Biodiversity and phytogeography of the alpine flora of Iran
Tóm tắt
Iran is a mountainous country. Zagros and Alborz mountains reach altitudes of more than 4,000 m. Alpine regions are above timber-line, which is not easy to recognize, since aridity is prominent in most regions. The alpine zone in Alborz lies between 3,000 and 4,000 m, the nival zone is above 4,000 m, locally varying by some hundred meters. A first evaluation of vascular flora shows that 682 species belonging to 193 genera and 39 families are known from the alpine zone of Iran. The alpine zone is commonly characterized by many species of hemicryptophytes and thorny cushions. Species numbers decline very strongly with increasing altitude. In this paper biogeographical patterns of the alpine flora of Iran have been discussed and distribution maps of 44 species are illustrated. New data indicate a transitional situation of the Iranian mountains between Anatolia/Caucasus and the Hindu Kush, but with a strong own element with high endemism and remarkable relict species. Ca. 58% of the alpine flora of Iran are endemic and subendemic. The Zagros Mountains harbor high endemism which justify considering this area as a separate floristic province. Based on the evaluation of published data from 682 known alpine species ca. 160 species have been known only by one record, 110 species by 2–3 records and 87 endemic species have been known only based on the type location. These plants need a strong conservation and protection management since the fragile ecosystems are often very restricted, small and very isolated, nonetheless grazing and overgrazing are still common threats.
Tài liệu tham khảo
Agakhanjanz O, Breckle S-W (1995) Origin and evolution of the mountain flora in middle and central Asia. In: Chapin III FS, Körner C (eds) Arctic and alpine biodiversity: patterns, causes and ecosystem consequences. Ecol Studies 113:63–80
Agakhanjanz O, Breckle S-W (2002) Plant biodiversity and endemism in high mountains of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Siberia. Mountain biodiversity – a global assessment. Parthenon Publ. Chapter 9, pp 117–127
Ahmadov KM, Breckle S-W, Breckle U (2006) Effects of grazing on biodiversity, productivity, and soil erosion of alpine pastures in Tajik Mountains. In: Spehn E, Körner C, Liberman M (eds) Land use change and mountain biodiversity. CRC Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 239–247
Akhani H (1998) Plant biodiversity of Golestan National Park. Stapfia 53:1–411
Akhani H (1999) Studies on the flora and vegetation of the Golestan National Park, NE Iran. III. Three new species, one new subspecies and fifteen new records for Iran. Edinb J Bot 56:1–31
Akhani H (2004a) Halophytic vegetation of Iran: towards a syntaxonomical classification. Ann Bot (Rome) 4:65–82
Akhani H (2004b) A new spiny, cushion-like Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) from south-west Iran with special reference to the phytogeographic importance of local endemic species. Bot J Linn Soc 146:107–121
Akhani H (2005) The illustrated flora of Golestan National Park, Iran, vol 1. Tehran University Publications
Akhani H (2006) Flora Iranica: facts and figures and a list of publications by K. H. Rechinger on Iran and adjacent areas. Rostaniha 7(suppl. 2):19–61
Akhani H (2007) Diversity, biogeography and photosynthetic pathways of Argusia and Heliotropium (Boraginaceae) in South-West Asia with an analysis of phytogeographical units. Bot J Linn Soc 154 (in press)
Alavi M (1996) Tectonostratigraphic synthesis and structural style of the Alborz Mountain system in Northern Iran. J Geodynam 21:1–33
Alex M (1985) Klimadaten ausgewählter Stationen des Vorderen Orients. Beihefte zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients. Reihe A, Nr. 14. Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden
Berberian M, King GCP (1981) Towards a paleogeography and tectonic evolution of Iran. Can J Earth Sci 18:210–265
