Eastern Locations Research Articles

Fruit quality of 'Stanley' plums based on soil composition across diverse agro-ecological zones of Morocco

The national production of plums, especially prunes, is strongly increasing, attracting attention in the local market. This study aims to assess the impact of soil chemical composition on the nutritional and physicochemical quality of plums of the variety ''STANLEY'' (Prunus Domestica L.) across diverse agro-ecological zones of Morocco. Through a preliminary survey of 21 growers in three distinct regions: Sais, Atlas and Oriental. Supplemented by sampling at eight locations in eastern and western Morocco, three categories of parameters were considered in this study: (1) parameters related to cultivation conditions, including climate, geographical structuring, plot size and planting age; (2) those providing information on physico-chemical properties, nutritional value and sugar content; (3) parameters related to soil quality. The surveyed farmers are proprietors of cultivated plots ranging from 6 to 70 hectares, with an average yield of 12T/ h. Notably, 28% of producers with recently established plantations (less than 10 years) have achieved yields exceeding 15T/h, indicating the fertility of trees at this stage of maturity. The findings affirm that soil fertility and soil amendment are the major factors contributing to high-quality fruit (large caliber, high Brix rate, intact product…). Additionally, this study highlights the significance of climate and irrigation in achieving the desired quality of plums.

The symbiovar mediterranense of Sinorhizobium meliloti nodulates Phaseolus vulgaris across Lanzarote (Canary Islands): A revision of this symbiovar supports a proposal to delimit symbiovars boundaries in Sinorhizobium and to define four new symbiovars

The symbiovar mediterranense of Sinorhizobium meliloti was initially found in Phaseolus vulgaris nodules in Tunisia and in an eastern location of Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Here we show that the symbiovar mediterranense of S. meliloti also nodulates P. vulgaris in two western locations of this Island. The analyses of the symbiotic nodA and nodC genes reveal the complexity of the symbiovar mediterranense which encompasses strains belonging to several phylogenetic lineages and clusters. The comparison of the nodA and nodC phylogenies showed that the nodC was the most resolutive phylogenetic marker for the delineation of Sinorhizobium symbiovars. Considering that the similarity of this gene within several symbiovars, particularly mediterranense, is around 95 %, the cut-off value for their differentiation should be lower. Considering that a nodC gene cut-off similarity value of around 92 % is accepted for the genus Bradyrhizobium and that the symbiovar concept is identical in all rhizobial genera, we propose to apply this value for symbiovars delineation within all these genera. Therefore, using this cut-off value for the nodC gene analysis of Sinorhizobium symbiovars, we propose to merge the symbiovars aegeanense and fredii into the single symbiovar fredii and to define four novel symbiovars with the names asiaense, culleni, sudanense and tunisiaense.

Spatial disparities of ozone pollution in the Sichuan Basin spurred by extreme, hot weather

Abstract. Under the influence of climate change, the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, has led to an enhanced frequency of ozone (O3) pollution issues. In August 2022, the Sichuan Basin (SCB), a typical large-scale geographical terrain located in southwestern China, experienced the most severe heatwave in the last 20 years. The heatwave led to substantial disparities in O3 levels across the region. Here, by integrating observations, machine learning, and numerical simulations, we aim to understand the diverse O3 formation mechanisms in two megacities, Chengdu (western location) and Chongqing (eastern location). Observational data showed that Chengdu experienced a consecutive 17 d period of O3 exceedance, in contrast to Chongqing, where O3 concentrations remained below the standard. Meteorological and precursor factors were assessed, highlighting high temperatures, intense solar radiation, and overnight accumulative pollutants as key contributors to O3 concentrations. The interplay of isoprene, temperature, and O3, alongside the observation-based box model and MEGAN simulations, underscored the significant role of intensified biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) in O3 formation. Interestingly, Chongqing exhibited nearly double the BVOC emissions of Chengdu, yet contributed less to O3 concentrations. This discrepancy was addressed through CMAQ-DDM (Decoupled Direct Method) simulations and satellite diagnosis by investigating the O3–NOx–VOC sensitivity. Notably, Chengdu displayed a VOC-driven sensitivity, while Chongqing showed a transitional regime. Moreover, the regional transport also played a pivotal role in the spatial divergence of O3 pollution. Cross-regional transport predominantly influenced Chongqing (contributing ∼ 80 %), whereas Chengdu was mainly affected by the emissions within the basin. The local accumulated pollutants gave rise to the atmospheric oxidizing capacity, resulting in a substantial photochemical contribution to O3 levels (49.9 ppbv h−1) in Chengdu. This comparison of the difference provides insights into the complex interplay of meteorology, natural emissions, and anthropogenic sources during heatwaves, guiding the necessity of targeted pollution control measures on regional scales.

