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Extinct plants of Israel
EXTINCT PLANTS OF ISRAEL
AMOTS DAFNI* & MOSHE AGAMI
Department of Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Department of Botany, The Dr George S. Wise Centre For Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
ABSTRACT As a result of rapid land development in Israel during the past three decades, some 26 species of higher plants, about one percent of the local flora, have become extinct. In addition to listing such species, this paper deals with the ecological implications of this finding. Recommendations for the prevention of further damage to the local flora, and rare plants in particular, are given.
INTRODUCTION Accelerated development of Israel since the beginning of this century, especially during the last three decades, has resulted in extreme and rapid changes in natural ecosystems. The threat to the existence of many species in Israel arises as a result of various human activities: destruction of special habitats as in reclamation of marshlands; drainage schemes; harnessing of springs and running water; pollution of water bodies; lowering of the ground water level and other uncontrolled exploitation of land; man's neglect as in picking of rare wild flowers; uncontrolled grazing and deforestation. METHODS A plant species was considered as extinct in Israel either if it was collected in the past but has not been seen for at least 25 years, or if there is direct evidence of * Present address: Department of Botany, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool, Great Britain, L69 3BX. 49 Biol. Conserv. (10) (1976)--Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1976 Printed in Great Britain
50
AMOTS DAFNI, MOSHE AGAMI
its extinction from known locations in which it had been recorded in the past. For each species we checked the existing sheets in the herbarium of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. All data were compared with the local Floras or to the original description of the species. Thus, we recorded the last existing collection or literary citation from Israel of each species.
RESULTS
Table 1 is a list of the extinct species, together with the last known date of their presence, the source of the record and the original habitat of the species prior to extinction. When the extinct species were delineated according to their originai habitats, 20 of them belonged to wet places such as marshes, ponds, lakes, freshwater streams, river banks and the like, while three were from Mediterranean scrub and dwarf shrub communities, and one from each of the following habitats: oases, rock fissures and light soils. The extinct species constitute one percent of our local flora. DISCUSSION
Zohary (1959) mentioned 35 extinct species from Israel. Ten of them are also included in Table 1, while the rest still exist as rare plants. Eig (1929) was the first to predict the danger that has been threatening the hydrophytes because of water exploitation and drainage schemes. It is, therefore, not surprising that 20 of the 26 species are hydrophytes or wet habitat plants. Recently, Agami (1973) showed that water pollution has caused the extinction of certain species from the Alexander and the Yarkon Rivers in Israel.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with the findings, that 7 6 ~ of the extinct species occupied wet places, mainly of the sea-shore belt, it is therefore recommended that a catalogue of such species of this region be prepared without delay. It is also suggested that representative samples be deposited in the herbarium of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where the best collection of plants of this type already exists. Before mesophytic habitats or light soils of the sea-shore belt are damaged or exploited, the following precautions should be taken: (1) Prior to the exploitation of any one locality, surveying for species listed in the above catalogue should be undertaken;
EXTINCT PLANTS OF ISRAEL
5]
TABLE 1 LIST OF PLANTS NOW EXTINCT IN ISRAEL
Species
Marsilea minuta L. Suaeda hortensis Forrsk. Silene physalodes Boiss.
Year of last record
Ref
1941 1928
*H U J H U J
Before 1849
Original habitat in Israel
Boissier (1849)
Silene papilosa Boiss. Nymphaea alba L.
1928 1947
H U J H U J
Ceratol~hyllum submersum L.
1947
H U J
Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix Ranunculus saniculifolius Viv. Acacia laeta R. Br. Callitriche palustris L.
1949 Before 1933 1891 1954
H U J Post (1933) Post (1933) H U J
Trif olium micranthus Viv. Aphanes arvensis L. L ythrum borysthenicum (Schrank.) Litv. Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.
1949 1940 1949 1940
H H H H
Scaligeria hermonis Post
1949
H U J
Mosheiova galilaea Eig
1954
H U J
Utricularia vulgaris L.
1951
H U J
Dipsacus laciniatus L. Najas minor All. Valisneria spiralis L. Hydroeharis morsus-ranae L. Cyperus corymbosus Rhottb. Cyperus latifolius Poir.
1927 H U J 19467 EigetaL (1948) 1941 H U J 1952 H U J 1956 H U J 1927 H U J
Cyperus lanceus Thunb.
1942
H U J
Fuirena pubescens (Poir.) Kunth. Lemna trisulca L.
