Botanical criteria of Baharkish Rangeland in Quchan, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Jahedi Pour Saeed,Nassiri Mahallati Mehdi,Koocheki Alireza,Rezvani Moghaddam Parviz

doi:10.4314/jasem.v21i3.23

Abstract

Rangelands are natural ecosystems containing a range of resources of genetic diversity and numerous plant species and its evaluation has always been essential. However, biodiversity is one of the most important components of habitat assessment and the identification and introduction of the flora of an area is one of the significant operations that can be used in order to optimize the utilization of the available natural resources. Baharkish rangeland is located at a distance of about 60 km south of the city of Quchan. The rangeland’s average elevation is about 2069 m above sea level, with its lowest at 1740 m and highest at 2440 m. Baharkish rangland in over a ten year period had the average annual rainfall of 337 mm and 998.2 mm evaporation as well as average annual temperature of 9.4°C, respectivelly. The results of the research conducted in the spring of 2014, showed that the total study area includes 77 species from 22 families with Poaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Apiaceae and Brassicaceae being the dominant families with 18%, 13%, 12%, 9%, 8% and 6% respectively. Classification of life form according to Raunkiaer method showed the dominance of the hemicryptophytes with the greatest abundance 41%, followed by Chamaephytes, Therophytes, Geophytes, Phanerophytes and Cryptophyte with 25%, 23%, 4%, 4% and 3% of species were the dominant life forms of the area. In terms of geographical distribution, the Irano-Turanian plant species with 64% obtained the maximum value.Keywords: Flora, Geographical distribution, Life form, Raunkiaer

Highlights

Due to the importance of the subject in Iran, a lot of studies have been conducted on the flora and species composition in different regions of the country, all of which centralized on the preparation and measurement of the floristic list and plant cover structure in terms of family and life forms
The aim of this study is to provide basic floristic information to identify plant species for preservation, restoration and development of Quchan Baharkish Pastureland in Khorasan Razavi Province, IRAN
In terms of geographical distribution, 64% of the plant species belong to the Irano-Turanian geographical growth form, while other species could be found in other vegetation growth areas throughout the country

Summary

Introduction

Due to the importance of the subject in Iran, a lot of studies have been conducted on the flora and species composition in different regions of the country, all of which centralized on the preparation and measurement of the floristic list (number of species) and plant cover structure in terms of family and life forms. Study on vegetation has been useful in the resolution of ecological problems such as biological conservation and natural resource management. Recognizing the immense resources and understanding the relationships between plants and factors affecting them, are important in order to maintain the consistency and stability of this part of the national wealth. In the case of shrubs and their impact on the community, it suffices to note their role in the expansion of production in the community, providing the possibility to use rangelands multipurposely, and increasing ecological stability (Koocheki et al, 2008)

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