Plant diversity in traditional agroecosystems of North Morocco

Questions : While globalisation favours intensive yield-maximizing agriculture with cropping practices that entail agrobiodiversity loss, extensive production systems still exist in areas of marginal lands such as mountainous regions or islands. It is overdue to study systems, their sustainability and ecology potential models for decentralized environmentally balanced land-use. For purpose, we investigated the composition wild arable (segetal) flora traditional thermo- mesomediterranean cereal-growing agroecosystems northwestern Morocco. Study area The Tingitane (Tangier) Peninsula Northwest Methods A sample 94 relevés was collected six foreland Rif Mountains. Results We found 209 species 150 genera 41 families, a mean 22 per relevé Shannon index 3.04±0.06. TWINSPAN classification revealed high level similarity between areas, plant communities corresponding order Brometalia rubenti-tectorum , but also differences result climatic, soil land-use effects. Therophytes dominated, biennial perennial herbs indicating shallow tillage fields under fallow were common. Almost half agrestal (confined fields), almost third apophytes (native occurring natural habitats). Twenty-nine (14%) segetal regional endemics are considered nationally rare. Although there evidence recent structural floristic diversity decline, tend favour native including some particular conservation interest. Conclusions Mountains fulfil criteria High Nature Value but, view socio-economic change, require support by policy maintenance. Taxonomic reference Euro+Med PlantBase (http://www.europlusmed.org) [accessed 26 Nov 2022]. Syntaxonomic EuroVegChecklist (Mucina et al. 2016). Abbreviations = Two Way Indicator Species Analysis.