نشریه تاکسونومی و بیوسیستماتیک
سال چهاردهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 50، بهار 1401)

In the present study, the trend of divergence and fragmentation of different sections of Astragalus in the Old World has been investigated. Based on previous studies, Astragalus species are divided into three groups: primitive, intermediate, and advanced. The distribution maps of each of these groups in the Old World were presented in the study. The primitive group consists mainly of herbaceous sections with simple hairs and an old drought-tolerant section with woody stems and bifurcating hairs that are densely distributed in Asia and Africa and scattered in Europe. The intermediate group, with thorny cushion shapes, is often scattered in the Zagros and Alborz mountains, mountainous regions of Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan, and extend from the east to Afghanistan, the Hindu Kush, and the southern parts of the Himalayas. The results of the study show that the distribution pattern of the advanced group is very heterogeneous and its pattern is consistent with the primitive group. The simple hair sections are often scattered below 35 degrees north latitude and the bifurcated hairs sections are more frequently distributed above 35 degrees north latitude. Annual Astragalus species are heterogeneously distributed in all three main groups. In all three groups, parallel evolution has taken place at the level of sections and species. At each point of distribution, their number has a limited distribution. In addition,  some species have achieved non-genetic diversity by functional or regulatory genetic, hereditary or structural mechanisms and created distinct species that have adapted in nature to the ecological conditions of the same areas and continue to regenerate with even more distributions.

The present study was carried out to provide a floristic list and determine the life forms and chorology of species in the Gamasiab region at a distance of 20 Km. south of Nahavand (Hamedan province). The altitudes of the region include part of the Zagros Mountain in the name of Garin Mountain or Geru, which includes several peaks. The highest peak of these heights in Hamedan province is the Yalkabud, with an altitude of 3541 meters above sea level. The area of this part is 1899 hectares. Plant specimens were collected and identified from different points of the Gamasiab region during the appropriate seasons between 1993-2021. The plant biological spectrum of this region was plotted by determining the percentage of species belonging to each biological form. On the basis of geographical distribution data of identified species and resources, the percentage of regional vegetative elements was determined. The plants identified in this area contain 51 families, 203 genera, and 311 species. Totally, this region includes 7 families of monocots, 43 families of dicots, and 1 family of pteridophytes. The largest families were Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Apiaceae, and Caryophyllaceae in the Gamasib region. The plants in the region were in terms of biological form, 41.1% of Hemicryptophytes, 26% of Therophytes, 13.41% of Champhytes, 13.41% of Geophytes, 3.2% of Phanorphytes, 1.6% of Parasites, and 0.96% of the Helophytes. For geographical distribution, the largest share of IranoTuranian elements (67.52%), and other species belonged to two or more geographic areas. Finally, 34 plant species were endemics of Iran.

Vegetation around springs and ponds causes water to re-infiltrate into the ground and recharge underground reservoirs. In the study of ponds and springs in Lorestan province, 108 species were identified which belong to 35 families and 64 genera. Depending on the habitat and life form, these species constitute emergent 41%, marginal 31%, floating 23%, and submerged 5%. Nuphar lutea were present in the habitat of the springhead of Niloufar and Potamogeton alpinus in the Gahar Lake and the Amir spring. Both habitats have cold and clear water with no contaminants. Typha latifolia is mostly found in Pol-e-Dokhtar tropical wetlands. The genera Carex, Cyprus, Juncus, Phragmites, Mentha, and Veronica were present in almost all wetland habitats and springs. In the springhead of Niloufar, where the pollutants are spread, Sparganium erectum and Sorghum halepense are highly concentrated but Nuphar lutea is very scattered. In most Peatlands, in addition to the marginal species, there was a perennial wild species called Hordeum brevisubulatum, which usually has spreading rhizomes. They were found in saturated and muddy soils. More than 81% of wetland species are present in more than one chorotype. In mountain springs and spring wetlands, endemic species of Rorippa kurdica were present but limited, probably due to dispersal barriers or special habitat conditions. Failure to pay attention to wetlands as storage sponges and water infiltration will lead to species extinction and ecological damage.

Phylogenetic analysis and estimating divergence time of O. sect. Onobrychis were conducted using nrDNA ITS sequence data. A total of 60 species from the section Onobrychis, seven species of the five sister sections belonging to O. subgen. Sisyrosema and eight species of other genera of the tribe Hedysareae (Eversmannia subspinosa ، Greuteria argyreum، Corethrodendron multijugum ، Taverniera cuneifolia، Hedysarum polybotrys، Sulla spinosissima و Alhagi maurorum) as outgroups were chosen. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The results showed that O. sect. Onobrychis is monophyletic and composed of two main well-supported clades. The first clade includes annual and perennial species with long wings, often with the basic chromosome number x= 8. The second clade comprises perennial species with short wings and two annuals with long wings, having the basic chromosome number x= 7. Sect. The divergence time estimation of this section was analyzed with BEAST. The section was originated at 11.96 Mya in middle Miocene and subsequently diverged into two linages at 9.29-9.58 Mya.

In the present field study, the flora, life form, and chorology of plants were identified in the highlands of south Mashhad (Iran). The area was approximately 4351 hectares and the altitude varied from 1000-1520 m above sea level. The plant species were identified and their chorology, life form, endemism, and rarity were determined through laboratory examinations and botany reference books. We identified 259 plant species belonging to 190 genera and 47 families. The dominance of therophytes and hemichryptophytes (79.5%) life forms indicated the specific flora of mountainous regions and the cold and aridclimates. Irano-Turanian and multi-regional were the most dominant Chorotypes that were referred to in the long history of disturbance in the dry climate of Khorassan. In terms of conservational classifications, 6 species were identified as vulnerable, 11 species as lower risk, and 3 species as threatened; 13 species were endemic to Iran and/or Khorassan-Kopet Dagh floristic province.

Collembola or sprigtails are one of the most abundant terrestrial arthropods and are considered to be beneficial organisms that play an important role in the material cycle, including nitrogen and carbon, by feeding on decayed materials. The Entomobryidae family is characterized by features such as a longer fourth abdominal segment than other body segments, the presence of scales or a dense covering of ciliated macrosetae on the body, and the absence of a posterior antennal organ. The genus Entomobrya Rondani, 1861 is the most diverse genus that belongs to this family and the identification of its species is mainly based on the color pattern and chaetotaxy of the body. So far, 18 species of the genus have been reported in Iran. Due to the lack of identification key to species of this genus in Iran and the lack of access to resources, Iranian researchers are facing difficulties in studying the genus. In this study, the identification key of reported species of the genus Entomobrya in Iran is presented along with the image of the species.