Ramsar International Wetlands of Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol in Eastern Parts of the Caspian Sea: a Floristic and Habitat Survey
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Caspian J. Environ. Sci. 2017, Vol. 15 No. 4 pp. 357~372 ©Copyright by University of Guilan, Printed in I.R. Iran [Research] Ramsar international wetlands of Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol in eastern parts of the Caspian Sea: A floristic and habitat survey Hamedani H.1, Naqinezhad A.1*, Fadaie F.2 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran 2. Research Division of Natural Resources, Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Gorgan, Iran * Corresponding author: [email protected] (Received: Apr. 20. 2017 Accepted: Sep. 03. 2017) ABSTRACT Ramsar international wetlands of Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol with a surface of 3027 ha are located in the vast Turkmen-Sahra plains (Golestan prov.) in east of Caspian Sea and in the vicinity of the Iran-Turkmenistan political border. Flora, vegetation and habitat diversity of the wetlands were surveyed during growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. A total of 159 plant taxa belonging to 123 genera and 42 families were determined in the studied wetlands. Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae (including Chenopodiaceae) and Poaceae were the most species rich families and Suaeda, Salsola, Atriplex, Plantago and Tamarix were the most species rich genera. A floristic analysis indicated that therophytes and pluriregional elements predominated life form and chorological spectra, respectively. Studied sites were physiognomically classified into aquatic, emergent, and dry upland habitats which represent 6, 68 and 26 percent of all plant taxa, respectively. Halophytic species constitute a large part of flora, among them Puccinellia poecilantha recently recorded in the area is considered as a rare plant. The results may be applied in designing conservation areas and developing conservation strategies for this unique wetland ecosystem. Key words: Flora, Golestan, Habitat diversity, Ramsar wetlands, Salt marsh. INTRODUCTION possessing 24 Ramsar International Wetlands Wetlands are one of the most sensitive (Behruzi Rad 1999; Ramsar 2016) shows a ecosystems in the world with remarkable tragedy example in the Middle East. Many of biodiversity (Hammer 1996). They are the wetland sites even with considerable considered important ecosystems playing as surface have become dried or nearly so in the “the kidneys of the landscape” and “biological recent decades. Hoor-Alazim, Dasht-Arjan, supermarkets” (Cronk & Fennessy 2001; Mitch Parishan, Gavkhooni and Jazmorian are some & Gosselink 2015). However, they are affected wetlands. Knowledge on flora and disappearing at an alarming rate due to vegetation of each region is pre-requisite bases climate change and the human economic for the biological protection, natural resources utility. The most significant wetland alteration management, ecological potential, is particularly dredging, filling, drainage, conservation of rare and endemic plants and hydrologic modification, peat mining and finally for restoration studies (Singh & Rawat water pollution (Behruzi Rad 2010; Mitch & 1999; Jafari & Akhani 2008; Noori et al. 2017). Gosselink 2015). This threatening alarm would The results of such studies are essential for be particularly dangerous for arid/semi-arid ecology, biogeography and evolutionary regions with continuous declining of investigations (Khodadadi et al. 2009; underground water resources. Iran with Ravanbakhsh et al. 2013). Alagol, Almagol and 358 Ramsar international wetlands of… Ajigol wetland complex is one of 24 Ramsar 40' E) are located in the Turkmen-Sahra plain wetland sites in NE of Iran which is near to the border of Iran and Turkmenistan categorized as seasonal saline wetlands and on western parts of Inchehboroon area (Ramsar 2016). Jalili et al. (2014) provided a full (Golestan prov.) (Fig. 1) (Kiabi et al. 1999; list of publication related to wetland flora and Mohandesin Sabzandish Payesh 2008). These vegetation of Iran. Most of the previous wetlands in their highest water content, with investigations were devoted to flora and 3027 ha (Alagol with 2500 ha, Almagol with vegetation in different international wetland 207 ha and Ajigol with 320 ha) has been ecosystems of Iran such as Amirkelayeh, considered as a refugee for migratory birds Anzali, Fereydoonkenar and Miankaleh. and their breeding. They were registered Among the most relevant investigation on under a wetland complex site in the afro-mentioned wetland complex and similar framework of the international Convention of ecosystems are conducted by Karimi (2010) Ramsar in 1975 (Bagherzadeh Karimi & and Ghorbanli et al. (2013) on flora and Ruhani Rankuhi 2007). The study wetlands vegetation of Gomishan