Bobek H (1937) Die Rolle der Eiszeit in Nordwestiran. Zeitschr Gletscherk 25:130–183
Bobek H (1952) Beiträge zur Klima-Ökologischen Gliederung Irans. Erdkunde 4:65–84
Bobek H (1953) Zur eiszeitlichen Vergletscherung des Alborzgebirges, Nordiran. Carinthia 2:97–104
Bor NL (1970) Gramineae. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 70. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz
Breckle S-W (1971) Vegetation in alpine regions of Afghanistan. In: Davis PH et al (eds) Plant life of South-West Asia. Proceedings of the symposium Edinburgh, 1970, pp 107–116
Breckle S-W (1974) Notes on Alpine and Nival Flora of the Hindu Kush, East Afghanistan. Bot Notiser (Lund) 127:278–284
Breckle S-W (1975) Ökologische Beobachtungen oberhalb der Waldgrenze des Safed Koh (Ost-Afghanistan). Vegetatio (Acta Geobot) 30:89–97
Breckle S-W (1983) Temperate deserts and semideserts of Afghanistan and Iran. In: West NE (ed) Temperate deserts and semideserts. Ecosystems of the world (Goodall DW), vol 5. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 271–319
Breckle S-W (2002) Walter’s vegetation of the earth. The ecological systems of the geo-biosphere. Springer, Heidelberg, p 527
Breckle S-W (2004) Flora, vegetation und Ökologie der alpin-nivalen Stufe des Hindukusch (Afghanistan). In: Breckle S-W, Schweizer B, Fangmeier A (eds) Proceed. 2nd symposium AFW Schimper-Foundation: results of worldwide ecological studies. Stuttgart-Hohenheim, p 97
Breckle S-W, Wucherer W (2006) Vegetation of the Pamir (Tajikistan): land use and desertification problems. In: Spehn E, Körner C, Liberman M (eds) Land use change and mountain biodiversity. CRC Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, pp 225–237
Browicz K (1984) Chorology of trees and shrubs in South-west Asia and adjacent regions, vol 3. Polish Scientific Publishers, Poznań
Browicz K (1988) Chorology of trees and shrubs in South-west Asia and adjacent regions, vol 6. Polish Scientific Publishers, Poznań
Buhse F (1899a) Flora des Alburs und der Kaspischen Südküste. Bisherige Forschungsergebnisse aus diesem Gebiet. Arbeiten des Naturforscher-Vereins zu Riga. Neue Folge. 8. Heft. WF Häcker, Riga
Buhse F (1899b) Reisebemerkungen aus dem östlichen Albursgebirge in Persien. Bull Soc Imper Natur Moscou 34:363–383
Bunge A (1860) Die Russische Expedition nach Chorassan in den Jahren 1858 und 1859. Petermanns Geogr Mitt 6:205–226
Davis PH (ed) (1965–1988) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, vols 1–10. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh
Eggli U (1988) A monographic study of the genus Rosularia (Crassulaceae). Supplement to Bradleya 6, p 119
Ehlers E (1980) Iran: Grundzüge einer geographischen Landeskunde. Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt
Ferrigno JG (1991) Glaciers of the Middle East and Africa – glaciers of Iran. In: Williams RS, Ferrigno JG (eds) Satellite image atlas of glaciers of the world. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1386-G. United States Government Printing Office, Washington, pp 31–47
Fischer MA (1981) Veronica (52–165) [Scrophulariaceae I]. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 147. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz
Freitag H (1975) The genus Piptatherum (Gramineae) in Southwest Asia. Notes Roy Bot Gard Edinb 33:314–408
Freitag H (1985) The genus Stipa (Gramineae) in Southwest Asia and South Asia. Notes Roy Bot Gard Edinb 42:355–489
Freitag H, Özhatay E (1997) A new subspecies of Salsola canescens (Chenopodiaceae) from SW Anatolia, Turkey. Willdenowia 27:185–190
Gams H (1956) Die Tragacantha-Igelheiden der Gebirge um das Kaspische, Schwarze und Mittelländische Meer. Veröff Geobot Inst Rübel 31:217–243
Gilli A (1939) Die Pflanzengesellschaften der Hochregion des Elbursgebirges in Nordiran, Beih. Bot Cbl 59:317–344
Gilli A (1941) Ein Beitrag zur Flora des Elburs-Gebirges in Nord-Iran. Feddes Repert Spec Regni Veg 50:263–283
