Gebel Katrina,located in the Saint Catherine Protectorate of South Sinai(Egypt),is a biologically rich area with diverse plant communities shaped by factors such as elevation,slope,soil type,and precipitation.This stu...Gebel Katrina,located in the Saint Catherine Protectorate of South Sinai(Egypt),is a biologically rich area with diverse plant communities shaped by factors such as elevation,slope,soil type,and precipitation.This study was designed to examine the vegetation structure,update the occurrence of endemic taxa,and investigate the impact of environmental conditions and landform types on plant disruption in the region.The primary objective of this study was to analyze the behavior and distribution of the most common species across major environmental gradients.Between 2022 and 2024,49 stands were randomly collected within the study area characterized by relatively uniform vegetation and physiography and represent as much as possible the four major landform types(terraces,slopes,ridges,and gorges).The selected stands were distributed as follows:terraces(12 stands),slopes(9 stands),ridges(9 stands),and gorges(19 stands).For the analysis of the biological spectrum,a growth-form system with four categories was utilized:trees(T),shrubs(S),perennial herbs(PH),and annual herbs(A).Soil analyses were conducted for composite samples from the 49 stands.For each recorded species,nativity,species diversity measurements,endemism,and IUCN conservation status were depicted.Multivariate analysis techniques were used to assess the classification of the 49 stands in various landforms,and ordination with soil variables were applied using different software.A total of 137 taxa were recorded from Gebel Katrina area belonging to 39 families(1 Pteridaceae,1 Ephedraceae,and 37 Angiospermae),of which 16 were endemics,which indicates the mountain's significance as a biodiversity hotspot.Of these endemic taxa,nine were classified as Endangered(EN)and four as Least Concern(LC),together accounting for over 80%of the endemic flora.The largest angiosperm families with the highest numbers of species included Asteraceae,Lamiaceae,Poaceae,Brassicaceae,Caryophyllaceae and Fabaceae.These six families constituted more than 30%of the recorded flora.Shrubs and perennial herbs were the predominant growth forms,collectively comprising over 70%of the total flora.Native taxa comprised the dominant component of the recorded flora,accounting for 80 species(58.4%of the total).In contrast,non-native taxa were limited to two annual grasses.Analysis of IUCN Red List proportions revealed a predominance of EN taxa,accounting for 52 taxa(37.9%),followed by Least Concern(LC)taxa with 36 taxa(26.3%).Together,these two categories constituted over 60%of the total assessed flora.Hierarchical cluster analysis of a presence/absence data matrix(49 stands×91 species after removal of species with occurrences<5%),using the Sørensen(Bray-Curtis)method,identified eight distinct vegetation clusters.Each cluster is characterized by one or more dominant species,distinguished by their highest percentage of occurrence(f)within their respective group.Apart from soil reaction(pH)and diversity indices(species richness and Shannon’s index),ANOVA test showed high significant differences in most of the measured environmental variables among the obtained cluster groups(A-H).Canonical Correspondence Analysis(CCA)showed direct correlations between the 7 examined environmental variables and plant species composition in Gebel Katrina.The eight cluster groups were separated along axes 1 and 2 of the diagram.The species-environment correlations were high for the three axes explaining 63.0%of the cumulative variance.The stands of groups(E)and(G)were correlated with coarse sand,stands of group(B)were highly correlated with electric conductivity(EC),and stands of group(F)were correlated with elevation.The endemic flora of Gebel Katrina faces multiple anthropogenic and environmental threats.Overgrazing by livestock,excessive harvesting of plants for fuelwood and traditional medicinal uses,and habitat degradation due to land-use changes have led to significant depletion of vegetation cover and biodiversity loss.展开更多
