Ecology of the littoral salt marsh vegetation at Rabigh on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia

The littoral salt marsh vegetation at Rabigh (on the Red Sea coast, 150 km north of Jeddah) is characterized by its zonal arrangement. The Halopeplis perfoliata zone is followed successively landwards by the Aeluropus massauensis and Zygophyllum coccineum zones. Differences in ground level, horizontal distance from the shore, vertical elevation above the saline water table, salinity gradient, soil texture, aridity and competition all contribute to the pattern of distribution, structure and composition of the vegetation.