Study on Flora of Lut in Southern Khorasan

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Prof., Pasture and Watershed Management Department, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Environmet, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Abstract

The first character of the desert is lack of water as well as the lack of vegetation. Although the number of plant species in arid lands is very limited, but these species have survived and adapted over the centuries. Due to the difficulty of entering Lut desert, during the last one hundred years, no research was done on plant species in Southern Khorasan part. Therefore, during 2017 to 2018, all perennial species in Lut were identified. The results revealed that a total of six species belonging to four genera and three families were identified. Chenopodiaceae with three species, Poaceae with two species and Polygonaceae with one species occupied 50%, 33.3% and 16.66% of the flora of the region, respectively. Stipagrostis and Haloxylon have the highest number of species. Geographical distribution analysis showed that Iran-Turan and Sahara-Sindi species are presented in equal proportions. Haloxylon persicuum Bge. ex Boiss. & Buhes, Haloxylon ammodendron Bunge ex Fenzl and Stipagrostis plumosa Munro exT. Anderson were distributed in the north and northeast. The highest distribution of Calligonum comosum L'Hér was observed in the west. Although the diversity was very limited and the 18-year droughts have intensified the drought of Calligonum and Haloxylon in many areas of Lut, however, increase in rainfall in 2019 in Lut increased hope for the survival of shrubs and increasing the amount of Stipagrostis species.

