Abstract

The Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay mountains of Central Asia are generally regarded as the primary center of diversity of Tulipa species, but a comparative morphological description of Central Asian Tulipa species is still lacking. To fill the existing gap, we studied 48 Tulipa species found in Central Asia plus one outgroup (Erythronium caucasicum) for 24 morphological characters of bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers. The obtained data matrix was subjected to a cladistic analysis. Although bootstrap values were low, the morphology-based tree more or less corresponded to previous classifications, except for the placement of sect. Clusianae and T. butkovii. The Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay mountains of Central Asia are generally regarded as the primary center of diversity of Tulipa species, but a comparative morphological description of Central Asian Tulipa species is still lacking. To fill the existing gap, we studied 48 Tulipa species found in Central Asia plus one outgroup (Erythronium caucasicum) for 24 morphological characters of bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers. The obtained data matrix was subjected to a cladistic analysis. Although bootstrap values were low, the morphology-based tree more or less corresponded to previous classifications, except for the placement of sect. Clusianae and T. butkovii. The Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay mountains of Central Asia are generally regarded as the primary center of diversity of Tulipa species, but a comparative morphological description of Central Asian Tulipa species is still lacking. To fill the existing gap, we studied 48 Tulipa species found in Central Asia plus one outgroup (Erythronium caucasicum) for 24 morphological characters of bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers.The obtained data matrix was subjected to a cladistic analysis. Although bootstrap values were low, the morphology-based tree more or less corresponded to previous classifications, except for the placement of sect. Clusianae and T. butkovii. 

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Abstract

The National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH) in Tashkent is the oldest and largest botanical collection not only in Uzbekistan, but also in the entire region of Central Asia. The article presents a complete inventory of the type material of Umbelliferae taxa stored in the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH), as well as some key events of the TASH history and its main personalities. The herbarium in its current state is a result of merging of seven Uzbekistanian herbaria. TASH played a special role in the studies of Central Asian Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). TASH currently holds type specimens of 130 taxa of Umbelliferae, including 125 species and 5 intraspecific taxa (according to the ranks proposed in protologues). The TASH Umbelliferae type collection contains holotypes of 82 taxa, lectotypes of 36 taxa, isolectotypes of 22 taxa, syntypes of 15 taxa, and isotypes of 19 taxa. The names of 54 taxa have been preserved in the modern nomenclature of the Umbelliferae, whereas the names of 46 and 33 taxa are now considered as nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms. Four lectotypes are designated here.

Abstract

Continuing wide-scale habitat degradation and species extinctions indicate that existing plant conservation practices are inadequate and new approaches are needed. I briefly summarize the major principles of a previously proposed concept called conservation- oriented restoration and compare it with two other approaches to tackling ecosystems' degradation and biodiversity loss: traditional restoration and species-targeted conservation. I then present my perspective on how this concept can be applied in Central Asia as a possible solution to the regional biodiversity crisis.

Abstract

Surkhondaryo province is one of the largest and richest in vascular plant species diversity administrative units of Uzbekistan, which also has an extremely high concentration of species endemic to Mountainous Central Asia and Uzbekistan in particular. A characteristic geological feature of this area is the wide spread of variegated outcrops formed during the Cretaceous and partly Paleogene age. Using the botanical-geographical zonation of Uzbekistan and 5x5 km grid cells, we analyzed the distribution of 63 Surkhondaryo province endemics to identify the hotspots of endemic species richness. The Baysun phytogeographic region, located in the southwest spurs of the Hissar ridge, had the largest number of species-rich grid cells. The Surkhan-Sherabad and Babatag phytogeographic regions, located mainly in the piedmonts, foothills and low mountain belt of the Kuhitang and Babatag mountains, turned out to be poor in endemic species. The extent of occurrence and area of occupancy of 63 provincial endemic species were estimated for the first time. Based on the analysis of available data and long-term field observations, the extinction of one of the narrow endemics of the Surkhondaryo province - Dipcadi turkestanicum Vved. appears to be a sad reality.

Abstract

Environmental variation can be large across a wide range of spatial scales resulting in complex patterns of local adaptation across species ranges. We analyzed the scale, genetic mechanism and direct climatic causes of local adaptation in a widely distributed grass Hordeum spontaneum. We performed artificial crosses of maternal plants representing the same Negev desert population with plants originating elsewhere. Pollen donors were plants from other Negev desert populations, non-desert Israeli populations sampled along an aridity gradient, and accessions covering the entire species range. Our study included planting of inter-population hybrids under favorable and simulated desert experimental conditions, followed by analysis of their performance, variation in adaptive traits and relationship with climatic parameters at sampling locations. The combined results of parental phenotypic variation and performance of hybrids were consistent with local selection, reflecting the importance of both regional and local climates. The adaptive genetic differentiation of barley desert populations had a complex architecture. None of the three effects (additive, dominance and epistasis) were fully responsible for this differentiation. Although genetic effects not related to extrinsic selection appear to contribute to genetic differentiation in barley, epistatic effects arising from local selection clearly predominated. The short-term effect of gene flow by pollen was generally negative, indicating that a majority of the new allele combinations created by recombination were maladaptive. However, the long-term effect of occasional pollen flow from other desert populations appears to be positive, as some new recombined genotypes were superior in fitness to the maternal plants even in the F2 generation."

Abstract

This article honours the memory of the outstanding taxonomist and tireless researcher of the flora of Central Asia, Aleksei Ivanovich Vvedensky, the founder of the most extensive Central Asian herbarium collection, the author of monographic revisions in 'Flora of the USSR', the editor and author of the six volume edition of 'Flora of Uzbekistan', the 'Conspectus Florae Asiae Mediae', and various taxonomic publications Vvedensky described dozens of new genera and hundreds of new species of vascular plants from Central Asia.