Grabherr G, Gottfried M, Pauli H (1994) Climate effects on mountain plants. Nature 369:448
Grossheim AA (1967) Flora Kavkaza (Flora of Caucasus), vol 7. Nauk, Leningrad
Hager J (1984) Pflanzenökologische Untersuchungen in den subalpinen Dornpolsterfluren Kretas. Dissertation Univ. Bielefeld (Dissertationes Botanicae 89), p 196
Hager J, Breckle S-W (1985) Mikroklima der subalpinen Dornpolsterstufe Kretas. Verh Ges Ökol 13:671–676
Hedge IC (1968) Didymophysa [Cruciferae]. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 57. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp 97–98
Hedge IC (1969) Elbursia: a new genus of Cruciferae from Iran. Notes Roy Bot Gard Edinb 29:181–184
Hedge IC, Wendelbo P (1978) Patterns of distribution and endemism in Iran. Notes Roy Bot Gard Edinb 36:441–464
Hyam R, Jury SL (1990) A review of the genus Graellsia Boiss. including Draba L. section Helicodraba Schultz (Brassicaceae). Bot J Linn Soc 102:9–22
Jacquemoud F (1984) Etude du genre Anchonium DC. (Cruciferae). Candollea 39:715–769
Khalili A (1973) Precipitation patterns of Central Elburz. Arch Met Geoph Biokl Ser B 21:215–232
Khassanov F, Noroozi J, Akhani H (2006) Two new species of the genus Allium (Alliaceae) from Iran. Rostaniha 7(Suppl. 2):119–129
Klein JC (1982) Les groupements chionophiles de l’Alborz central (Iran) Comparaison avec leurs homologues d’ Asie centrale. Phytocoenologia 10(4):463–486
Klein JC (1984) Les groupements végétaux d’altitude de l’Alborz central (Iran). – Ecologie des milieux montagnards et de haute altitude. Documents d’Ecologie Pyrénéenne 3–5:199–204
Klein JC (1987) Les Pelouses xérophiles d’altitude du franc sud de l’Alborz central (Iran). Phytocoenologia 15(2):253–280
Klein JC (1988) Les groupements à grandes ombellifères et à xérophytes orophiles: Essai de synthèse à l’échelle de la région irano-touranienne. Phytocoenologia 16(1):1–36
Klein JC (1991) Endemisme à l’etage alpin de l’Alborz (Iran). Flora et Vegetatio Mundi 9:247–261
Klein JC (2001) La végétation altitudinale de l’Alborz central (Iran). Institut Français de Recherche en Iran (Téhéran). 2ème édition
Klein JC, Lacoste A (1994) Les pelouses subalpines (Alchemilletum plicatissimae ass.nov.) de l’Alborz central (Iran): ultime avancée sud-orientale de l’aire des Festuco-Brometea Br.-Bl. et Tx. 1943. Phytocoenologia 24:401–421
Klein JC, Lacoste A (1996) Aperçu synthétique sur l’etagement de végétation dans l’Alborz central (Iran). Ann Naturhist Mus Wien 98:67–74
Klein JC, Lacoste A (1998) L`étagement de végétation dans le massif de l`Alborz central (Iran): essai de comparison avec celui du systéme alpin et des montagnes méditerranéennes. Ecologie 29(1/2):181–186
Körner C (1999) Alpine plant life. Functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg
Kotschy T (1861a) Die Vegetation des westlichen Elbrus in Nordpersien. Österr Bot Zeitschr 11(4):105–117
Kotschy T (1861b) Der westliche Elbrus bei Teheran. Mitt. der K. K. Oester Geogr Gesell Wien 5:65–110
Krinsley DB (1970) A geomorphological and palaeoclimatological study of the Playas of Iran. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
Kürschner H (1986) The subalpine thorn-cushion formation of western South-West Asia: ecology, structure and zonation. Proc Royal Soc Edinb 89B:169–179
Maassoumi AA (2005) The genus Astragalus in Iran, vol 5. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Technical Publication No. 362, Tehran
Mahdavi P (2007) Phytosociological study of montane and submontae zones of Tuchal Mountains, N. Tehran. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Tehran
Meusel H, Jäger E, Weinert E (1964) Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora Band I. Fischer, Jena
Meusel H, Jäger E, Rauschert S et al (1978) Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora, Band II. Fischer, Jena
Meusel H, Jäger E, Bräutigam S et al (1992) Vergleichende Chorologie der zentraleuropäischen Flora, Band III. Fischer, Jena
Mozaffarian V (1988) New species and new plant records from Iran. Iranian J Bot 4:61–70