Geochemistry of metasedimentary rocks from the Eastern Pyrenees (Iberian Peninsula): Implications for correlation of Ediacaran terranes along the Gondwanan margin

The North African margin of Gondwana formed by subduction and accretion during Ediacaran to Cambrian times. Sections of this active margin were incorporated during the late Paleozoic to the Variscan and Appalachian orogens. In the Variscan realm, these sections define in some regions a Cadomian basement comprising thick metasedimentary series associated with coeval subduction-related magmatic rock dated in the range 650–500 Ma. In the Cap de Creus Massif (Eastern Pyrenean domain), the Cadomian metasedimentary rocks formed from sediments derived from mixed felsic and intermediate/mafic sources, intruded by granitoid and minor mafic igneous rocks. These series were formed in a peri-Gondwanan volcanic arc setting, like other Cadomian series described in the SW of the Iberian Massif, such as Serie Negra Group of the Ossa Morena Complex. However, the Nd model ages of the Cap de Creus metasedimentary samples range from 1431 to 1620 Ma and are younger than those of their SW Iberia equivalents. This result can be interpreted as an indication of an eastern location in the Ediacaran - Cambrian peri-Gondwanan magmatic arc. Furthermore, the Cadomian series in the Central Iberian Zone have even younger Nd model ages than those of SW and NE Iberia. We present two end-member paleogeographic models consistent with reconstruction of the initial location of the Cap de Creus Massif and its relations with other domains (Ossa Morena Complex and Central Iberian Zone) in this sector of the North African Gondwanan margin.

Differential gene expression provides leads to environmentally regulated soybean seed protein content.

Soybean is an important global source of plant-based protein. A persistent trend has been observed over the past two decades that soybeans grown in western Canada have lower seed protein content than soybeans grown in eastern Canada. In this study, 10 soybean genotypes ranging in average seed protein content were grown in an eastern location (control) and three western locations (experimental) in Canada. Seed protein and oil contents were measured for all lines in each location. RNA-sequencing and differential gene expression analysis were used to identify differentially expressed genes that may account for relatively low protein content in western-grown soybeans. Differentially expressed genes were enriched for ontologies and pathways that included amino acid biosynthesis, circadian rhythm, starch metabolism, and lipid biosynthesis. Gene ontology, pathway mapping, and quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping collectively provide a close inspection of mechanisms influencing nitrogen assimilation and amino acid biosynthesis between soybeans grown in the East and West. It was found that western-grown soybeans had persistent upregulation of asparaginase (an asparagine hydrolase) and persistent downregulation of asparagine synthetase across 30 individual differential expression datasets. This specific difference in asparagine metabolism between growing environments is almost certainly related to the observed differences in seed protein content because of the positive correlation between seed protein content at maturity and free asparagine in the developing seed. These results provided pointed information on seed protein-related genes influenced by environment. This information is valuable for breeding programs and genetic engineering of geographically optimized soybeans.