international wetland and all surrounding environment are and its habitat conditions using satellite physiognomically grouped under “herbaceous imagery. Moreover, Tavan et al. (2010) studied and semi-woody salt swamps” in the on floristic composition and plant species vegetation map proposed by Frey & richness of plains and hills at Agh-Ghala Kürschner (1989). Limestone, schist and sands rangelands in the Golestan province. An are the main components of soil deposits analysis and evaluation of land use changes in which were remained after sea retreats in the Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol was carried out by coastal places (Ghorbani et al. 2012). Based on Ghorbani et al. (2012). Flora and vegetation of the recent bioclimatic classification of Iran, the Soofikam and Inchehboroon areas were area is classified within “Mediterranean xeric studied by Ghorbanli et al. (2011) and Bakhshi continental” bioclimate (Djamali et al. 2011). et al. (2011). Moreover, some studies have been The latter bioclimate is characterized with conducted on saline/semi-saline wetlands of high continentality (Ic > 21), low precipitation Iran (Asri & Ghorbanli 1997; Asri 1998; during growing season or months with mean Ejtehadi et al. 2003; Asri et al. 2002, 2007; temperature > 0°C and long dry season lasting Dolatkhahi & Yousofi 2009; Dolatkhahi et al. six months. Based on the climatic diagram of 2011; Rabie & Asri 2014; Akhani 2015). The the nearest station (Agh-Ghala), much current paper aims (1) to present precipitation occurs within November to April characteristics of flora and habitats of with dry period of May to October. The annual international wetland complex in eastern precipitation and mean annual temperature is coastal region of the Caspian Sea and its 412.5 mm and 19.1ºC, respectively (Fig. 2). surrounding environments, (2) to provide Data collection and analysis detailed information on life forms and A floristic and vegetation survey was carried chorology of plants for whole wetlands and out during growing seasons of 2014 and 2015 for each habitat separately and (3) to compare using the topographic maps and the local floristic results of the studied wetlands with guides. Whereas most annual and some those already published elsewhere. Results of perennial species cover predominantly in the the current study are particularly important spring time, halophytic annual and perennial for making appropriate conservational taxa were collected in autumn time. We used decision for these fragile wetland ecosystems. 115 plots of 25m2 (drylands and marginal MATERIALS AND METHODS parts) and 1m2 (open lakes) to record Studied areas vegetation and floristic composition. Plants International wetlands of Alagol, Almagol and were determined using Flora Iranica Ajigol (37º 20' N to 37º 25' N and 54º 35' to 54º (Rechinger 1963-2010), Flora of Iran (Assadi et Hamedani et al. 359 al. 1988-2011), Flora of Turkey (Davis 1965- mentioned literatures was used to indicate its 1988), Flora of USSR (Komarov 1934-1954) and chorotype sensu Zohary (1973), Takhtajan Color Flora of Iran (Ghahreman 1975-2005). (1986) and Léonard (1989). We classified all Plant taxa were classified based on APG III habitats of the area physiognomically based on (2009) and the scientific names of the taxa dominant and co-dominant species. All were checked using the plant list website materials studied here were deposited in the (http://www.theplantlist.org/). Raunkiaer herbarium of Mazandaran University (HUMZ) life form system was used for determination of and herbarium of Golestan Agricultural and the life form of the plants (Raunkiaer 1934). Natural Resources Research and Education General distribution of each taxon in the afro- Center. Fig. 1. The position of three International wetlands of Alagol, Almagol and Ajigol in East of the Caspian Sea. 360 Ramsar international wetlands of… Fig. 2. The climatic diagram of Agh-Ghala station (1984-2015). RESULTS Some plant species were rarely found in the A total of 159 taxa belonging to 123 genera and studied wetlands. They were Arnebia 42 families of vascular plants were determined decumbens, Asparagus officinalis, Bromus in the studied area. 27 genera (22%) and 32 brachystachys, Puccinellia poecilantha, Suaeda species (20%) were monocotyledons and 96 maritima, Tetradiclis tenella and Tripolium genera (78%) and 127 species (80%) were pannonicum. dicotyledons (Table 1). Asteraceae (28 taxa, 18%), Amaranthaceae (including Life form and chorology of plants Chenopodiaceae) (24 taxa, 15%) and Poaceae Life form spectrum of the areas indicates that (21 taxa, 13%) were the most species rich therophytes and hemicryptophytes were families in the area. Considering the number dominant life forms with 65% and 18% of total of genera in the families, Asteraceae (23), flora, respectively (Fig. 3). Pluriregional Poaceae (16), Amaranthaceae (12), elements (23%) had the