Mozaffarian V (1991) New species and new plant records from Iran. Iranian J Bot 5(1):29–39
Morton A (2001) DMAP for Windows. Distribution map software. 7.1 Berkshire
Noroozi J (2005) Phytosociological study of Alpine zone of Tuchal Mountains, N. Tehran. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Tehran, 135 pp
Noroozi J, Akhani H. The alpine plant diversity and vegetation of Tuchal Mountains (N. Tehran, Iran). In: Proceedings of Stelvio Seventy Conference (in press)
Parolly G (1998) Phytosociological studies on high mountain plant communities of the South Anatolian Taurus mountains 1. Scree plant communities (Heldreichietea): A synopsis. Phyocoenologia 28(2):233–284
Pauli H, Gottfried M, Dirnbock T et al (2003) Assessing the long-term dynamics of endemic plants at summit habitats. In: Nagy L, Grabherr G, Körner C et al (eds) Alpine biodiversity in Europe – a Europe-wide assessment of biological richness and change. Ecological Studies, vol 167. Springer, pp 195–207
Pauli H, Gottfried M, Reiter K et al (2007) Signals of range expansions and contractions of vascular plants in the high Alps: observations (1994–2004) at the GLORIA* master site Schrankogel, Tyrol, Austria. Global Change Biol 13:147–156
Rauh W (1939) Über polsterförmigen Wuchs. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Wuchsformen der Höheren Pflanzen. Nova Acta Leopold ser 2. 7:267–508
Rechinger KH (ed) (1963–2005) Flora Iranica, No. 1-176. Akad. Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz
Rechinger KH (1984) Podolotus [Papilionaceae II]. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica No. 157. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp 346–348
Rechinger KH (1987) Cousinia: morphology, taxonomy, distribution and phytogeographical implications. Proc Roy Soc Edinb 89B:45–58
Rechinger KH (1988) Stellaria [Caryophyllaceae II]. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 163. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp 60–76
Rechinger KH (1992) Paraquilegia [Ranunculaceae]. In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 171. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp 5–10
Schickhoff U (2005) The upper timberline in the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorum: a review of geographical and ecological aspects. In: Broll G, Beate K (eds) Mountain ecosystems studies in treeline ecology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 275–354
Schiman-Czeika H (1969) Potentilla (Rosaceae I), In: Rechinger KH (ed) Flora Iranica, No. 66. Akademische Druck u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz, pp 78–111
Stöcklin J (1974) Northern Iran: «Alborz Mountains. Mesozoic-Cenozoic Orogenic Belts. Data for Orogenic Studies». Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 4:213–234
Takhtajan A (1986) Floristic regions of the world. University of California Press, California (English translation from Russian)
Theurillat J-P, Guisan A (2001) Potential impacts of climate change on vegetation in the European Alps: a review. Climatic Change 50:77–109
Townsend CC, Guest E, Al-Rawi A (eds) (1966–1985) Flora of Iraq, vols 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad
Vetaas OR, Grytnes JA (2002) Distribution of vascular plant species richness and endemic richness along the Himalayan elevation gradient in Nepal. Global Ecol Biogeogr 11:291–301
webfiles: [WF1] http://www.ag-afghanistan.de/files/breckle_flora.pdf
Zarre-Mobarakeh S (2000) Systematic revision of Astragalus sect. Adiaspastus, sect. Macrophyllium and sect. Pterophorus (Fabaceae). Englera 18:1–219
Zarrinpour V (2002) The vegetation of Tehran (Arade mountains, Pardisan Nature Park, Kuy-e Nasr, Evin and Tuchal), with respect to human impact and artificial plantation on plant diversity. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Tehran, 169 pp
Zohary M (1973) Geobotanical foundations of the Middle East, vol 2, Fischer, Stuttgart