Exploring flora, life forms, and geographic distribution of species at the margins of the Gavkhuni International Wetland

Amini, Mahnaz; Bashari, Hosein; Feizi, Mohammad Taghi

doi:10.22092/ijrdr.2024.131788

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

¹ Ph.D. student of Pasture Science, Department of Nature Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Natural Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

³ Research expert, Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Isfahan, Iran

10.22092/ijrdr.2024.131788

Abstract

Background and objectives
Various environmental and managerial stresses are severely threatening wetland ecosystems in Iran. The Gavkhouni Wetland, one of the largest and most strategically significant wetlands in the central plateau of Iran, faces numerous challenges. Given its unique ecological importance and the diverse plant habitats surrounding it, studying the vegetation in this area is crucial. Understanding the various conditions of the plants, including dominant families, geographical distribution, biological forms, and conservation status, is essential for any conservation, management, or ecological research activities in this region.

Methodology
The study area encompasses the upper reaches of the Zayandehrud River in Isfahan Province, covering 50,000 hectares with elevations ranging from 1,470 to 2,533 meters above sea level. This region has an arid climate characterized by saline soils, including solonchaks, marshy areas, and sandy soils. The average annual temperature at Gavkhuni Wetland is 17.6 degrees Celsius, with total annual precipitation measuring 91 millimeters. According to the Ambrothermic curve, the area experiences a prolonged dry period from April to November. Field surveys were conducted using 1:25,000 scale topographic maps from early October to November 2021. During these surveys, plant samples were collected, pressed, dried, and identified at the herbarium of the Natural Resources Department of Isfahan University of Technology, with consultation from experts and reliable scientific sources. This research resulted in a comprehensive list of plant species, detailing their scientific names, families, genera, life forms, geographical distribution, and conservation statuses.

Results
The study identified 100 plant species from 16 families and 65 genera in the region, with 27 species possessing medicinal and industrial properties. The Amaranthaceae family, with 31 species, and the Asteraceae family, with 14 species, collectively constitute 45% of the vegetation cover. Other prominent families include Poaceae with 10 species and Fabaceae with 9 species. In terms of life forms, therophytes dominate at 40%, followed by hemicryptophytes at 23%. Geographically, 71% of the identified species belong to the Irano-Turanian floristic region. Despite the ecological challenges faced by the area, its diverse topography and edaphic factors have fostered significant species diversity.

Conclusion
Gavkhuni Wetland's flora is highly sensitive to climate and management practices. Despite facing severe biological constraints, the region exhibits relatively robust plant diversity. Inadequate management of the Zayandehrud watershed, particularly in Gavkhuni Wetland, has resulted in declining groundwater levels and increased aridity, threatening many plant species with drying, pest infestations, shrub encroachment, and overgrazing. Continued adverse conditions, exacerbated by climate change, pose a significant threat to the region's flora.

Keywords

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Exploring flora, life forms, and geographic distribution of species at the margins of the Gavkhuni International Wetland

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Volume 31, Issue 2 - Serial Number 94August 2024Pages 129-148

Volume 31, Issue 2 - Serial Number 94
August 2024
Pages 129-148