Studies on the vegetation of Gomishan international wetland region (None hunting area)

Gomishan non hunting area is located in Northwest of Golestan province along the Eastern coasts of Caspian Sea and regarded as a wetland ecosystems. In this study، we aimed to introduce plant vegetations and species composition of the area and clarify conservational situation in view of the fact that the results could provide clues to how to propose conservative and utilizable plans for future. On the base of 60 sampled relevés (using Braun-Blanquet method)، the studied plant communities are placed in three main groups consisting of natural halophytic communities، farmlands and disturbed communities. Halophytic vegetations are classified in five previously identified orders (Ruppieteamaritimae، Phragmiteteaaustralis، Astereteatripolium، Thero- Salicornieta and Tamaricetearamosissimae) and two unclassified Cynanchumacutum and Psylliostachysspicata communities. The distribution and zonation of the known communities seem to be mostly depended upon soil humidity and salinity. Some of the identified species have ecological-economical values، however approximately 50 percent of the collected species are related to the ruderal species and disturbed areas that reflects a poorly managed situation.