RANGE SIZE RARITY ANALYSIS OF THE FABACEAE, (EXCEPT ASTRAGALUS L.) IN IRAN

The geographic distribution of the Fabaceae (except the genus Astragalus L.) has been analyzed to have insights about the distribution pattern of this family as an approach for a better conservation policymaking. In doing so, we used a dataset of 10498 geo-referenced observations from Iran. Species richness, endemic species, weighted endemism and corrected weighted endemism were mapped in 1° x 1° latitude/longitude grids using ArcView and DIVA-GIS software. Iran was divided into 196 grid cells and of these, 173 grid cells had at least one record each. The highest endemic species values were observed in a grid cell located in Tehran province, which also possessed high species richness and even the highest weighted endemism values. But high values for corrected weighted endemism were obtained from grid cells located in the North East of Iran (mostly from Razavi Khorasan province). Species with very small documented distribution area (one grid cell only) were distributed in North and North West (West and East Azerbaijan provinces) of Iran and along the Zagros mountain range. In this study, seven regions with conservation importance were identified which can be compared with the present protected areas.