A multi-criteria performance assessment of concentrated solar power plants for site and technology selection in Egypt

The objective of this research is to investigate the implementation of two concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies in the 28 devoted locations in Egypt, in order to select the optimum site-specific CSP technology. This may be achieved by a validated thermo-economic simulation of power plants using the Sam advisory model and an investigation of the two proposed CSP technologies’ configurations to fulfill the power plant’s thermal demand. Simulations take into consideration the environmental, technical, financial, and economic aspects of the projects. Among many simulated parameters, three are considered to compare the two proposed technologies' configurations in the 28 locations utilizing geographic information system aid. Those parameters are the annual power production, the levelized cost of energy, and water consumption. A comparative analysis indicated that the solar tower requires 25% more land than the parabolic trough. The additional collecting area raised the net capital cost of the solar tower system by 15% over the parabolic trough model. As a result, the solar tower arrangement reduces the levelized cost of energy while increasing the yearly power generated and water required by the power plant. Simulation results favored the proposed solar tower configuration over the parabolic trough and recommended the implementation of such concentrated solar power projects in the central and eastern locations of Egypt.

Minding the gap: Range size and economic use drive functional trait data gaps in the Atlantic forest

Biodiversity shortfalls are knowledge gaps that result from uneven sampling through time and space, and human interest of species. Gaps in functional trait data may hamper a more mechanistic understanding of the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services, with potential negative implications for conservation and restoration practices. Here we aim to investigate the potential drivers of trait data gaps and where geographically they are in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. We quantified trait gaps, in the literature and open access data bases, for eight key plant functional traits of 2335 trees species and evaluated if species range size and economic use of wood drive trait gaps among species. We also evaluated if urban areas, protected areas, mean economic use of wood, and mean range size drive trait gaps geographically. We found larger trait gaps for species with small range sizes and with no economic use. Geographically, we found that gaps are lower in locations harboring more species with economic use of wood, especially in Atlantic Forest eastern locations. Our results allowed us to highlight which species and areas should be prioritized when sampling for functional traits. Efforts towards filling trait gaps of species with small ranges and no economic use of wood and of eastern Atlantic Forest locations are essential to further advance conservation and restoration of the Atlantic Forest informed by theoretical advances in trait-based ecology.

Land and Living on Little in Kenya

In these three volumes, Ambreena Manji, Barbara Thomas, and Julie Zollman detail how poor people in Kenya navigate everyday struggles against restrictive social, economic, and political constraints to build livelihoods through their individual and collective efforts in order to access basic social services, land, markets, and employment, and to participate in the social, economic and political arenas. In the latest edition of her book, Politics, Participation and Poverty: Development Through Self-Help in Kenya, first published in 1985, Thomas chronicles innovative ways in which the rural poor in six locations in Eastern, Central, and Rift Valley Provinces have exploited the complex competitive web of Kenya’s electoral patron-client linkages at local and national levels to access scarce resources for community development projects. The trend of unequal development based on region, class, gender, and ethnicity that informed development through self-help in the 1970s and 80s persist to date, as elaborated in Zollman’s Living on Little: Navigating Financial Scarcity in Modern Kenya. While Manji, in The Struggle for Land & Justice in Kenya, focuses on struggles over land and justice from the colonial era to the present, Thomas and Zollman highlight continuing struggles by people living on little to access scarce essential services and land in their quest for personal and community development. While these titles fit into distinct disciplinary fields and use diverse methodological approaches, they meticulously weave profound narratives of the resilience of ordinary Kenyans building livelihoods, families, and communities with little resources.

