Description of plant communities on the Red Sea coastal plain of Sudan

The coastal plains of the Red Sea constitute an important breeding area for the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Vegetation analysis was undertaken in the coastal plain of Sudan to provide a frame of reference for studies on desert locust ecology and distribution. Vegetation relevés (>60 in any season) were made at peak vegetation cover during three subsequent winters, 1999–2002. Four plant communities were distinguished by Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis. They are named by the dominant plant species: Suaeda monoica Forssk., Heliotropium spp., Panicum turgidum Forssk., and Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne. These plant communities reflect underlying differences in elevation, soil texture, water availability and land use. The spatial extent of these plant communities is mapped. The resulting vegetation classification is easy to use under field conditions and can be used for ecological studies and practical monitoring of the desert locust.