The Eocene succession of the El Basatin Section in Gebel Mokattam, east of Cairo, consists, from base to top, of two main units; the Mokattam and Maadi Formations. The Mokattam Formation consists of two Members, the B...The Eocene succession of the El Basatin Section in Gebel Mokattam, east of Cairo, consists, from base to top, of two main units; the Mokattam and Maadi Formations. The Mokattam Formation consists of two Members, the Building Stone Member and the Giushi Member. The Upper Building Stone Member yielded six species of Nummulites belonging to the Upper Lutetian. These species are: Nummulites farisi Hussein et al., 2004; Nummulites cf. praegizehensis Boukhary and Hussein-Kamel, 1993; Nummulites cf. gizehensis(Forsk?l, 1775); Nummulites discorbinus(Schlotheim 1820) and Arxina schwageri(Silvestri, 1928) emended by Boukhary et al. 2012 and Nummulites crassichordatus Boukhary et al., 2010. The Giushi Member yielded three species that indicate a Bartonian age. These species, which continued from their first appearance in the Upper Building Stone Members, are N. discorbinus, A. schwageri and N. crassichordatus. The Maadi Formation, which has been previously considered to be of Bartonian–Priabonian age, is devoid of fossils in the study section. The two members of the Mokattam Formation represent a carbonate platform facies. The deposition of the Upper Building Stone Member was disturbed during the Lutetian by slumping and a convolute-bedding interval, indicating a short hiatus. The subsequent regression resulted in a very shallow marine to near-shore facies in the above Maadi Formation.展开更多
During this study, the principal aim carried out was to obtain more information about technique and conservation conditions of the Egyptian wall paintings during the Roman period in the funerary house in necropolis of...During this study, the principal aim carried out was to obtain more information about technique and conservation conditions of the Egyptian wall paintings during the Roman period in the funerary house in necropolis of Tuna el-Gabal, El-Minia-Upper Egypt. It’s going back to 2nd century AD and involves different sites of Ptolemaic and Roman chapels;some are in the immaculate established style while others are a blend of Pharaonic-Greek style and both are secured with mural painting. Deterioration problems observed on the wall paintings of the funerary house are, loss of plaster layers, disintegration of plaster layers, loss of paint layers (blistering and peeling), discoloration and severely damaged owing to a lot of deterioration factors as weakness of mud brick support, deterioration of surface treatments and to the widespread presence of different salts. The materials used in the painting, preparation layers and the state of conservation of the mural painting at funerary house were investigated by integrated physio-chemical measurements, particularly micro-Raman spectroscopy (µRaman), light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). In addition, the morphology of multilayer plaster from wall painting was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A wide color palette utilized as a part of the necropolis has been identified with mineral pigments and pigment mixtures. It is found that, the paints were based on an organic binder and traditional pigments (azurite, hematite, ochre, vegetable black) were used as colorants on plaster. The examination demonstrated that the preparatory layer is verging on made of pure lime while the plaster layer based mainly of lime and gypsum with variable amounts of quartz. The obtained results provided information about the painting technique, chemical composition, crystal structure in addition to the stratigraphy of the paint layers and the state of preservation and on the causes of the painting deterioration. Furthermore, the obtained results can be used in the conservation and restoration interventions of these sites.展开更多
The Jurassic succession at Gebet Maghara, North Sinai, Egypt, represents a mixed carbonate-siticictastic sequence. Combining information from both fossits and rocks attowed a ptausibte reconstruction of the deposition...The Jurassic succession at Gebet Maghara, North Sinai, Egypt, represents a mixed carbonate-siticictastic sequence. Combining information from both fossits and rocks attowed a ptausibte reconstruction of the depositionat environments and of the basin evotution. The Ju- rassic succession of Gebel Maghara was deposited on a ramp, and the architecture of the ramp facies was strongty controtted not onty by sea-revel changes but atso by extensionat tectonics in connection with rifting of the Tethys, North Gondwana. Seven tectonicalty modified thirdorder sequences （DS 1-DS 7） have been recognized. The first three sequences （DS 1-DS 3）, ranging from the Toarcian to the Bajocian, record sea invasion （intertidat to shattow subtida[lconditions） across an intracratonic area as a resutt of eustatic sea-fever changes during a quiescent rift stage. The remaining sequences （DS 4-DS 7） reflect open marine mid to outer ramp settings. Non-marine conditions around the Bajocian-Bathonian boundary, documented by catiche, represent the maximum regression of the sea. During an active extensionat stage, horsts, which formerty acted as barriers separating the Maghara sub-basin from the main ocean, subsided. Subsequent rejuvenation and reactivation of fautts shifted the homoctinat physiography of the ramp to a distatty steepened ramp during the earty Bathonian, creating a 200-m-thick dettaic wedge. SimiLar processes during the earty Kimmeridgian created a catcirudite-catcarenite succession of stope origin. The diversity and the epifaunat/infaunat percentage of the macrofauna disptay a cyctic pattern which coincides more or tess with the sequence stratigraphic architecture.展开更多
