Republic of Armenia First National Report to The Convention on Biological Diversity incorporating A Country Study on the Biodiversity of Armenia Produced by The Ministry of Nature Protection Yerevan March 1999 Republic of Armenia – National Report Table of Contents Chapter 1. Physical and Socio-economic Description of Armenia .................... 7 1.1 Geographic location and borders .......................................................................... 7 1.2 Physical geography ................................................................................................. 7 1.3 Climate ...................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Water resources ........................................................................................................ 9 1.4.1 Lake Sevan..........................................................................................................................10 1.5 Land surface............................................................................................................ 11 1.6 Main landscape zones........................................................................................... 13 1.7 The history, culture and people of Armenia ......................................................... 14 1.8 Social-economic and political situation............................................................... 15 1.9 The current status of the environment................................................................... 16 Chapter 2. The Biological Diversity of Armenia ................................................... 18 2.1 Historical evidence for the development of biodiversity .................................... 18 2.2 History of research on biodiversity and quality of information ........................... 19 2.2.1 Micro-organisms ...............................................................................................................19 2.2.2 Flora ....................................................................................................................................19 2.2.3 Fauna...................................................................................................................................19 2.2.4 Agrobiodiversity................................................................................................................20 2.3 Diversity of micro-organisms ................................................................................. 20 2.3.1 Soil micro-organisms........................................................................................................21 2.3.2 Chemolitotrophic and phototrophic bacteria...............................................................21 2.3.3 Lactic-acid bacteria ..........................................................................................................21 2.3.4 Yeast (Saccharomycetes) ..................................................................................................22 2.4 Plant diversity .......................................................................................................... 22 2.4.1. Algae...................................................................................................................................22 2.4.1.1 Terrestrial algae............................................................................................................................. 22 2.4.1.2 Aquatic algae (phytoplankton)...................................................................................................... 22 2.4.2 Fungi....................................................................................................................................23 2.4.2.1 Micromyocytes.............................................................................................................................. 23 2.4.2.2 Macromyocytes ............................................................................................................................. 24 2.4.3 Lichens ................................................................................................................................25 2 Ministry of Nature Protection, Yerevan, March 1999 Republic of Armenia – National Report 2.4.4 Mosses.................................................................................................................................25 2.4.5 Vascular plants..................................................................................................................26 2.4.5.1 Terrestrial plants........................................................................................................................... 26 2.4.5.2 Aquatic and wetland plants .......................................................................................................... 27 2.5 Animal diversity ...................................................................................................... 28 2.5.1 Invertebrates ......................................................................................................................29 2.5.1.1 Terrestrial invertebrates................................................................................................................ 29 2.5.1.2 Aquatic invertebrates .................................................................................................................... 29 2.5.2 Fish ......................................................................................................................................31 2.5.3 Amphibians ........................................................................................................................31 2.5.4 Reptiles ...............................................................................................................................31 2.5.4 Birds ....................................................................................................................................31 2.5.5 Mammals ............................................................................................................................34 Chapter 3. Endemic, relict, rare and threatened species in Armenia.............. 36 3.1 Flora ......................................................................................................................... 36 3.1.1 Endemic plant species .......................................................................................................36 3.1.2 Relict plant species ...........................................................................................................37 3.1.3 Rare and declining plant species.....................................................................................37 3.1.4 Red-listed plant species....................................................................................................39 3.2 Fauna....................................................................................................................... 40 3.2.1 Endemic animal species....................................................................................................40 3.2 Relict animal species ...........................................................................................................41 3.2.3 Rare and declining animal species..................................................................................41 3.2.4 Red-listed animal species..................................................................................................42 Chapter 4. Agrobiodiversity and Species of Economic Importance ................ 44 4.1 The origins of cultivated crops and domestic livestock ...................................... 44 4.1.1 Crops....................................................................................................................................44 4.1.2 Wild relatives and crops in Armenia..............................................................................44 4.1.3 Native breeds of livestock................................................................................................45 4.2 Current focuses for crop cultivation...................................................................... 46 4.3 Focuses for livestock and animal breeding ......................................................... 47 3 Ministry of Nature Protection, Yerevan, March 1999 Republic of Armenia – National Report 4.4 Wild species of economic importance................................................................. 49 4.4.1 Use of wild plants .............................................................................................................49 4.4.2 Use of wild animals ..........................................................................................................50 4.4.2.1 Hunting ........................................................................................................................................ 50 4.4.2.2 Fishing .......................................................................................................................................... 50 4.4.2.3 Collection of animals for medicinal use......................................................................................... 51 Chapter 5. Landscapes and Ecosystems of Armenia......................................... 52 5.1 Deserts ..................................................................................................................... 52 5.2 Semi-deserts...........................................................................................................