Sarawat Mountains – Bryological Research in Saudi Arabia

Bryological exploration of the Sarawat Mountains

The Sarawat Mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia support some of the most distinctive mesic and montane environments of the Arabian Peninsula. Their altitudinal gradients, rocky habitats, wadis and locally humid microhabitats provide particularly favourable conditions for bryophyte diversity within an otherwise predominantly arid region.

Pépin-Hugonnot has conducted extensive bryological field surveys in south-western Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Asir and Al Bahah regions. Surveys have targeted a wide range of elevations, substrates and microhabitats in order to document bryophyte diversity and improve knowledge of species distributions in this still insufficiently studied part of the Arabian Peninsula.

Fieldwork and research objectives

Our investigations combine:

• systematic field exploration of potentially favourable bryophyte habitats;
• collection and microscopic identification of voucher specimens;
• documentation of substrates, microhabitats and ecological conditions;
• detection of poorly known, rare or previously unrecorded taxa;
• analysis of regional and Arabian biogeographical patterns;
• preparation of results for scientific publication.

These investigations have already contributed new floristic and biogeographical information for Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula, demonstrating the importance of the south-western mountains for bryophyte diversity.

Field surveys in the Sarawat Mountains form part of our broader research programme on the bryoflora of the Arabian Peninsula, linking field exploration, taxonomy, ecology and biogeography.