Keywords

References

  1. Abd El-Ghani, M. )2000(. Floristics and environmental relations in two extreme desert zones of western Egypt. Global Ecology & Biogeography, 9,499-516.
  2. Abdi, M., & Afsharzadeh, S. (2012). Floristic study of the Badrud north region, Isfahan Province. Plant Biology, 4(13), 1-12. (in Farsi)
  3. Abtahi, M. & Khosroshahi, M. (2015). Investigation on some water, soil and vegetation characteristics for biological reclamation in the wet edge of Kashan desert. Range and Desert Research, 22 (3), 492-504. (in Farsi)
  4. Akhani, H. (2003). Salicornia persica Akhani (Chenopodiaceae), a remarkable new species from Central Iran. Linzer Biolgische Beitrage, 35(1), 607-612.
  5. Akhani, H. (2004). Halophytic vegetation of Iran: Towards a syntaxonomical classifiction. Annali Di Botanica, 4, 65-82.
  6. Akhani, H. 1988. Plant records from Kavire-Meyghan (Arak), new to Iran. Botany. 4(1), 105-107. (in Farsi)
  7. Akhani, H. (2006). Biodiversity of halophytic and sabkha ecosystems in Iran. In: Sabkha Ecosystems (Ed. Ajmal Khan, M. et al.), 2, 71-88. West and Central Asia: Springer.
  8. Akhani, H., Edwards, G., Roalson, E. H. (2007). Diversification of the old world Salsolea s.l. (Chenopodiaceae): Molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and chloroplast data sets and a revised classification. Plant Science, 168(6), 931-956.
  9. Assadi, M. (1984). Studies on the autumn plants of Kavir Iran. Botany, 2(2), 125-148.
  10. Asri, E., Jalili, E., Asadi, M., & Diantnezhad, H. (1999). A contribution to the flora of Touran biosphere reserve. Pajouhesh va Sazandegi, 13(47), 4-19. (in Farsi)
  11. Bagheri, H., Shahmoradi, A. A., & Adnani, S.M. (2011). Autecology of Stipagrostis plumosa in rangelands of Qom province. 18(2), 187-201.
  12. Batooli, H. (2018). Introduction of the flora, life form and chorology of Aran & Bidghol deserts area in Isfahan Province. Plant Research, 31(2), 258-278. (in Farsi)
  13. Bayroodian, N. (2002). The principals of desert management. Iran: Reshad. (in Farsi)
  14. Carter, M. R., & Gregorich, E. G. (2008). Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis. Taylor & Francis Group.
  15. Daliri, S. M., Delbari, Z., Bardishakh, V., Birodiyan, N., Philehkesh, E. (2017). Floristic composition and ecological characters of psamophyt species in Sabzevar area. Reservation Plant Ecosystem, 5(10), 75-86. (in Farsi)
  16. Danin, A. (1978). Plant species diversity and plant succession in a sandy area in the Northern Negev. Flora, 167(5), 409-422.
  17. Dashtakian, K., & Khosroshahi, M. (2004). Identification and introduction of plant types in desert biomes of Yazd. Range and Desert Research, 11(4), 383-408. (in Farsi)
  18. Djamali, M., Akhani, H., Khoshravesh, Ponel, A., Ponel, P., & Brewer, S. (2011). Application of the global bioclimatic classification to Iran: implications for understanding the modern vegetation and biogeography. Ecologia Mediterranea, 37(1), 91-114.
  19. Ehghaghi, R., Mosleh Arani A., Azimzadeh, H. R., Zargaran, M., and Kiani, B. (2015(. Investigation of some ecological characteristics of four Calligonum species in Yazd province. Range and Desert Research, 22(1), 168-182. )in Farsi)
  20. Ehsani, A. H., & Quiel, F. (2008). Application of self organizing maps and SRTM data to charecterize Yardangs in the Lut desert, Iran. Remote Sensing of Environment, 112(7), 3284-3294.
  21. Eshraghi, M., Amanpour, J., & Tabatabee, E. (2003). Study on the morphology changes of Haloxylon species in Badrood, Natanz 1(st) Iranian Congress of Haloxylon in Iran. (in Farsi)
  22. Esmaelzadeh, A. Hoseini, M., & Oladi, J. (2005). A Phytosociological Study of English Yew (Taxus baccata L.) in Afratakhteh Reserve. Pajouhesh va Sazandegi, 18(3), 66-76. (in Farsi)
  23. Gabriel, A. (1939). The Southern Lut and Iranian Baluchistan. London: Royal Geographical Society.
  24. Ghorbanli, M. (2004). Flora and plant vegetation of Iran deserts. Tehran: Instituation of Research and Education, Iran. (in Farsi)
  25. Ghodsi, M. (2017). Morphometric characteristics of Yardangs in the Lut Desert, Iran. Desert, 22(1), 21-29.
  26. Goudie, A. S. (2013). Arid and semi-arid geomorphology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  27. Hasani, N. (1994(. Autecology of Haloxylon in Semnan rangeland. MSc Thesis, Tehran University: Tehran, Iran. (in Farsi)
  28. He, M. Z., Zheng, J., Li, R., & Qian, Y. (2007). Environmental factors affecting vegetation composition in the Alxa Plateau, China. Arid Environments, 69(3), 473-489.
  29. Iranbakhsh, E., Hamdi, M., & Asadi, M. (2008). Flora, life forms and chorotypes of plants of Garmsar region in Semnan province. Pajouhesh va Sazandegi, 21(2), 179-199.
  30. Kardavani, M. (1999). Study on the soil of Lut desert. Iran, Tehran: Geographical Research Press. (in Farsi)
  31. Khosoroshahi, M., Abbasi, H., Kashki, M. T., & Abtahi, M. (2013). Determination of Iran desert lands based on soil attributes. Dersert Management, 1, 27-38. (in Farsi)
  32. Krebs, C. J. (1999). Ecological Methodology. Addision Wesley Longman.
  33. Li, C., Li, Y., & Ma, J. (2011). Spatial heterogeneity of soil chemical properties at fine scales induced by Haloxylon ammodendron (Chenopodiaceae) plants in a sandy desert. Ecological Research, 26(2), 385-394.
