Introduction to the Flora, Life Form and Chorology of the Avrin Mountains Rangelands in Khoy, West Azerbaijan

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Graduate (M.Sc.) Student of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, University of Urmia, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Science, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Rangeland Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Rangeland habitats of the Avrin Mountains, Khoy are representing a wide range of mountainous vegetations in terms of climate, soil, topography and plant cover in Western Iran. In this regard, plant species were sampled periodically during the 2013–2014 period, and identified using the existing floral references. Their life-forms were determined based on the Raunkiaer’s classification and rare and endangered species of the area were recognized based on the criteria of Association for Protection of Genetic Resources. Moreover, their geographical distribution was determined on the basis of classification of vegation regions. Floristic study of the collected vegetation resulted in the identification of 287 species belonging to 52 families and 172 genera of vascular plants. The largest plant family is Asteraceae with 46 species and the largest genus is Astragalus of Fabaceae with 19 species. The diagram of plant life formed by the Raunkiaer method showed that the dominant life forms of the area were hemicryptophytes with 47% and geophytes (Cryptophytes) with 18%, whose high percentage demonstrate the cold climate and mountainous region. Cryptophytes(18%), chamaephytes (16%), therophytes (15%) and phanerophytes (4%) have the less degrees of abundance. The geographical distribution of plants showed that 48% of species belong to the Irano–Turanian zone. The distribution of 7% of the flora in the region is multi-regional, 22.5% are Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian, 2.5% are Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean, 0.7 % are Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean, 4.5% are Euro-Siberian, and 1.3% are Mediterranean-related. Among the identified species, 2.5% have cosmopolitan distribution and 11% are endemic to Iran. According to the Protection Association of Genetic Resources, 14 species are classified as rare and endangered plant species.

Keywords

References

Archibold OW .1996. Ecology of world vegetation.
Chapman and Hall Inc., London. 425 p.
Ardekani MR .2003. Ecology. University of Tehran
Press. 340 p.
Asri Y .2011. Phytogeography. University of Payam
Noor Press. 229 p.
Assadi M .1988–2009. Flora of Iran. Vol:1 –68. Research
Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press.
Assareh MH, Seed Akhlaghi SJ. 2009. Strategic
framework for development & promoting natural
resources research in I.R. Iran, principles, stratejies,
approaches. Research Institute of Forests and
Rangelands Press. 379 p.
Atashgahi Z, Ejtehadi H, Zare H. 2009. Study of
floristics, life form and chorology of plants in the
east of Dodangeh Forests, Mazandaran Province,
Iran. Iranian Journal of Biology. 22 (2): 193–203.
(In Persian).
Darvishzadeh A. 2006. Geological survey of Iran.
Amirkabir Press. 250 p.
Davis PH. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey. 1–9. University
of Edinburgh Press.
Ghahraman A. 1977–2006. Colored Flora of Iran.
1–25. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
Press.
Ghahraman A, Attar F. 1999. Biodiversity of plant
species in Iran. University of Tehran Press. 520 p.
Ghorbanli M. 2002. Phytogeography. SAMT Press.
307 p.
Hedge IC, Wendelbo P. 1978. Patterns of distribution
and endemism in Iran. Notes from the Royal
Botanic Garden Edinburgh. 36(2): 441–464.
Kashipazha AM, Asri Y, Moradi HM. 2004. Introduction
to the flora, life formes and chorology of
Bagheshad Region, Iran. Journal of Pajouhesh and
Sazandegi. 63: 95–103.
Komarov VL, Shishkin BK. 1964–1980. Flora of
the U.S.S.R. 3–12.
Maassoumi AA. 1989–2005. The genus Astragalus
in Iran. 1–5. Research Institute of Forests and
Rangelands Press.
Mesdaghi M. 2004. Range Management in Iran.
University of Emam Reza Press. 325 p.
Mobayen S. 1979–1996. Flora of Iran. 1–4. University
of Tehran Press.
Motamedi J, Sheidaye Karkaj E. 2014. Suitable
species diversity abundance model in three grazing
intensities in Dizaj Batchi rangelands of West Azerbaijan.
Journal of Range and Watershed Management.
67(1):103–117.
Mozaffarian VA. 1996. A dictionary of Iranian
plant names, Latin-English-Persian. Farhang Moaser
Publishers. 671 p.
Mozaffarian VA. 2000. Plant Taxonomy. 1–2.
Amirkabir Institute Press. 1200 p.
Pairanj J, Ebrahimi A, Tarnian F, Hassanzadeh M.
2011. Investigation on the geographical distribution
and life form of plant species in sub alpine zone
Karsanak Region, Shahrekord. Journal of the Taxonomy
and Biosystematics. 7(3): 1–10.
Rechinger KH. 1963-2005. Flora Iranica. 1–175.
Akademisch Druk University Verlagsanstalt, Graz.
Austria.
Sabeti H. 1976. Forests, trees and shrubs of Iran.
National Agricultural and Natural Resources Research
Organization Press. 580 p.
Sheikhkanluye Milan B. 2013. Investigation of florestic
and ecological variation of vegetation of Khoy
Avrin mountains in West Azarbaijan province. M.S.
thesis, University of Urmia. 84 p.
Takhtajan A. 1986. Florestic region of the world.
University of California Press. 522 p.
Townsend CC, Guest C. 1966–1968. Flora of Iraq.
2–9. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform,
Baghdad.
White F, Leonard J. 1991. Phytogeographical links
between Africa and southwest Asia. Flora et vegetation
Mundi.
Yousefi M. 2006. Flora of Iran. University of Payam
Noor Press. 253 p.
Zohary M. 1973. Geobotanical foundations of the
Middle East. 1–2. Department of Botany, Gustav
Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart.

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 12 July 2011
  • Revise Date: 01 July 2013
  • Accept Date: 21 September 2015

Share

How to cite

Statistics