1926 1926
H U J H U J
U U U U
J J J J
Marshes Coastal marshes Mediterranean scrub Light soils Ponds, streams and marshes Ponds, streams and marshes Marshes Ponds Oases Ponds and marshes Damp sands Rock fissures Marshes Marshes and streams Mediterranean dwarf shrub communities Mediterranean dwarf shrub communities Ponds, marshes and streams Marshes Marshes Marshes and ponds Marshes River banks Ponds and river banks Marshes and river banks Marshes Ponds
* H U J means according to the herbarium sheet deposited in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (2) R e p r e s e n t a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s s h o u l d b e left i n t a c t as n a t u r e r e s e r v e s o r p u b l i c p a r k s w i t h a v i e w to c o n s e r v i n g t h e m . (3) R a r e p l a n t s t h a t a r e n e a r to e x t i n c t i o n s h o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d a t b o t a n i c a l g a r d e n s o r t r a n s p l a n t e d to n a t u r e reserves. (4) C o n t r o l l e d n a t u r e r e s e r v e s s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d to w h i c h r a r e p l a n t s m a y b e r e m o v e d , o r w h e r e species t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y b e c o m e e x t i n c t m a y b e p r o p a g a t e d from imported propagules.
52
AMOTS DAFNI, MOSHE AGAMI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Service of Environmental Conservation at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office sponsored and financed this project. We are sincerely grateful to Dr Uri Marinov, Dr Amots Zahavi, Mr Uzi Paz and Professor Yoav Waisel for their encouragement and fruitful co-operation.
REFERENCES
AGAMI, M. (1973). The influence of water pollution on the vegetation of the Alexander and Yarkon Rivers. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Botany, Tei-Aviv University. (In Hebrew.) BOISSlEa, E. (1849). Diagnoses Plantarum Orientalium Novarum. Set. I. No. 8. Paris. Elo, A. (1929). On the vegetation of Palestine. Bull. Inst. Agric. & nat. Hist., Agric: Exp. Stn, 7, 88pp. Era, A., ZORARV,M. and FEINnRUN,N. (1948). Analytical flora of Palestine, 2nd. ed. Jerusalem, Palestine Journal of Botany Press (In Hebrew). POST, G. E. (1933). Flora of Syria, Palestine and Sinai, 2nd. edn. Revised by J. E. Dinsmore. 2 vols. Beirut, American University Press. ZOnA~V, M. (1959). Changes in the country vegetation. Teva Va'aretz 1, 325-9 (In Hebrew).
AMOTS DAFNI* & MOSHE AGAMI
Department of Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Department of Botany, The Dr George S. Wise Centre For Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Israel
ABSTRACT As a result of rapid land development in Israel during the past three decades, some 26 species of higher plants, about one percent of the local flora, have become extinct. In addition to listing such species, this paper deals with the ecological implications of this finding. Recommendations for the prevention of further damage to the local flora, and rare plants in particular, are given.
INTRODUCTION Accelerated development of Israel since the beginning of this century, especially during the last three decades, has resulted in extreme and rapid changes in natural ecosystems. The threat to the existence of many species in Israel arises as a result of various human activities: destruction of special habitats as in reclamation of marshlands; drainage schemes; harnessing of springs and running water; pollution of water bodies; lowering of the ground water level and other uncontrolled exploitation of land; man's neglect as in picking of rare wild flowers; uncontrolled grazing and deforestation. METHODS A plant species was considered as extinct in Israel either if it was collected in the past but has not been seen for at least 25 years, or if there is direct evidence of * Present address: Department of Botany, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool, Great Britain, L69 3BX. 49 Biol. Conserv. (10) (1976)--Applied Science Publishers Ltd, England, 1976 Printed in Great Britain
50
AMOTS DAFNI, MOSHE AGAMI
its extinction from known locations in which it had been recorded in the past. For each species we checked the existing sheets in the herbarium of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. All data were compared with the local Floras or to the original description of the species. Thus, we recorded the last existing collection or literary citation from Israel of each species.
RESULTS
Table 1 is a list of the extinct species, together with the last known date of their presence, the source of the record and the original habitat of the species prior to extinction. When the extinct species were delineated according to their originai habitats, 20 of them belonged to wet places such as marshes, ponds, lakes, freshwater streams, river banks and the like, while three were from Mediterranean scrub and dwarf shrub communities, and one from each of the following habitats: oases, rock fissures and light soils. The extinct species constitute one percent of our local flora. DISCUSSION
Zohary (1959) mentioned 35 extinct species from Israel. Ten of them are also included in Table 1, while the rest still exist as rare plants. Eig (1929) was the first to predict the danger that has been threatening the hydrophytes because of water exploitation and drainage schemes. It is, therefore, not surprising that 20 of the 26 species are hydrophytes or wet habitat plants. Recently, Agami (1973) showed that water pollution has caused the extinction of certain species from the Alexander and the Yarkon Rivers in Israel.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In accordance with the findings, that 7 6 ~ of the extinct species occupied wet places, mainly of the sea-shore belt, it is therefore recommended that a catalogue of such species of this region be prepared without delay. It is also suggested that representative samples be deposited in the herbarium of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where the best collection of plants of this type already exists. Before mesophytic habitats or light soils of the sea-shore belt are damaged or exploited, the following precautions should be taken: (1) Prior to the exploitation of any one locality, surveying for species listed in the above catalogue should be undertaken;
EXTINCT PLANTS OF ISRAEL
5]
TABLE 1 LIST OF PLANTS NOW EXTINCT IN ISRAEL
Species
Marsilea minuta L. Suaeda hortensis Forrsk. Silene physalodes Boiss.