Drivers of scarcity in the globally threatened Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha: competition and habitat quality in the eastern escarpment region of South Africa

Summary The Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha is known to occur and breed at only a few locations in eastern and southern Africa and is currently listed as globally “Vulnerable” and “Critically Endangered” in South Africa. An accurate estimation of its conservation status is however hampered by a lack of data and understanding of the species’ habitat requirements and competitive interactions with congeners. Our aim was to address some of these knowledge gaps. We conducted cliff-nesting raptor surveys across a substantial area of the Mpumalanga/Limpopo escarpment in north-eastern South Africa and modelled habitat suitability for nesting Taita Falcons in relation to the proximity of conspecifics and a community of five other sympatric cliff-nesting raptor species, and in relation to a suite of biotic and abiotic environmental variables. Results suggested the location of Taita Falcon nest sites was negatively associated with distance to the nearest pair of conspecifics and the nearest pair of Lanner Falcons Falco biarmicus, and positively associated with tracts of intact, unfragmented forest and woodland around the base of the cliffs. Our results indicated that Taita Falcon and Lanner Falcon appeared to be responding in opposite ways to a directional change in environmental conditions. This response appeared to be detrimental to Taita Falcon and beneficial to Lanner Falcon. Furthermore, the degradation and destruction of Afrotropical woodland and forest is a documented and ongoing reality, both locally and across much of the Taita Falcon’s global distribution. We argue that our findings are sufficient to justify uplisting Taita Falcon to globally “Endangered”.

Environmental Determinates of Distribution for Dragonfly Nymphs (Odonata: Anisoptera) in Urban and Non-Urban East Texas Streams, USA

We collected environmental and habitat data for nymphs of 12 dragonfly species (Odonata: Anisoptera) from 91 stream sites throughout eastern Texas, including urban and non-urban locations. Understanding the relationship of dragonflies to habitat structure and other environmental variables is crucial for the purpose of conserving these insects and better using them as predictive tools for water quality assessments, and refining tolerance values. The objectives of this study were to determine the key environmental variables influencing the diversity and distribution of dragonflies in eastern Texas streams, and further determine if differences in those factors could be observed between urban and nonurban sites. We collected samples separately from benthic habitats and woody snag habitats. Significantly fewer sites were observed to have dragonfly species on snag habitat (mean = 1.25) compared to benthic samples (mean = 14.67) (t-test, p = 0.001). The number of dragonfly species collected among non-urban streams (mean = 9.83) was not significantly different than urban streams (mean = 6.08; t-test, p = 0.07). Detrended correspondence analysis of benthic and snag habitat data collected from non-urban and urban locations showed that most of the species are oriented most closely to benthic habitats in non-urban streams. Snag habitat was shown to be poorly ordinated for all of the species. A canonical correspondence analysis of 29 water quality and habitat variables as environmental determinants of dragonfly diversity and distribution showed that distributional relationships among species are complex and often described by multiple environmental factors.

Diurnal Cycle of Rainfall and Convective Properties over West and Central Africa

The need to investigate diurnal weather cycles in West Africa originates from the fact that complex interactions often result between mesoscale and synoptic weather processes. This study investigates diurnal cycles of rainfall and convective properties using six (6) hour interval data from the ERA-Interim and derived products from the Tropical Rainfall Measurement Mission (TRMM). Results showed that the land-ocean warming contrast is more strongly sensitive to the seasonal cycle, being very weak during March-May (MAM) but clearly spelled out during June-September (JJAS). Dipoles of wind convergence/divergence and wet/dry precipitation, between CASS and Nigeria Savannah zones, were identified in the morning and evening hours of MAM, whereas distinct night and day anomalies, same location in CASS, were found to be consistent during the JJAS season. The locations of flash count and system sizes agree with the climatology of convective properties, that morning and day-time hours are dominated by stratiform precipitation and small system sizes. Most results clearly showed that the eastern locations of Sudano and Sahel are consistently dry because rainfall and precipitation features are predominantly few. Very unique results about the dipole of wind and precipitation between two zones and the unusual dry zones of Sudan and Sahel have been found. Results presented had shown the importance of diurnal variation in understanding precipitation, flash count, system sizes patterns at diurnal scales, and understanding land-ocean contrast, precipitation and wind field anomaly at diurnal scales.

