{{Short description|Ecoregion in North Africa}} {{Infobox ecoregion |name = Saharan halophytics |image = Siwa oasis (2007-05-097) (870484450).jpg |image_size = 300 |image_alt = |caption = Siwa Oasis, Egypt |map = Ecoregion PA0905.svg |map_size = 300 |map_alt = Ecoregion territory (in purple) |map_caption = Ecoregion territory (in purple) |ecozone = Palearctic |biome = Flooded grasslands and savannas |animals = |bird_species = |borders = |area = 54031 |country = Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt |state = |region_type = |elevation = |coordinates = {{coord|29.25|S|25.75|E|display=title,inline}} |geology = |seas = |rivers = |climate = |soil = |conservation = |global200 = |habitat_loss = |habitat_loss_ref = |protected = |protected_ref = }} The '''Saharan halophytics''' ecoregion (WWF ID: PA0905) covers a series of low-lying evaporite depressions and wetlands spread across North Africa. The depressions are characteristically saline, variously chotts (saline lakes fed by groundwater and some winter rains) or sabkhas (coastal, supratidal mudflats of evaporites). The plants of the areas are highly specialized to survive in the harsh environment, with many being xerophytes (drought-tolerant) and halophytes (salt-tolerant). The biodiversity of the areas has been relatively protected by their isolation, and unsuitability of alkaline soil for farming.<ref name="wwf">{{cite web|title=Saharan halophytics|url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0905|publisher=World Wildlife Federation|language=en|access-date=March 21, 2020}}</ref><ref name="ecomap">{{cite web|title=Map of Ecoregions 2017|url=https://ecoregions2017.appspot.com/|publisher=Resolve, using WWF data|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref><ref name="dopa">{{cite web|title=Saharan halophytics|url=https://dopa-explorer.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ecoregion/80905|publisher=Digital Observatory for Protected Areas|language=en|access-date=August 1, 2020}}</ref><ref name="eoe">{{cite web|title=Saharan halophytics|url=https://editors.eol.org/eoearth/wiki/Saharan_halophytics|publisher=The Encyclopedia of Earth|language=en|access-date=August 28, 2020}}</ref>
== Location and description == The sites making up this ecoregion contain a wide variety of habitat types: salt pans, seasonal salt lakes, salt marshes, reed beds, and spring-fed oases. Chott and sebkha areas exist in arid regions with clay soils heavy with evaporites. Specific locations assigned to this ecoregion include: * '''Chott Melrhir''' (Northeast Algeria). An extension of the Gulf of Gabès into the Sahara. At {{convert|35|m}} below sea level, it is one of the lowest points in the Sahara region.<ref name="ramlist">{{cite web|title=Annotated list of Ramsar Sites in Algeria|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/rsiswp_search/exports/Ramsar-Sites-annotated-summary-Algeria.pdf?1604202720|publisher=Ramsar Convention on Wetlands|type=pdf|language=en|access-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> * '''Chott el Hodna''' (Northeast Algeria). A saline, endoheric lake fed by runoff from the Tell Atlas Mountains in northeast Algeria. It has high steppe vegetation, being at an altitude of {{convert|400|m}} between mountain ranges.<ref name="hodna">{{cite web|title=Chott el Hodna|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/DZ1053RISformer.pdf|publisher=Ramsar Convention on Wetlands|type=pdf|language=en|access-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref> * '''Chott el Djerid''' (Southern Tunisia). Translates in English as "Lagoon of the Land of Palms". * '''Qattara Depression''' (Northern Egypt). Salt marshes, salt pans and dry lake beds in a depression {{convert|133|m}} below sea level, and {{convert|19,605|km2}} in area. It includes the Moghra Oasis. * '''Siwa Oasis''' (Northwestern Egypt). The "Field of Trees", Siwa is an {{convert|80x20|km}} oasis fed by permanent springs. It supports agriculture—over 250,000 date palms and 30,000 olive trees by the 1980s.<ref name="siwa">{{cite web|title=Siwa - Oasis Extraordinary|url=https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/198805/siwa-oasis.extraordinary.htm|publisher=Aramco World|language=en|access-date=October 30, 2020}}</ref> The site are surrounded by terrain of the North Saharan steppe and woodlands ecoregion that extends across the northern Sahara.<ref name="ecomap"/>
== Climate == The climate of the ecoregion is ''Hot desert climate'' (Köppen climate classification (BWh)). This climate features stable air and high pressure aloft, producing a hot, arid desert. Hot-month temperatures typically average {{convert|29-35|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web|first1=M. |last1=Kottek |first2=J. |last2=Grieser |first3=C. |last3=Beck |first4=B. |last4=Rudolf |first5=F. |last5=Rubel |date=2006 |title=World Map of Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Updated|url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pdf/Paper_2006.pdf|publisher=Gebrüder Borntraeger 2006|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref><ref name="kop-data">{{cite web|title=Dataset - Koppen climate classifications|url=https://datacatalog.worldbank.org/dataset/world-maps-k%C3%B6ppen-geiger-climate-classification|publisher=World Bank|language=en|access-date=September 14, 2019}}</ref> Rainfall varies between {{convert|10–100|mm}} per year.<ref name="wwf"/>
== Flora and fauna == [[File:Megarine Lake Megarine ouasis Ouergla 4.JPG|thumb|300px|alt=A watery oasis|Megarine Oasis, Tunisia]] Vegetation within a site varies by soil salinity and sand tenure; these typically vary by distance from the center of a salt pan. Common species include Picklegrass (''Salicornia''), the generally subshrub genera ''Salsola'', Saltbush (''Atriplex''), ''Halocnemum strobilaceum'', and White wormwood (''Artemisia herba-alba'').
While there are some large mammals in these areas, the most common mammals are gerbils (the North African gerbil ''Gerbillus campestris'' and the ''Dipodillus''). An example of species diversity is that of the Chott el Hodna, in which have been identified 550 species of plants, 119 species of birds, 10 of reptiles and 20 of mammals. Animals of conservation in this area include the vulnerable Cuvier's gazelle (''Gazella cuvieri'') and the vulnerable Houbara bustard (''Chlamydotis undulata'').<ref name="eoe"/>
== Protected areas == Over 25% of the ecoregion is officially protected.<ref name="dopa"/> These protected areas include: * Chott el Djerid
== External links == *{{commons category-inline}}
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:Geography of North Africa Category:Palearctic ecoregions Category:Ecoregions of Algeria Category:Ecoregions of Tunisia Category:Ecoregions of Libya Category:Ecoregions of Egypt Category:Flooded grasslands and savannas Category:Ecoregions of Mauritania