文摘Gebel Katrina,located in the Saint Catherine Protectorate of South Sinai(Egypt),is a biologically rich area with diverse plant communities shaped by factors such as elevation,slope,soil type,and precipitation.This study was designed to examine the vegetation structure,update the occurrence of endemic taxa,and investigate the impact of environmental conditions and landform types on plant disruption in the region.The primary objective of this study was to analyze the behavior and distribution of the most common species across major environmental gradients.Between 2022 and 2024,49 stands were randomly collected within the study area characterized by relatively uniform vegetation and physiography and represent as much as possible the four major landform types(terraces,slopes,ridges,and gorges).The selected stands were distributed as follows:terraces(12 stands),slopes(9 stands),ridges(9 stands),and gorges(19 stands).For the analysis of the biological spectrum,a growth-form system with four categories was utilized:trees(T),shrubs(S),perennial herbs(PH),and annual herbs(A).Soil analyses were conducted for composite samples from the 49 stands.For each recorded species,nativity,species diversity measurements,endemism,and IUCN conservation status were depicted.Multivariate analysis techniques were used to assess the classification of the 49 stands in various landforms,and ordination with soil variables were applied using different software.A total of 137 taxa were recorded from Gebel Katrina area belonging to 39 families(1 Pteridaceae,1 Ephedraceae,and 37 Angiospermae),of which 16 were endemics,which indicates the mountain's significance as a biodiversity hotspot.Of these endemic taxa,nine were classified as Endangered(EN)and four as Least Concern(LC),together accounting for over 80%of the endemic flora.The largest angiosperm families with the highest numbers of species included Asteraceae,Lamiaceae,Poaceae,Brassicaceae,Caryophyllaceae and Fabaceae.These six families constituted more than 30%of the recorded flora.Shrubs and perennial herbs were the predominant growth forms,collectively comprising over 70%of the total flora.Native taxa comprised the dominant component of the recorded flora,accounting for 80 species(58.4%of the total).In contrast,non-native taxa were limited to two annual grasses.Analysis of IUCN Red List proportions revealed a predominance of EN taxa,accounting for 52 taxa(37.9%),followed by Least Concern(LC)taxa with 36 taxa(26.3%).Together,these two categories constituted over 60%of the total assessed flora.Hierarchical cluster analysis of a presence/absence data matrix(49 stands×91 species after removal of species with occurrences<5%),using the Sørensen(Bray-Curtis)method,identified eight distinct vegetation clusters.Each cluster is characterized by one or more dominant species,distinguished by their highest percentage of occurrence(f)within their respective group.Apart from soil reaction(pH)and diversity indices(species richness and Shannon’s index),ANOVA test showed high significant differences in most of the measured environmental variables among the obtained cluster groups(A-H).Canonical Correspondence Analysis(CCA)showed direct correlations between the 7 examined environmental variables and plant species composition in Gebel Katrina.The eight cluster groups were separated along axes 1 and 2 of the diagram.The species-environment correlations were high for the three axes explaining 63.0%of the cumulative variance.The stands of groups(E)and(G)were correlated with coarse sand,stands of group(B)were highly correlated with electric conductivity(EC),and stands of group(F)were correlated with elevation.The endemic flora of Gebel Katrina faces multiple anthropogenic and environmental threats.Overgrazing by livestock,excessive harvesting of plants for fuelwood and traditional medicinal uses,and habitat degradation due to land-use changes have led to significant depletion of vegetation cover and biodiversity loss.