Survey and identification of termites (Insecta, Isoptera) using morphological and molecular methods from eastern, central and western Ethiopia.

The subfamily Macrotermitinae are the largest members among the Family Termitidae which are the fungus growing sub-family and Odontotermes are the most abundant genus from the subfamily. The taxonomy of termites is poorly described in Ethiopia. In the present study 168 termite samples were collected from eight locations of Eastern, Western and Central Ethiopia. The collected samples were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Molecular identification was done based on the dna sequence of a portion of the mitochondrial 16S rrna gene. A phylogenetic analysis of the collected samples and the outgroup resulted in a consensus tree with four distinct groups. Geographical distribution of the samples also supported the resulting clades. Odontotermes were the most widely distributed termites from the collected samples. The genetic distance between the sample showed that Odontotermes zambesiensis, Babile 33 is more distantly related with the rest of the samples.

Spatial distribution of sea turtles on South Atlantic subtropical reefs

Environmental conditions have a strong influence on sea turtle population dynamics. Sea turtles spend most of their lives in foraging areas; however, there is a lack of information on how oceanographic and biological parameters determine habitat use and density. Here, we estimated density of green turtles Chelonia mydas and hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata in a South Atlantic foraging area (Arraial do Cabo, Brazil). We also investigated the influence of environmental variables (wind fetch, temperature, depth, and visibility) and benthic composition on the distribution of turtles. Surveyed sites were split between a colder, more wave-exposed location (western), and a warmer, more sheltered location (eastern). To ensure that these mobile and sparsely distributed species were adequately surveyed, underwater visual censuses (timed transects) were conducted. Sea turtle densities were significantly different between warm/sheltered and cold/wave-exposed locations. C. mydas were almost 10 times more frequently sighted than E. imbricata. The local distribution of E. imbricata mirrored large-scale latitudinal patterns, where this tropical species is dominant on warmer reefs (similar to habitat conditions found at the eastern location). It was not possible to assess the environmental influence on E. imbricata sightings due to their low density. C. mydas were frequently sighted in the cold/exposed sites and negatively correlated with depth. Overall, the density of E. imbricata and C. mydas suggests that Arraial do Cabo is an important feeding ground in the western Atlantic Ocean. This study highlights that visual census can produce reliable density estimates of sea turtles in foraging areas.

The Association Between Depressive Symptomology, Psychological Burden Related to COVID-19, and Engagement in Physical Exercise Among College Students.

Introduction: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in substantial changes to the normalcy of daily life. Research conducted in Western Europe point to elevated levels of depression, rumination and worry as well psychological burden. These in turn impact the capacity of individuals to adhere to lockdown measures and health-protective behaviours. Investigations of these pandemic-related mental health constructs in the Middle East appears sparse. Moreover, there is an immense need to investigate the potential for simple strategies that might be used by individuals whilst in lockdown to combat the onset of mental health difficulties. Regular physical exercise may prove valuable in this regard.Objective: To investigate the potential mediational role of engagement in physical exercise on the association between depression and psychological burden related to COVID-19.Method: A sample of 1,322 participants (mage = 19.50 years, SD = 1.54) completed measures of depression and psychological burden related to COVID-19 and self-reported their frequency of physical exercise. Data were collected between February and May 2021 in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.Results: Analyses revealed statistically significant associations between depression and psychological burden as well as between elevated depression and reduced physical exercise. Mediation analyses in which the potential mediational role of physical exercise was examined were not significant.Conclusions: Depression and psychological burden related to the pandemic appear to be prevalent in these Middle Eastern locations. Whilst physical exercise appears to be beneficial in combating depression, it does not appear to be a sufficient strategy for impeding the experience of psychological burden. Investigation of the contribution of additional strategies is required.

Agglomeration and total factor productivity of China’s textile industry

Agglomeration is an important characteristic in China’s textile industry development. But regional textile industry isseriously unbalanced, only eastern location entropy (LQ) is greater than 1 and is the highest of all, followed by thecentral, western and north-eastern regions. Total factor productivity (TFP) is an important indicator to measure theeconomic growth efficiency. The average annual growth rate (AAGR) of eastern textile industry TFP is the least andcentral TFP growth rate is the fastest. In order to investigate the relationship between agglomeration and TFP of China’stextile industry, especially at region level, this paper applies panel model to study how agglomeration influences TFPduring 2005–2018. The results show that increasing agglomeration degree restrains the TFP growth of China’s textileindustry. The coefficients of LQ on textile industry in China and four regions are all negative. There exists crowded effectin eastern textile industry. It has not formed the significant agglomeration effect in western and north-eastern textileindustry for very low agglomeration degree. So it implies that eastern textile industry can accelerate the implementationof industrial transfer and structural adjustment to lower agglomeration and maintain sustained profitability of textileenterprises. Western textile industry can strengthen agglomeration by undertaking industrial transfer from eastern regionto form agglomeration effect to promote TFP growth.

Circulation Pathways and Exports of Arctic River Runoff Influenced by Atmospheric Circulation Regimes

River runoff supplies the Arctic Ocean with a large amount of freshwater and land-derived material, so it is important for both the physical and biogeochemical marine environment. In this study, we used wind perturbation simulations to elucidate the response of the circulation pathways and exports of Arctic river runoff to different atmospheric circulation regimes. Specifically, wind perturbations representing the negative and positive phases of the Arctic Oscillation and Beaufort High modes were imposed over the Arctic Ocean separately in different sensitivity experiments. In addition, some combinations of the two modes were also considered in sensitivity experiments. By comparing these experiments with a control simulation, we revealed the impact of different wind perturbations. The atmospheric circulation regimes influence the Arctic surface geostrophic currents through changing the halosteric height, which is associated with the changes in spatial distribution of surface freshwater. The circulation pathways of river runoff, and Pacific and Atlantic derived surface waters are mainly determined by the surface geostrophic currents. The positive (negative) Arctic Oscillation reduces (increases) freshwater storage and sea surface height in the Makarov and Eurasian basins, thus strengthening (weakening) the cyclonic circulation and weakening (strengthening) the anticyclonic circulation; Accordingly, the Eurasian runoff leaves the Siberian shelf at more eastern (western) locations, and has an enhanced export through the Fram Strait (Canadian Arctic Archipelago). The positive (negative) Beaufort High increases (reduces) freshwater storage and sea surface height in the Amerasian Basin, thus strengthening (weakening) the anticyclonic circulation; Accordingly, the Eurasian runoff export through the Fram Strait and the Mackenzie River runoff export through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago are reduced (increased). The positive Arctic Oscillation increases freshwater available to the Beaufort Gyre, which can be efficiently accumulated there in the presence of a positive Beaufort High forcing. The impact of the Beaufort High mode on the location of the Transpolar Drift Stream and runoff circulation pathways is stronger with a positive Arctic Oscillation than with a neutral Arctic Oscillation state. Our results also showed that Eurasian runoff can only have a relatively small contribution to freshwater accumulation in the Beaufort Gyre region.

Plant wax biomarkers in human evolutionary studies.

Plant wax biomarkers are an innovative proxy for reconstructing vegetation composition and structure, rainfall intensity, temperature, and other climatic and environmental dynamics. Traditionally used in earth sciences and climate studies from "off-site" ocean and lake records, biomarker research is now incorporated in archeology and paleoanthropology to answer questions relating to past human-environment interactions and human evolution. Biomarker research is generating new and exciting information on the ecological context in which Homo and its closest relatives evolved, adapted, and invented stone tool technologies. In this review, we examine plant wax biomarkers and their use in reconstructing past plant landscapes and hydroclimates. We summarize the applications of plant wax molecular proxies in archeological research, assess challenges relating to taphonomy, consider the role of modern plant ecosystems in interpreting ancient habitats, and examine case studies conducted at key paleoanthropological locations in eastern and southern Africa and Europe.