  34. Li, J., Zhao, C., Zhu, H., Li, Y., & Wang, F. (2007). Effect of plant species on shrub fertile island at an oasis–desert ecotone in the South Junggar Basin, China. Arid Environments, 71, 350-361.
  35. Lieth, H. & Al Masoom, A. (1993). A contribution to the halophytic vegetation and flora of Iran. In: Towards the rational use of high salinity tolerant plants. Akhani, H., Ghorbanli, M., 1, 35-44. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
  36. Lyons, W. B., Welch, S. A., Gardner, C. B., Sharifi, A., AghaKouchak, A., Mashkour, M., Djamali, M., Matinzadeh, Z., Palacio, S., & Akhani, H. (2020). The hydrogeochemistry of shallow groundwater from Lut Desert, Iran: The hottest place on Earth. Arid Environments, 178: 104143.
  37. Maghsoudi, M., Hajizadeha, A., Nezammahalleha, M. A., & Bayati Sedaghata, Z. (2017). New method for measurement of barchans parameters Case study: Lut desert, Iran. Desert, 22(1), 11-19.
  38. Mclean, E. O. (1982). Soil pH and lime requirement. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 2- Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Madison, Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy.
  39. Mesdaghi, M. (2005). Plant Ecology. Mashhad: Jihad Press. (in Farsi)
  40. Mildrexler, D. J., Zhao, M. & Running, S. W. (2006). Where are the hottest spots on Earth? EOS, Transactions American Geophysical Union, 87(43): 461-476.
  41. Moghimi, J. (2005). Introduced some important range suitable species for development of rangelands in Iran. Tehran: Publishing Arron. (in Farsi)
  42. Mohammadi, M., Karimzadeh, M., & Seyedjamaldin, K. (2008). Relationship between Haloxylon persicum growth parameters and edaphic properties in planted habitat of Choupanan, Naein. Range and Watershed Management, 62(1), 125-136. (in Farsi)
  43. Pashaee, A. (2002). Iranian deserts and their geomorphology and paleoclimatology characters. Tehran: Army Geography Institution. (in Farsi)
  44. Rad, M. H., Meshkooh, M. A., Mirhoseini, S. R., & Soltani, M. (2008). Effect of soil moisture on Haloxylon's root development. Pajouhesh va Sazandegi, 16(1), 112-123. (in Farsi)
  45. Rahbar A. (1987). The effect of some of soil physical properties, density and rainfall at the same time on growth and green nature of Haloxylon sp. Tehran: Forests Research Institution. (in Farsi)
  46. Roshier, D. A., Böer, B. B. & Osbome, P. E. (1996). Vegetation of Abu Dhabi and a preliminaryclassification of its plant associations. In: Desert Ecology of Abu Dhabi. 50-65. Newbury: Pisces Publications.
  47. Shahriary, E., Palmer, M. W. Tongway, D. J. Azarnivand, H., Jafari, M., & Mohseni Saravi, M. (2012). Plant species composition and soil characteristics around Iranian biospheres. Arid Environments, 82, 106-114.
  48. Taia, W. K., & El-Etaby, M. O. (2006). Taxonomical Study in the Desert Plant Calligonum comosum L`Her from two different locations in Saudi Arabia. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences, 5(4), 570-579.
  49. Tavili A., Rostampour, M., Zare Chahouki. M. A., & Farzadmehr, J. (2009). CCA application for vegetation- environment relationships evaluation in arid environments (Southern Khorasan rangelands). Desert, 14, 101-111. (in Farsi)
  50. Thomas, G. W. (1996). Soil pH and Soil Acidity. In: Methods of Soil Analysis, Part 3- Chemical Methods. (Ed. Sparks, D. L.). USA: Soil Science Society of America Madison, Wisconsin.
  51. Turner, N. C. (1986). Adaptation to water deficit: A changing perspective. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 13, 5-190.
  52. Uinted Nations Eduactional, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (2020). Retrieved October 26, 2020 from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1505/multiple=1&unique_number=2095
  53. Wan, K. K., Danny, H. W. Li., Yang, Y., & Joseph, C.L. (2010). Climate classifications and building energy use implications in China. Energy and Building, 42, 1463-1471.
  54. Woodward, F. I., & Williams, B. G. (1987). Climate and plant distribution at global and local scales. Vegetatio, 69, 189-197.
  55. Zare Chahouki, M.A., & Shafizadeh Nasrabadi, M. (2008). Environmental effective factors on distribution of arid plants (Case study: Chahbyki region of Yazd province). Range and Desert Research, 15(3), 403-414. (in Farsi)
  56. Zare Chahoukia, M.A., & Zare Chahouki, A. (2010). Predicting the distribution of plant species using logistic regression (Case study: Garizat rangelands of Yazd province). Desert, 15, 151-158 (in Farsi)
  57. Zohary, M. (1973) Geobotanical foundations of the Middle East. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag.
  58. Zuo Z., Wang S., Zhao, X., & Lian J. (2014). Scale dependence of plant species richness and vegetation-environment relationship along a gradient of dune stabilization in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China.  Arid Land, 6(3) 334-342.
  59. Zuo, X., Zhao, X., Zhao, H., Zhang, O., Guo, Y., & Li, Y. (2009). Spatial heterogeneity of soil properties and vegetation–soil relationships following vegetation restoration of mobile dunes in Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China. Plant Soil, 318, 153-167.
Desert Management
Volume 8, Issue 16 - Serial Number 16
12 Articles
March 2021
Pages 137-152

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 23 August 2020
  • Revise Date: 12 January 2021
  • Accept Date: 16 February 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics