Photosynthetic Pathways and Habitats of Grasses in Golestan National Park (NE Iran), with an Emphasis on the C4-Grass Dominated Rock Communities

Photosynthetic Pathways and Habitats of Grasses in Golestan National Park (NE Iran), with an Emphasis on the C4-Grass Dominated Rock Communities. Akhani, H. & Ziegler, H. 32(3):455–501.

Paper doi abstract bibtex

The easternmost parts of the Caspian forests in Iran, in which Golestan National Park is located, provide a transition zone between the Hyrcanian forests, the juniper woodlands, the montane and the Artemisia steppes. The diverse climatic, topographic and edaphic features of the area provide a wide spectrum of biotope diversity suited well for ecological investigations, and particularly for studying ecological distribution of C4 and C3 plants. Using the carbon isotope composition method, the delta 13C values for 103 grasses occurring in the Park were determined. Additional data are given for the life forms, the chorotypes, the habitat types and the altitude ranges of the respective species. According to the results, 13 taxa exhibit C4 and 90 taxa C3 types of photosynthetic pathways, respectively. The C3 plants are abundantly growing in the montane steppes, Juniperus excelsa-woodlands and Artemisia-steppes. The majority of C4 species are growing in the rocky outcrops and cliffs of the lowland forest zone of the Park. The vegetation types and communities of C4-dominated rocky outcrops and cliffs and some surrounding parts have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Combining the phytosociological table, multivariate analysis and the ecological criteria, 8 plant communities are described for the first time. These communities are classified into three major groups: 1) Irano-Turanian cliff communities (incl. Stachys subaphylla-Perovskia abrotanoides and Parietaria judaica-Scrophularia variegata communities). 2) Lowland Hyrcanian rocky outcrops and cliff communities associated with C4 grasses (incl. Cleistogenes serotina-Ceterach officinarum, Cleistogenes serotina-Zelkova carpinifolia, Cleistogenes serotina-Heteropappus altaicus, Cleistogenes serotina-Juniperus communis and Cleistogenes serotina-Eriocycla ghafooriana communities. 3) Hyrcanian highland wall cliffs (incl. Laser rechingeri community). The distribution maps of the characteristic C3 and C4 species are provided showing their cover-abundances. [\n] Carpinus orientalis, an east Mediterranean, Euxino-Hyrcanian element, is the main component of steep rocky outcrops of the Hyrcanian area which in altitudes under 1200 m is associated with late-flowering C4 grasses such as Bothriochloa ischaemum, B. bladhii, Cleistogenes serotina and Heteropogon contortus. The occurrence of such thermophilous plants is closely related to the high temperature of the S-facing sunny rocks and the presence of summer rain in the area. In spite of some floristical similarities between the Hyrcanian and the Mediterranean rock flora, the floristic composition and the ecological conditions separate them from the hitherto described higher syntaxa of the Euro-Mediterranean rock vegetation. The rocky and cliff vegetation of the Irano-Turanian parts of the area and the communities of higher altitudes (over 1200 m) in the Hyrcanian area are almost devoid C4-grasses. These communities can be classified into the Asplenietea trichomanis. [\n] According to the present study, the rocky outcrops of the East Caspian forest zone show a high diversity, compared to the other surrounding vegetation types. This is mainly due to the occurrence of different microhabitats and microclimates which are affecting various plants with different seasonal, climatic and substrate requirements. Furthermore, it can be observed that the tertiary relict species not only include arboreal species of the southern Hyrcanian forests but also a considerable number of non-arboreal species. Some of them were discovered during this research.

@article{akhaniPhotosyntheticPathwaysHabitats2002,
  title = {Photosynthetic Pathways and Habitats of Grasses in {{Golestan National Park}} ({{NE Iran}}), with an Emphasis on the {{C4}}-Grass Dominated Rock Communities},
  author = {Akhani, Hossein and Ziegler, Hubert},
  date = {2002-09},
  journaltitle = {Phytocoenologia},
  volume = {32},
  pages = {455--501},
  issn = {0340-269X},
  doi = {10.1127/0340-269X/2002/0032-0455},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1127/0340-269X/2002/0032-0455},
  abstract = {The easternmost parts of the Caspian forests in Iran, in which Golestan National Park is located, provide a transition zone between the Hyrcanian forests, the juniper woodlands, the montane and the Artemisia steppes. The diverse climatic, topographic and edaphic features of the area provide a wide spectrum of biotope diversity suited well for ecological investigations, and particularly for studying ecological distribution of C4 and C3 plants. Using the carbon isotope composition method, the delta 13C values for 103 grasses occurring in the Park were determined. Additional data are given for the life forms, the chorotypes, the habitat types and the altitude ranges of the respective species. According to the results, 13 taxa exhibit C4 and 90 taxa C3 types of photosynthetic pathways, respectively. The C3 plants are abundantly growing in the montane steppes, Juniperus excelsa-woodlands and Artemisia-steppes. The majority of C4 species are growing in the rocky outcrops and cliffs of the lowland forest zone of the Park. The vegetation types and communities of C4-dominated rocky outcrops and cliffs and some surrounding parts have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Combining the phytosociological table, multivariate analysis and the ecological criteria, 8 plant communities are described for the first time. These communities are classified into three major groups: 1) Irano-Turanian cliff communities (incl. Stachys subaphylla-Perovskia abrotanoides and Parietaria judaica-Scrophularia variegata communities). 2) Lowland Hyrcanian rocky outcrops and cliff communities associated with C4 grasses (incl. Cleistogenes serotina-Ceterach officinarum, Cleistogenes serotina-Zelkova carpinifolia, Cleistogenes serotina-Heteropappus altaicus, Cleistogenes serotina-Juniperus communis and Cleistogenes serotina-Eriocycla ghafooriana communities. 3) Hyrcanian highland wall cliffs (incl. Laser rechingeri community). The distribution maps of the characteristic C3 and C4 species are provided showing their cover-abundances. 

[\textbackslash n] Carpinus orientalis, an east Mediterranean, Euxino-Hyrcanian element, is the main component of steep rocky outcrops of the Hyrcanian area which in altitudes under 1200 m is associated with late-flowering C4 grasses such as Bothriochloa ischaemum, B. bladhii, Cleistogenes serotina and Heteropogon contortus. The occurrence of such thermophilous plants is closely related to the high temperature of the S-facing sunny rocks and the presence of summer rain in the area. In spite of some floristical similarities between the Hyrcanian and the Mediterranean rock flora, the floristic composition and the ecological conditions separate them from the hitherto described higher syntaxa of the Euro-Mediterranean rock vegetation. The rocky and cliff vegetation of the Irano-Turanian parts of the area and the communities of higher altitudes (over 1200 m) in the Hyrcanian area are almost devoid C4-grasses. These communities can be classified into the Asplenietea trichomanis. 

[\textbackslash n] According to the present study, the rocky outcrops of the East Caspian forest zone show a high diversity, compared to the other surrounding vegetation types. This is mainly due to the occurrence of different microhabitats and microclimates which are affecting various plants with different seasonal, climatic and substrate requirements. Furthermore, it can be observed that the tertiary relict species not only include arboreal species of the southern Hyrcanian forests but also a considerable number of non-arboreal species. Some of them were discovered during this research.},
  keywords = {*imported-from-citeulike-INRMM,~INRMM-MiD:c-13622714,~to-add-doi-URL,caucasus,forest-resources,iran,phytosociology,plant-communities},
  number = {3}
}

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The diverse climatic, topographic and edaphic features of the area provide a wide spectrum of biotope diversity suited well for ecological investigations, and particularly for studying ecological distribution of C4 and C3 plants. Using the carbon isotope composition method, the delta 13C values for 103 grasses occurring in the Park were determined. Additional data are given for the life forms, the chorotypes, the habitat types and the altitude ranges of the respective species. According to the results, 13 taxa exhibit C4 and 90 taxa C3 types of photosynthetic pathways, respectively. The C3 plants are abundantly growing in the montane steppes, Juniperus excelsa-woodlands and Artemisia-steppes. The majority of C4 species are growing in the rocky outcrops and cliffs of the lowland forest zone of the Park. The vegetation types and communities of C4-dominated rocky outcrops and cliffs and some surrounding parts have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Combining the phytosociological table, multivariate analysis and the ecological criteria, 8 plant communities are described for the first time. These communities are classified into three major groups: 1) Irano-Turanian cliff communities (incl. Stachys subaphylla-Perovskia abrotanoides and Parietaria judaica-Scrophularia variegata communities). 2) Lowland Hyrcanian rocky outcrops and cliff communities associated with C4 grasses (incl. Cleistogenes serotina-Ceterach officinarum, Cleistogenes serotina-Zelkova carpinifolia, Cleistogenes serotina-Heteropappus altaicus, Cleistogenes serotina-Juniperus communis and Cleistogenes serotina-Eriocycla ghafooriana communities. 3) Hyrcanian highland wall cliffs (incl. Laser rechingeri community). The distribution maps of the characteristic C3 and C4 species are provided showing their cover-abundances. [\\n] Carpinus orientalis, an east Mediterranean, Euxino-Hyrcanian element, is the main component of steep rocky outcrops of the Hyrcanian area which in altitudes under 1200 m is associated with late-flowering C4 grasses such as Bothriochloa ischaemum, B. bladhii, Cleistogenes serotina and Heteropogon contortus. The occurrence of such thermophilous plants is closely related to the high temperature of the S-facing sunny rocks and the presence of summer rain in the area. In spite of some floristical similarities between the Hyrcanian and the Mediterranean rock flora, the floristic composition and the ecological conditions separate them from the hitherto described higher syntaxa of the Euro-Mediterranean rock vegetation. The rocky and cliff vegetation of the Irano-Turanian parts of the area and the communities of higher altitudes (over 1200 m) in the Hyrcanian area are almost devoid C4-grasses. These communities can be classified into the Asplenietea trichomanis. [\\n] According to the present study, the rocky outcrops of the East Caspian forest zone show a high diversity, compared to the other surrounding vegetation types. This is mainly due to the occurrence of different microhabitats and microclimates which are affecting various plants with different seasonal, climatic and substrate requirements. Furthermore, it can be observed that the tertiary relict species not only include arboreal species of the southern Hyrcanian forests but also a considerable number of non-arboreal species. 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The diverse climatic, topographic and edaphic features of the area provide a wide spectrum of biotope diversity suited well for ecological investigations, and particularly for studying ecological distribution of C4 and C3 plants. Using the carbon isotope composition method, the delta 13C values for 103 grasses occurring in the Park were determined. Additional data are given for the life forms, the chorotypes, the habitat types and the altitude ranges of the respective species. According to the results, 13 taxa exhibit C4 and 90 taxa C3 types of photosynthetic pathways, respectively. The C3 plants are abundantly growing in the montane steppes, Juniperus excelsa-woodlands and Artemisia-steppes. The majority of C4 species are growing in the rocky outcrops and cliffs of the lowland forest zone of the Park. The vegetation types and communities of C4-dominated rocky outcrops and cliffs and some surrounding parts have been studied using the Braun-Blanquet method of phytosociology. Combining the phytosociological table, multivariate analysis and the ecological criteria, 8 plant communities are described for the first time. These communities are classified into three major groups: 1) Irano-Turanian cliff communities (incl. Stachys subaphylla-Perovskia abrotanoides and Parietaria judaica-Scrophularia variegata communities). 2) Lowland Hyrcanian rocky outcrops and cliff communities associated with C4 grasses (incl. Cleistogenes serotina-Ceterach officinarum, Cleistogenes serotina-Zelkova carpinifolia, Cleistogenes serotina-Heteropappus altaicus, Cleistogenes serotina-Juniperus communis and Cleistogenes serotina-Eriocycla ghafooriana communities. 3) Hyrcanian highland wall cliffs (incl. Laser rechingeri community). 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