True truffle diversity in Iran

Inside commercial batches of T. aestivum imported from Iran to Italy the ascomata of six Tuber spp. (Tuber borchii, Tuber brumale, Tuber macrosporum, Tuber rufum f. lucidum, Tuber excavatum and Tuber fulgens) were found and described. Sixteen specimens were analyzed; most of them were completely immature probably because truffles in Iran are harvested by digging all the soil forest without using trained dogs. The morphology of the Iranian ascomata and their spore dimensions are similar to those of the European ascomata and phylogenetic analyses based on their ITS sequences placed them inside the European clades of Tuber. In Iran, truffles are found in the northern part of the country with the highest production in the Hyrcanian region (between Guilan and Golestan provinces). To date, Iran seems to be the most Eastern location where European species of Tuber are found.

Wave power assessment in Faroese waters using an oceanic to nearshore scale spectral wave model

It is expected that wave power will first become an economically competitive energy source in isolated electrical grids located in exposed regions. One such candidate is the Faroe Islands. The goal of this paper is to map the local wave power potential around the Faroe Islands using the spectral wave model MIKE 21 SW. A model is set up for the entire North Atlantic Ocean. The model is forced by 10 years of ERA5 re-analysis wind data and is validated against several directional offshore wave buoys along with nearshore acoustic Doppler current profile measurements. The results show that the wave climate is dominated by waves from south-to-west and to a lesser extent from northerly directions, while waves from other directions are more moderate and infrequent. The average wave energy flux at nearshore locations to the west and north is 45–55 kW/m, while significantly lower flux of 10–25 kW/m is found at eastern locations. The results show that the maximum significant wave heights are 12–14 m to the west, 9–13 m to the north and 8–9 m to the east. This energy assessment will provide the basis for an evaluation of wave energy absorption concepts suitable for deployment in the Faroese waters.

Syntaxonomy and biogeography of the Irano‐Turanian mires and springs

AbstractAimsTo develop the first comprehensive syntaxonomic classification for patchy montane mire and spring vegetation across the Irano‐Turanian phytogeographical region in Iran, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and to explore the effects of the main environmental and geographic gradients on their distribution.LocationAlborz Mountain range (Iran), Pamir‐Alai Mountains (Tajikistan) and Tian Shan Mountains (Kyrgyzstan); total area about 3,000,000 km2.MethodsA database of 1,015 vegetation relevés including a total of 675 vascular and bryophyte taxa was established, covering the large mountains ranges of the Irano‐Turanian regions in Iran, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, at altitudes ranging from 1,300 to 4,505 m a.s.l. A semi‐supervisedk‐means analysis was performed. Additional analyses were carried out to show differences among predefined vegetation groups in terms of phytogeographical, climatic and compositional factors.ResultsTwo large groups of mire communities, referable to mires and springs were identified. Twenty associations, one subassociation and four alliances of these wetlands, belonging to three orders and three classes, were defined. Among them, ten associations, one subassociation and two alliances were formally described as new syntaxa. Moreover, a new orderCaricetalia orbicularis, that comprises phytogeographically unique vegetation of the Irano‐Turanian mires, is proposed.ConclusionsBased on our results and comparison between the Irano‐Turanian and other phytogeographical regions, we propose a first comprehensive syntaxonomic synopsis for the Irano‐Turanian mires and springs. Despite some identical character species and their vicariant nature, the Irano‐Turanian, Euro‐Siberian and Mediterranean mires and springs show considerable compositional differences. Irano‐Turanian wetlands contain a large and distinct set of endemic plant species, which are mixed with Euro‐Siberian species in the west and north, but predominate in the eastern locations. They have a patchy pattern and scattered distribution and serve as inland hotspots of wetland vegetation in the vast dry landscape of southwest and Central Asia.