Vegetation analysis of Failaka Island (Kuwait)

Kuwait is a small desert country with hot and climate. It has a number of islands in the Arabian Gulf of which only Failaka is inhabited. The present study analyses the vegetation of Failaka Island and proposes its designation as a wildlife reserve. One hundred plant species are recorded of which 44 are perennials and 56 are annuals. The vegetation type is essentially halophytic in the center with widespread grasses along the sandy shore of the Island. Five vegetation groups were identified after the application of TWINSPAN and DCA programs. They are named after the characterizing species as follows: Aeluropus lagopoides-Suaeda vermiculata, Stipa capensis-Aeluropus lagopoides-Anabasis setifera, Zygophyllum qatarense-Seidlitzia rosimarinus, Panicum turgidum and Halocnemum strobilaceum, These vegetation groups are compared with the plant communities of Kuwait and neighbouring countries of the Gulf region. The soil factors best correlated with the distribution of this vegetation are salinity, sand, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. (C) 2002 Academic Press.