Water and Soil Physico-Chemical Characteristics in Ibex Reserve: An Environmental Case Study of Houta Bani Tamim

Protected areas are essential for conserving biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems, yet their effective management requires a clear understanding of soil and water quality, which underpin ecological processes. This study evaluated 15 soil and seven water samples to assess their physico-chemical properties, focusing on heavy metal concentrations. Results showed that soils were generally neutral to alkaline, with Hashwan-2 exhibiting the highest concentrations of calcium (26.5 meq/L), magnesium (11.2 meq/L), carbonates (0.32 meq/L), bicarbonates (3.66 meq/L), and chloride (35.43 meq/L). Heavy metal analysis indicated elevated nickel (51.628 mg/kg) and chromium (76.29 mg/kg) at Albuyitlar-2, and chromium (68.015 mg/kg) at Shabak-Mateam-1 1 1, exceeding US-EPA permissible limits of 45 mg/kg for nickel and 64 mg/kg for chromium. Water samples revealed high levels of aluminum (12.681 mg/L), manganese (0.146 mg/L), and iron (7.055 mg/L), also exceeding the US-EPA thresholds of 0.2, 0.1, and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. In contrast, more toxic metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury remained within safe limits. These findings highlight localized concerns regarding heavy metal contamination that warrant continued monitoring to ensure ecosystem health.