025; Revised: January 30, 2026; Accepted: February 2, 2026; Prepublished online: February 26, 2026; Published: February 27, 2026  Show citation

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Masoud M, Abdul-Hamid H, Mohamed J, Alsanousi A. Altitudinal patterns of woody vegetation diversity in Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar, a Mediterranean mountain. Journal of Forest Science. 2026;72(2):73-81. doi: 10.17221/92/2025-JFS.
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