Abstract

The goal of this paper was to review and illustrate the utility of SDM for solving conservation problems. Using real-world examples, I show a variety of uses for SDM, and then review the existing and potential applications of SDM for plant conservation in Central Asia. Central Asia is the region with a high number of endemic species that have narrow habitat specialization and very restricted ranges. Many of these species are red-listed and known from only a few or a single location. Any plans for their recovery must be based on the estimates of their area of occupancy and critical habitat, as well as the knowledge of their habitat requirements and potential range. SDM can be used for obtaining this information. The predicted ranges then can be used for species translocations, identification of biodiversity and endemism hotspots and reserve design. 

Abstract

Subgenus Allium is the largest group within the genus Allium (Amaryllidaceae) which detailed phylogenetic classification is still missing despite intensive phylogenetic research. Reconstruction of the subgenus phylogeny is impossible without proper coverage of the subgenus members representing Central Asia, one of the centers of genus (and subgenus) diversity. We sequenced whole chloroplast genomes of 10 species from subgenus Allium, mainly from Central Asia, which, together with 7 species available at NCBI provided us with a representative subgenus sampling for making inferences about the whole plastome-based phylogeny of subgenus Allium. The phylogenetic relationships among the representatives of subgenus Allium in our phylogenetic tree not only contradicted the current sectional classification within a subgenus, but even doubted the validity of the current subgenera recognized in genus Allium. The detected numerous mismatches between the species positions in the phylogenetic tree and the current species taxonomic position may suggest that the importance of the morphological traits used previously for defining sections in subgenus Allium needs reconsideration. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the studied genomes identified the genes ycf1, ndhF, rpoC2, matK and ndhD as the most variable regions (number of SNPs ? 30).

Abstract

In this study, 13 morphological characters in 32 species of Eremurus (Asphodelaceae) from Uzbekistan were examined and subjected to cladistic analysis. In the consensus tree, species from subgenus Eremurus clustered together, but did not form a distinct clade sister to Henningia. The subrotate flowers, tepals with one abaxial nerve, and short stamens were found to be ancestral character states in Eremurus. Based on the morphological traits analyzed, a new key to identify the species of Eremurus in Uzbekistan is provided. The main synonyms, nomenclatural types, descriptions, ecological data, distribution and photos are also given for each taxon. Eremurus korolkowii and E. baissunensis are considered nonsynonymous with E. anisopterus and E. luteus, respectively.

Abstract

Although the distribution of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan is well documented, there is no clear understanding of the importance of three classes of environmental variables, climate, soil type, and topography, as determinants of their distribution. We mapped the richness of Tulipa species in Uzbekistan, and conducted species distribution modeling to analyze the contribution of climate, soil type, and topography, to their predicted suitable ranges. The relationship between Tulipa species richness and altitude is best described by a hump-shaped curve, with a majority of the Tulipa species occurring at the altitude range of 700-2200 m. The climate was a major determinant of species distribution for the majority of the analyzed species, however, topography (slope angle and aspect) was equally or even more important for T. tschimganica, T. borszczowii, T. butkovii, T. carinata, T. affinis, T. micheliana, T. sogdiana and T. korolkowii. Soil was an important factor only for T. uzbekistanica, T. butkovii and T. lanata. The conservation implications of these results are discussed.

Abstract

The novel, phylogeny-based classification of Iris s.l. in the Mountains of Central Asia biodiversity hotspot has been developed. Fifty seven species are accepted and classified into 14 sections. The majority of accepted species (38) belong to the juno irises, which have a centre of their diversity in Central Asia and are represented by 2 sections; the largest I. sect. Juno is subdivided into 10 species groups, whereas I. sect. Physocaulon is subdivided into 2 subsections, each with 2 aggregates. The analysis of the geographical pattern of species richness revealed two areas of exceptionally high Iris species richness: Tian-Shan (14 species) and Hissar Mts. (21 species). A morphological description, sample photograph, geographical distribution, ecological data, point distribution maps, list of specimens and photographs examined, synonymy and nomenclatural type are provided for each species. A new identification key is compiled, based on morphology and phylogenetic relationships. Iris alberti Regel is reported for the first time from Uzbekistan. Four new combinations, Iris sect. Sclerosiphon (Nevski) Sennikov & F.O.Khass., I. subsect. Drepanophyllae (Rodion.) Sennikov, I. subsect. Rosenbachianae (Rodion.) Sennikov and I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov, are established. The name I. kopetdagensis Vved. is validated with a type and description in English. Iris suworowii Regel is restored as the priority name for I. lineata Foster. Iris popovii Vved. is treated as a synonym of I. baldshuanica O.Fedtsch. & B.Fedtsch., I. pskemensis Rukšāns as a synonym of I. kolpakowskiana Regel, I. hoogiana Dykes as a synonym of I. darwasica Regel, and Iridodictyum kopetdaghense Kurbanov is reduced to a synonym of Iris reticulata M.Bieb. Iris almaatensis Pavlov is removed from synonyms of I. subdecolorata Vved. and considered a yellow form of I. kuschakewiczii B.Fedtsch. The nomenclature of I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. parvula (Vved.) Sennikov and I. sogdiana Bunge is corrected. The names I. sect. Regelia (Foster) Foster, I. alberti Regel, I. bloudowii Ledeb., I. halophila Pall., I. hoogiana Dykes, I. lineata Foster, I. regelii Maxim. ex Regel, I. scariosa Willd. ex Link, I. sogdiana Bunge, I. stolonifera Maxim., I. suworowii Regel, I. tenuifolia Pall., I. tenuifolia var. thianschanica Maxim. ex Regel and I. vaga Foster are lectotypified, whereas I. suworowii is also epitypified.