Biodiversity and GIS

• Defining the boundaries of the study area, coordinate system used, scale.
• Preparing the existing data for input to the computer (text, tables, maps) as map manuscripts.
• Data automation (digitizing + editing), creating spatial relationships (topology), preparing data attribute (coding).
• Data management (conversions, overlays, mathematical operations, etc…)
• Output production in the form of maps, charts, etc…

• Orientation of the data collection techniques from the field specially the spatial data captured by the GPS receiver;
• Carrying out several field visits to fill up gaps of information.

Figures 2,3,4,and 5 show samples of the base map, contours,wide and narrow wadis, and overlay of these layers.

4. Results

Field observations of the area under study, was a part of the observations for one of the national Egyptian projects for the development of the entire red sea coast and marine environment. These observations involved several disciplines carried out by a team of experts in different specialization. The main concern of the present work is to demonstrate these field observations for Mersa Alam/Hammata sectors ( one of the project’s sector) which is the study are of the present work and how they were incorporated in the geodatabase to provide a synoptic view on the natural resources of the area, and to pinpoint biodiversity hotspots. Based on these geodatabase suitability of the area for development were assessed, delineating areas that could be proposed for protection, and other areas for restricted development activities. The data of field observation were extracted from the scientific report of the Egyptian Red Sea Coastal and Marine Resources Management project (GEF World bank 1997) , and represented spatially on maps by the author. Overlay analysis was conducted to asses the suitability of the area for developmental activities based on field observations of different environmental aspects.

Field surveys were carried out through intensive field visits to the study area, where 15 representative sites where selected for data collection. Surveys of vegetation, terrestrial and marine fauna and observations on bird sites were the main aspects of the field work in the 15 visited sites.

a.Vegetation Data:

Vegetation data were collected form the 15 representative sites, where in each site, habitats were defined, and described, vegetation types were identified and their cover measured. These data were analysed statistically by applying clustering analysis, that classified the vegetation data into eight vegetation groups. Each group was named according to the dominant species in this group. These groups are indicated in Table 2. Table 3 shows the species richness (biodiversity index) of terrestrial plants in the main types of habitats identified, species richness is expressed here as the number of recorded species per habitat. While Table 4 shows the number of recorded species of different economic uses in the area under study. From this table, it is evident that more than 63% of the economic uses or more than 44% of the total number of species are used for medicinal purposes. The next most important economic use is grazing (GEF/World Bank 1997). The locations of the vegetation groups are presented in Figure 6(/p>.

In this figure, areas that include almost all the vegetation groups are assumed to represent a hot spots and thus are proposed for complete protection (red color) to conserve the plant species in this hot spot. Other areas that include only few of these vegetation groups are proposed for restricted developmental activities (green color). Other areas that represent the background (white) can support any type of activity.

Table 2 Geodatabase of Field Work Marsa Ala-Hamata sector.

b. Marine And Terrestrial Fauna

Similarly, marine and terrestrial distribution of vertebrates were extracted from the scientific report by GEF World Bank, 1997, and incorporated by the author in a geodatabase to provide an overview of the biodiversity of the area under study and to assess sensitivity analysis to human interventions.

Based on this sensitivity analysis, the study area was classified to high sensitive areas that represent hot spots of biodiversity, and thus proposed for complete protection. Medium sensitivity areas, were also identified that is restricted to controlled activities and could be sustainably developed. Other areas represent low sensitivity areas (background) that can support more intensified activities (Table 2).

The data presented in Table 5 shows the species richness of marine faunal groups in the main habitats, and their taxonomic diversity is presented in Table 6. In general, the coral reef habitat exhibited the highest species richness in the surveyed sites. Bird taxonomic diversity is presented in Table 7 in different habitats identified. This table shows that thirty five species were recorded in different habitats of Mersa Alam-Hammata sector. Mangrove habitat was by fat the richest in bird species as compared to other habitats.

Human settlements habitats was the poorest one in bird species richness. The data in the above tables were presented spatially in Figure 7 that shows from the marine point of view, the areas that are proposed for complete protection (red color) as they contain the coral reefs and their shelves on the sea shore, and island boundary. Other areas that are proposed for restricted activities are shown in green.

Figure 8 shows the distribution of bird’ s communities according to field observation. The areas in red are proposed from complete protection, in green for restricted activities. Other areas are less important and can support development activities.

The above maps presented in Figures 6 for vegetation,Figure 7 for marine fauna and Figure 8 for birds where overlaid spatially to produce the suitability map presented in Figure 9

All the areas in red are considered as biodiversity hotspots, and thus proposed from conservation actions that could be supported by law and included in the biodiversity plan of action for the implementation of the biodiversity convention.

Table 5. Species richness of marine faunal groups in the main habitats

Table 6. Taxonomic diversity of marine faunal groups

Table 7. Taxonomic Diversity of bird species

(Os = Open Sea; Ma = Mangrove; Sb = Sandy Beach; Mf = Mud flat; wa = Wadis; Mo = Mountains; Hs = Human settlements).
 
 

5. Discussion

There is no direct answer to the environmental problems we currently face. People need to live, eat and to improve their quality of lives, and this is consequently affecting our valuable non renewable and renewable resources. Too often, lack of information and discontinuity in spatial data leads to practices that use resources that can’t be sustained for future generations. There is an increasing demand on applications that use information technology to natural resource management and fill in gaps in our knowledge about environment, particularly, from the biodiversity point of view. Geodatabases are increasingly used to establish Environmental Information Systems (EIS). The EIS produced represent a powerful tool for decision-making processes and consequently sound environmental management specially for coastal regions. These regions are characterized with their favored climates and access to sea, have historically supported higher levels of human activities than more inland regions. In the study an attempt was made to establish an EIS for one of the important sectors of the red sea from the biodiversity point of view. This region exhibit relatively rich biodiversity, and is an important bird area. Unless this region is managed sustainably, irreversible environmental effects might happen that leads to loss of biodiversity.

The geodatabases produced in this study both from the base maps and from field surveys, were used to demonstrate the richness of the area in terms of flora and fauna. Tables 3, 4 for vegetation composition and their uses, and tables 5 and 6 for richness of marine fauna, and table 7 for bird species, all indicates the richness of flora/fauna in every habitat identified.

Taking into account the advantages gained by using GIS as a base for establishing an EIS, where spatial data and attribute data are linked together and easily overlaid, the EIS was used as a vehicle containing base maps, attribute of field observation and spatial representations. The overlay analysis that was applied allowed integrating all the data together which provided an overview of the area characteristic with regard to the physical and biological aspects. Accordingly biodiversity hotspots were located and delineated spatially. These spots are proposed for conservation actions to take place and suitabilities of other areas to support human activities. More detailed investigations of these areas of biodiversity spots are needed to plan an appropriate zonation scheme of different levels of protection.

In conclusion it has a high conservation efforts because of the large integrated ecosystem complex of Wadi El-Gemal, the mangroves and the adjacent El Gemal island, offering an unspoiled, highly diverse but closely associated group of habitats. This area is important for water and flood control, terrestrial biodiversity in the wadi area, fishery nursery values and bird habitats in the mangroves as well as the abundance of coral and marine communities associated with the island. There is also considerable potential for ecotourism development and establishment of bird watching areas.

References