Life Science Journal 2014;11(10) http://www.lifesciencesite.com 946 Mediterranean Sand Dunes in Egypt: Threatened Habitat and Endangered Flora Dalia A. Ahmed 1 , Kamal H. Shaltout 1 , Sania A. Kamal 2 1 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt. 2 Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Egypt. drnada158@yahoo.com; Tel. No. +201223712092 Abstract: The present study aims at assessing the flora and vegetation of the Western Mediterranean sand dunes, a threatened habitat in North Egypt. It aims also to evaluate the threats upon species and habitats in the study area. One hundred and ten species were recorded, therophytes were the most represented life form followed by chamaephytes, while parasites were the least. one endemic (Zygophyllum album) and four near endemics (Centaurea alexandrina, Centaurea glomerata, Onopordum alexandrinum and Plantago crypsoides) were recorded, in addition to 9 species of unique occurrence to this habitat in the study area. Two trends of multivariate analysis (TWINSPAN and DCA) were applied to the floristic composition of 124 stands and led to identify 24 vegetation groups at level six and 8 vegetation groups at level three: group I (Echinops spinosus - Launaea fragilis subsp. fragilis) characterized the partially stabilized dunes, groups II (Echinops spinosus - Allium erdelii) and V (Echinops spinosus - Thymelaea hirsuta) the stabilized dunes, group III (Ammophila arenaria - Ononis vaginalis) the embryonic dunes and group IV (Crucianella maritima - Erodium crassifolium) the coastal ridges. In addition, group VI (Launaea nudicaulis - Thymelaea hirsuta) characterized the embryonic and stabilized dunes as well as the salt affected parts, group VII (Lygeum spartum - Nitraria retusa) the partially stabilized dunes, salt affected parts and coastal ridges and group VIII (Ammophila arenaria -Crucianella maritima) the embryonic and stabilized dunes and the coastal ridges. Ninety two species suffer from at least one type of threats, 66 species suffer from habitat loss due to the construction of summer resorts, 64 species from over-collecting and over-cutting to be used for medicinal and fuel purposes, while only 10 species suffer from disturbance by cars or trampling. On the other hand, 10 species suffer from one type of threats, 29 species from two threats, 31 species from three threats, while only three species from six types of threats. [Dalia A. Ahmed, Kamal H. Shaltout, Sania A. Kamal. Mediterranean Sand Dunes in Egypt: Threatened Habitat and Endangered Flora. Life Sci J 2014;11(10):946-956]. (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 147 Keywords: Mediterranean, Sand dunes, Threats, Medicinal plants, Summer resorts, Plant diversity, Flora, Egypt. 1. Introduction Egypt has attracted the attention of explorers and botanists due to its unique position as a midway between Africa and Asia, with its long coasts of the Mediterranean Sea in the north (c. 970 km) and the Red Sea in the east (c. 1100 km). Egypt has diverse habitats with micro-climates that host many plant species and communities. Terrestrial and aquatic habitats include desert areas, mountains, plains, slopes, dunes, salt marshes, wetlands and fresh and marine waters (Shaltout and Al-Sodany, 2002). Egyptian Mediterranean coastal region provides a clear example of anthropogenic disturbance that resulted in habitat loss and fragmentation leading to diminish the germplasm reservoir (Ayyad and Le Floc’h, 1983 and El-Sadek and Ayyad, 2000). The major part of this region is bordered by sand dunes of different natures and type (Batanouny 1999). Unfortunately; about 75 % of these sand dunes has been destroyed due to the continuous construction of summer resorts and other human activities (Shaltout and Ahmed, 2012). Threats to the world’s plant diversity continue to increase as a result of human activities (Raven 2006), which severely impacted the plant population, particularly the rare ones. Threats include: residential, commercial development and tourism, commercial agriculture, wood plantations, logging and wood extraction, mining and transportation, pollution, human disturbances such as war and recreational activities, harvesting for food and medicine and competition with invasive species (Burgman et al., 2007). Among the well-documented threats in Egypt are habitat loss, invasive species, over-collection, climate change and atmospheric nitrogen depositions (Shaltout et al., 2009). The present study aims to assess the flora and vegetation of the coastal sand dunes, a threatened habitat in the Western Mediterranean region of Egypt. It aims also to evaluate the threats upon species and habitats in the study area. This study may help people how to select and use plants taking into account the coastal stabilization and habitat restoration. 2. Study Area The study area extends along 500 km from Alexandria in the east to Sallum in the west (Figure 1).