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Jacob Thomas Pandalayil

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor

كلية العلوم
Dept. of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
publication
Journal Article
2016

An overview of wetlands of Saudi Arabia: Values, threats, and perspectives

O’Connell, Sami Al-Obaid, Boudje´ma Samraoui , Jacob Thomas, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Ahmed H. Alfarhan, Wolfgang Schneider, Mark . 2016

The wetlands of Saudi Arabia are located in a
water-stressed region that is highly vulnerable to climate and
other global changes. Sebkhas, mudflats, mangroves, and
wadis are the dominant wetlands in the arid regions of North
Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. These unique wetlands are
recognized as a sanctuary for biodiversity and for their
economic services generated from mineral extraction,
agriculture, and grazing. Despite their ecological values
and societal services, the long-term permanence of Saudi
Arabia’s wetlands faces strong challenges resulting from
human activities associated with sustained population
growth, habitat degradation, and coastal development. This
paper consolidates a literature review of Saudi Arabia’s
wetlands from local to global importance, highlights their
biodiversity, and identifies threats and evolution of these
vulnerable ecosystems in the arid Arabian Peninsula by
focusing on the status of key freshwater taxa (Odonata,
freshwater fishes, amphibians, and waterbirds) and
documenting changes affecting important wetlands.

more of publication
publications

The wetlands of Saudi Arabia are located in a
water-stressed region that is highly vulnerable to climate and
other global changes. Sebkhas, mudflats, mangroves, and
wadis are the…

by Sami Al-Obaid, Boudje´ma Samraoui , Jacob Thomas, Hamed A. El-Serehy, Ahmed H. Alfarhan, Wolfgang Schneider, Mark O’Connell
2016
publications

Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is a known potent environmental neurotoxin causing
progressive neurodegenerative changes in brain. The present study was aimed to evaluate
the…

2016
publications

Shada Mountains in Saudi Arabia, separated by Maleel Wadi into twin mountains (i.e., Shada
Alalah and Shada Asfal), are rich in biodiversity. We investigated the diversity of endemic and…

by Jacob THOMAS
2016