JOURNAL OF TAXONOMY AND BIOSISTEMATICS
Year:2011 | Volume:3 | Issue:7|Papers Count:7

This study was carried out in rangelands of Karsanak, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, which is regarded as one of the rich rangelands. Phytogeographically, this region is located in Irano-Turanian (zone of sub alpine). Endemic and rare plants were identified and geographical distribution and life form of identified plant species were investigated as well. Overall, 100 species from 17 families were identified from which 20 percent of identified species was endemic element of Irano-Turanian region. Results indicated that 75.7 percent of identified plants belonged to the Irano-Turanian and only 3 and 2 percent belonged to Euro-Siberian and Mediterranean regions respectively. The reason of high percentage of Irano-Turanian elements is probably the long distance of this region from other regions. Similarities of Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean were included 6.1 percent of identified plants and Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian included 2 percent. Results of life forms showed hemichryptophytes including 60 percent of life forms which indicate the cold and mountainous weather.

In order to determine the within and between genetic variation of Caspian oak (Quercus. castanefolia) populations, Based on quantitative and qualitative peroxides activity, 50 trees were selected in 5 habitats in Neka and Noor forest of Mazandaran in Iran. Habitat were located from 170 to 1100 meter above see level. One-year-old branch samples of trees was prepared to enzyme extraction. Quantitative studies accomplished by UV spectrophotometer (in 530 NM wave lengths) and qualitative studies performed by poly acryl amid gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Based on quantitative studies results, the most peroxides activity related to midland habitats (Ladvije and Khoram Chamaz). According to isozyme bands grouping, all five habitats classified in three groups. Laei Pasand habitat (1100 meter a.s.l.) performed a single group. A cluster analysis of 50 trees performed 10 clusters. The most genetic distance had been seen between midland habitats and highland habitats. The minimal genetic distance related to some trees of lowland habitats and midland habiatats. Therefore elevation changes were great role in habitats classification. According to allelic diversity, and heterozygosis values (compared with foreign studies) genetic variation of Caspian oak was higher than the European oaks habitats, but within genetic variation of Caucasian oak habitats was more than it's between genetic variation.

There are many rare and important species such as sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in Caspian ecosystem which could be regarded as unique characteristics by plant biologists. Habitat destruction had strong adverse effects on sweet chestnut in the Hyrcanian forest. Unfortunately, had been adequate research on the species. In our current research, trichome and stomata morphology of C. sativa in the Hyrcanian forest were surveyed by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy and the results were compared with that of the European C. sativa. Furthermore, phenotypic variation of the three natural populations of the species (Siahmazgi, Ghalerodkhan and Visrod) was evaluated by stomata morphometrics. Large and small diameters of stomata, area and frequency of stomata and stomata area index were studied. Finally, nested ANOVA was performed. The results showed that stomata type was anomocytic with simple Unicellular, Stellate and fasciculate trichomes on the abaxial surface. There were clear differences between Caspian and European populations of sweet chestnut. As for population variability, statistical analysis of stomata diameters showed significant differences. The three Hyrcanian populations, however, could not be separated. In line with past research, the Ghalerodkhan population showed clear variation but verifying, the hypothesis molecular markers are necessary.

Pollen morphology of 17 taxa of the genus Scutellaria belonging to subgenera Scutellaria (sections Scutellaria and Anaspis) and Apeltanthus (section Lupulinaria) were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy (LM and SEM). The pollen grains of all Scutellaria species were tricolpate, their shapes were oblate-spheroidal or prolate-spheroidal. The lumina were separated by smooth or sinuate muri. Two types of exine ornamentation were recognized: bireticulate-perforate in all species in subgenus Scutellaria and microreticulate in all species of subgenus Apeltanthus. The results of this study showed that the exine ornamentation could be recognized as a useful taxonomic character for infra-generic classification of Scutellaria. This was in agreement with the latest taxonomic treatment of the genus, considering two subgenera for Scutellaria.

Based on the morphological investigations, 5 sepcies of the genus Vulpia grow in Iran. This study concerns the cytotaxonomy of the genus Vulpia Gmel. in Iran. A total of 8 accessions belonging to V. unilateralis, V. myuros, V. persica, V. ciliata and V. hirtiglumis were examined. Mitosis were counted from three root tips of each accession. Diploid numbers counted were 2n=14, 28, 35, 42 with baisic chromosome number x=7. The pentaploidy (2n=5x=35) was observed in V. persica, V. ciliate and V. hirtiglumis and thus ate reported for the first time. The karyotypes and the chromosomal parameters showed an approximately asymmetrical profiles for the species studied. The measured karyotypic parameters revealed significant differences among species studied.

Semeskandeh and Dasht-e Naz are protected as wildlife refuges with the aim of conservation and revival of the remaining plant and animal populations of the Caspian lowland forests in Mazandaran (Sari). Based on a floristic study, 223 plant species from 175 genera belonging to 69 families were identified. The richest families were Poaceae with 36 species (16%), Asteraceae with 23 species (10.3%), Lamiaceae with 14 species (6.3%) and Rosaceae with 13 species (5.8%), respectively. Carex with 7 species, Euphorbia with 6 species and Geranium with 5 species constituted the largest genera. Considering life form spectrum, the highest proportion of life forms belonged to therophytes (34%), hemicryptophytes (24%), geophytes (22%) and phanerophytes (15%), respectively. Likewise, the highest proportion of chorotypes belonged to pluriregional elements (32%), followed by Euro-Siberian elements (19%), Euro-Siberian, Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean elements (13%). Moreover, four percent of these plants were endemic of Iran. Since the studied forests in the current investigation are considered as remnants of lowland Caspian forests which had been dominated by Quercus castaneifolia and Buxus hyrcana, conservation policies are quite necessary to protect these very important vulnerable and sensitive ecosystems and to eliminate all dangers and pollutions threatening them.

Invasive species are a major threat to biodiversity and have many adverse effects which cause economic losses. In this study, it was tried to survey raccoon damages in Iran at Lavandevil wildlife refuge. The purpose of this research was to address three main topics: (1) to study the effective environmental factors on raccoon distribution in Lavandevil wildlife refuge, (2) to study some of raccoon effects on their vital ecosystems and communities, and (3) to study local people knowledge of the presence of invasive species and its destructive effects. At first, Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA) method was used to determine the effective environmental factors on raccoon distribution in Lavandevil wildlife refuge. Also, we studied some effects of raccoon on ecosystems and its vital communities, using scat analysis to determine raccoon diet during four seasons and also diseases like rabies, distemper and parvovirus infection were diagnosed. The results showed that vegetation communities, vegetation density and water resources were important in micro-scale. Garbages had the largest share and fish had the lowest share in raccoon diet throughout the year. Unfortunately, food resources providing and availability for raccoon could pave the way for its population increase in Lavandevil wildlife refuge also and other northern refuges in Iran. Local people in Lavandevil wildlife refuges did not know raccoon as a non-native invasive species and they were not informed of their threats at all. As the first step, managers in the region must duly inform the local people of the matter.