Year of last record
Ref
1941 1928
*H U J H U J
Before 1849
Original habitat in Israel
Boissier (1849)
Silene papilosa Boiss. Nymphaea alba L.
1928 1947
H U J H U J
Ceratol~hyllum submersum L.
1947
H U J
Ranunculus trichophyllus Chaix Ranunculus saniculifolius Viv. Acacia laeta R. Br. Callitriche palustris L.
1949 Before 1933 1891 1954
H U J Post (1933) Post (1933) H U J
Trif olium micranthus Viv. Aphanes arvensis L. L ythrum borysthenicum (Schrank.) Litv. Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.
1949 1940 1949 1940
H H H H
Scaligeria hermonis Post
1949
H U J
Mosheiova galilaea Eig
1954
H U J
Utricularia vulgaris L.
1951
H U J
Dipsacus laciniatus L. Najas minor All. Valisneria spiralis L. Hydroeharis morsus-ranae L. Cyperus corymbosus Rhottb. Cyperus latifolius Poir.
1927 H U J 19467 EigetaL (1948) 1941 H U J 1952 H U J 1956 H U J 1927 H U J
Cyperus lanceus Thunb.
1942
H U J
Fuirena pubescens (Poir.) Kunth. Lemna trisulca L.
1926 1926
H U J H U J
U U U U
J J J J
Marshes Coastal marshes Mediterranean scrub Light soils Ponds, streams and marshes Ponds, streams and marshes Marshes Ponds Oases Ponds and marshes Damp sands Rock fissures Marshes Marshes and streams Mediterranean dwarf shrub communities Mediterranean dwarf shrub communities Ponds, marshes and streams Marshes Marshes Marshes and ponds Marshes River banks Ponds and river banks Marshes and river banks Marshes Ponds
* H U J means according to the herbarium sheet deposited in the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. (2) R e p r e s e n t a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n t y p e s s h o u l d b e left i n t a c t as n a t u r e r e s e r v e s o r p u b l i c p a r k s w i t h a v i e w to c o n s e r v i n g t h e m . (3) R a r e p l a n t s t h a t a r e n e a r to e x t i n c t i o n s h o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d a t b o t a n i c a l g a r d e n s o r t r a n s p l a n t e d to n a t u r e reserves. (4) C o n t r o l l e d n a t u r e r e s e r v e s s h o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d to w h i c h r a r e p l a n t s m a y b e r e m o v e d , o r w h e r e species t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y b e c o m e e x t i n c t m a y b e p r o p a g a t e d from imported propagules.
52
AMOTS DAFNI, MOSHE AGAMI ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Service of Environmental Conservation at the Israeli Prime Minister's Office sponsored and financed this project. We are sincerely grateful to Dr Uri Marinov, Dr Amots Zahavi, Mr Uzi Paz and Professor Yoav Waisel for their encouragement and fruitful co-operation.
REFERENCES
AGAMI, M. (1973). The influence of water pollution on the vegetation of the Alexander and Yarkon Rivers. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Botany, Tei-Aviv University. (In Hebrew.) BOISSlEa, E. (1849). Diagnoses Plantarum Orientalium Novarum. Set. I. No. 8. Paris. Elo, A. (1929). On the vegetation of Palestine. Bull. Inst. Agric. & nat. Hist., Agric: Exp. Stn, 7, 88pp. Era, A., ZORARV,M. and FEINnRUN,N. (1948). Analytical flora of Palestine, 2nd. ed. Jerusalem, Palestine Journal of Botany Press (In Hebrew). POST, G. E. (1933). Flora of Syria, Palestine and Sinai, 2nd. edn. Revised by J. E. Dinsmore. 2 vols. Beirut, American University Press. ZOnA~V, M. (1959). Changes in the country vegetation. Teva Va'aretz 1, 325-9 (In Hebrew).