文摘The Eocene succession of the El Basatin Section in Gebel Mokattam, east of Cairo, consists, from base to top, of two main units; the Mokattam and Maadi Formations. The Mokattam Formation consists of two Members, the Building Stone Member and the Giushi Member. The Upper Building Stone Member yielded six species of Nummulites belonging to the Upper Lutetian. These species are: Nummulites farisi Hussein et al., 2004; Nummulites cf. praegizehensis Boukhary and Hussein-Kamel, 1993; Nummulites cf. gizehensis(Forsk?l, 1775); Nummulites discorbinus(Schlotheim 1820) and Arxina schwageri(Silvestri, 1928) emended by Boukhary et al. 2012 and Nummulites crassichordatus Boukhary et al., 2010. The Giushi Member yielded three species that indicate a Bartonian age. These species, which continued from their first appearance in the Upper Building Stone Members, are N. discorbinus, A. schwageri and N. crassichordatus. The Maadi Formation, which has been previously considered to be of Bartonian–Priabonian age, is devoid of fossils in the study section. The two members of the Mokattam Formation represent a carbonate platform facies. The deposition of the Upper Building Stone Member was disturbed during the Lutetian by slumping and a convolute-bedding interval, indicating a short hiatus. The subsequent regression resulted in a very shallow marine to near-shore facies in the above Maadi Formation.
文摘During this study, the principal aim carried out was to obtain more information about technique and conservation conditions of the Egyptian wall paintings during the Roman period in the funerary house in necropolis of Tuna el-Gabal, El-Minia-Upper Egypt. It’s going back to 2nd century AD and involves different sites of Ptolemaic and Roman chapels;some are in the immaculate established style while others are a blend of Pharaonic-Greek style and both are secured with mural painting. Deterioration problems observed on the wall paintings of the funerary house are, loss of plaster layers, disintegration of plaster layers, loss of paint layers (blistering and peeling), discoloration and severely damaged owing to a lot of deterioration factors as weakness of mud brick support, deterioration of surface treatments and to the widespread presence of different salts. The materials used in the painting, preparation layers and the state of conservation of the mural painting at funerary house were investigated by integrated physio-chemical measurements, particularly micro-Raman spectroscopy (µRaman), light optical microscopy (LOM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). In addition, the morphology of multilayer plaster from wall painting was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). A wide color palette utilized as a part of the necropolis has been identified with mineral pigments and pigment mixtures. It is found that, the paints were based on an organic binder and traditional pigments (azurite, hematite, ochre, vegetable black) were used as colorants on plaster. The examination demonstrated that the preparatory layer is verging on made of pure lime while the plaster layer based mainly of lime and gypsum with variable amounts of quartz. The obtained results provided information about the painting technique, chemical composition, crystal structure in addition to the stratigraphy of the paint layers and the state of preservation and on the causes of the painting deterioration. Furthermore, the obtained results can be used in the conservation and restoration interventions of these sites.
基金the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD)the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research(the "GERLS" Programme) for their financial support
文摘The Jurassic succession at Gebet Maghara, North Sinai, Egypt, represents a mixed carbonate-siticictastic sequence. Combining information from both fossits and rocks attowed a ptausibte reconstruction of the depositionat environments and of the basin evotution. The Ju- rassic succession of Gebel Maghara was deposited on a ramp, and the architecture of the ramp facies was strongty controtted not onty by sea-revel changes but atso by extensionat tectonics in connection with rifting of the Tethys, North Gondwana. Seven tectonicalty modified thirdorder sequences （DS 1-DS 7） have been recognized. The first three sequences （DS 1-DS 3）, ranging from the Toarcian to the Bajocian, record sea invasion （intertidat to shattow subtida[lconditions） across an intracratonic area as a resutt of eustatic sea-fever changes during a quiescent rift stage. The remaining sequences （DS 4-DS 7） reflect open marine mid to outer ramp settings. Non-marine conditions around the Bajocian-Bathonian boundary, documented by catiche, represent the maximum regression of the sea. During an active extensionat stage, horsts, which formerty acted as barriers separating the Maghara sub-basin from the main ocean, subsided. Subsequent rejuvenation and reactivation of fautts shifted the homoctinat physiography of the ramp to a distatty steepened ramp during the earty Bathonian, creating a 200-m-thick dettaic wedge. SimiLar processes during the earty Kimmeridgian created a catcirudite-catcarenite succession of stope origin. The diversity and the epifaunat/infaunat percentage of the macrofauna disptay a cyctic pattern which coincides more or tess with the sequence stratigraphic architecture.
