CONSEQUENCES OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE FLORISTIC COMPOSITION OF KHULAIS REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Climate change has resulted in profound changes in biodiversity throughout the globe. It has also become a serious source of worry for environmentalists and governments alike. The goal of this study is to provide first-hand information about the effects of climate change on floristic composition in the Khulais region, Saudi Arabia, during the last decade. Data obtained from the metrological station showed that the amount of annual precipitation decreased, while the mean annual temperature exhibited an increase. The results showed that Lange, De Martonne and Emberger's drought indices, ranged between (3x10(-5) to 2.8), (3x 10(-5) to 2.0), and (2x 10(-4) to 14.8), respectively, which decreased in 2020 by between 50% and 230% from 2011. Most plant species in the studied region showed a decrease in their frequency. 50 out of 251 species showed a frequency change of more than ten percent, which was recorded in the first survey. Species that showed the largest declines were mostly a variety of agricultural weeds and valley plants, while species of rocky and mountain habitats were less affected. Only seven species showed a relative increase in their frequency, Prosopis Juliflora and Trianthema portulacastrum L. recording the highest change in their frequency. This work serves as a warning to those interested in wild plants and to governments to take appropriate measures to protect the arid environment threatened by the impact of climate change.