Showing 29 results for Iran
Saharnaz Rakizadeh, Farideh Attar, Arash Sotoodeh,
Volume 6, Issue 3 (10-2019)
Abstract
Achene morphology of 49 taxa of the genus Centaurea L. was studied in terms of 19 different characteristics. On the basis of the variation in these features, some sections, such as sect. Cyanus with hairy hilum, were separated. Despite various differences, C. leuzeoides and C. gilanica were categorized in the section Psephelloideae, a section with lots of character variations within its species. Also, C. albonitens has different characteristics in comparison with other taxa within section Phaeopappus, for example features such as pappus color and the ratio of pappus length to that of achene separated the species from other members of the section. The last but not the least, highly different characteristics were observed in the achene morphology of C. phlomoides as compared with other species in section Cynaroides. Differences such as short pappus and hilum length were found to separate C. phlomoides from other members of sect. Cynaroides. In conclusion, on the basis of the findings of this research, most achene morphological characteristics can be appropriately used as key features for the differentiation of sections in the genus Centaurea. An identification key based on the features of the achene, images related to the achene of the studied species were also presented
Behnam Hamzeh’ee, Mostafa Koshnevis, Parvaneh Ashouri, Vailolah Mozaffarian, Hooman Ravanbakhsh,
Volume 7, Issue 1 (4-2020)
Abstract
Fire affects vegetation and changes plant succession. In this paper, the vegetation of Sirachal Research Station, which burned in the summer of 2014, was studied and compared with the unburnt areas, based on biodiversity indices. The research was implemented as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design. First, on the basis of physiognomy, the area was divided into three parts: shrubland, shrubland-rangeland, and rangeland. Each part was, then, divided into two sections, including a burnt area and an adjacent unburnt area (control area). In each area (burnt and unburnt), three sampling units were randomly assigned using PNP method, and vegetation measurements were subsequently performed. Based on data analysis, a total of 141 taxa were identified, belonging to 28 families and 95 genera, including one species of Gymnosperm, 19 monocotyledons and 121 dicotyledons in two burnt and unburnt areas of Sirachal Station. Based on the statistical analysis, using Past3 and SPSS softwares, there was no significant difference in the number of taxa between the vegetation of the burnt and unburnt areas. Of the indicators analyzed in Past3, the number of individual, the index of Menhinick's richness and the Shannon diversity index were significantly different in the treatments sampled from the burnt and unburnt areas. According to the Duncan test average, the number of individuals in the unburnt area, with a canopy cover below 25%, was greater than that in the burnt area, with the same canopy cover, however, no significant difference was observed between the individuals in the burnt area and unburnt area, with the same canopy cover of more than 25%. Also, the richness of the burnt area with a canopy of less than 5% is significantly higher than that in the unburnt area with the same canopy cover.
Zeinab Ghaedi, Reyhaneh Saberipirouz, Elham Ebrahimi, Sahar Badri, Faraham Ahmadzadeh,
Volume 7, Issue 2 (7-2020)
Abstract
There are different methods to investigate the effects of climatic fluctuations on the biota, two of which, molecular phylogeography and SDM, are the most useful tools to trace the past climate induced modifications on species’ geographic distributions. In this study, seven samples were collected from the species distribution range in Iran for the purpose of measuring the genetic variation within the Iranian spiny-tailed lizards, using cytochrome b. SDM was carried out by 41 presence points and bioclimatic variables for the present and future climatic conditions (by the year 2050), employing the statistical package ‘sdm’ in order to implement the ensemble model. The results of genetic analyses revealed that the specimens from Bastak in Hormozgan Province are distinguishable from all other specimens. Haplotype diversity was calculated as 0.8. The haplotype network illustrated that the central haplotype is located in the central Iranian Plateau. Moreover, the ensemble model predicted that, while the suitable habitats of this species were found to be in the south of Iran and the Iranian Central Plateau in the present climatic conditions, there will be a decrease in the extent of these patches and Baluchistan will be added as a suitable habitat in 2050. Generally, both genetic studies and modeling predictions suggested that the western and southern specimens (Bastak in Hormozgan) were divided according to the separation of their habitats. In addition, based on modeling scenarios in the future, the optimal habitat for the species is located in the central haplotype area.
Bijan Esmaeilnejad, Jamal Gharekhani, Awat Samiei, Hadi Rezaei,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (11-2020)
Abstract
Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii and is transmitted by more than 40 tick species. This study aimed to identify the tick species in goats of Meshkin-Shahr, Ardabil Province, Iran, and their role in the transmission of C. burnetii. A number of 365 goats were inspected for the infestation of hard ticks in a randomized sampling design, during a 1-year period from April 2013 to April 2014. A total number of 280 tick specimens were collected and identified and were then examined by molecular methods for the presence of C. burnetii infection. 40.8% of the infected animals had at least one species of tick. The goats which were studied were found to be infested by the following tick species: Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum (33.9%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (22.1%), Rhipicephalus turanicus (17.1%), Hyalomma excavatum (11.1%), Rhipicephalus bursa (5%), Hyalomma detritum (3.9%), Hyalomma dromedarii (3.6%), Hyalomma asiaticum asiaticum (1.8%), and Hyalomma marginatum (1%). There were no significant differences between the infestation rate in different seasons, genders and ages of the animals which were studied (p=0.05). The molecular assay of 280 tick specimens revealed the presence of C. burnetii infection in 5 out of 40 pool samples (6-8 tick individuals of the same species in each pool), including H. anatolicum anatolicum (3 pools), H. excavatum (1 pool) and R. sanguineus (1 pool). The present study, therefore, reports the rate of C. burnetii infection transmitted by hard ticks in North-West of Iran for the first time. According to the zoonotic aspect of Q fever, further studies on the carriers as well as other hosts of the infection were found to be necessary.
Roghaieh Zarei, Mahvash Seifali,
Volume 7, Issue 3 (11-2020)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the variations among cephalic plates of individuals in two populations of Clinopodes flavidus in Alborz Mountains, by means of landmark-based techniques of geometric morphometrics. Therefore, 17 landmarks and semi-landmarks on the coxosternite of poison claw and seven landmarks and semi-landmarks on the tarsangulum of poison claw were selected using TpsDig2 software. Data of landmarks, after procrust analysis, were subjected to various multivariate analyses, such as Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) by means of PAST and MorphoJ softwares. The results obtained demonstrated that shape variations in coxosternite were significantly different among various populations (p<0.001). This study revealed the usefulness of landmark-based geometric morphometrics in the differentiation of various populations of Clinopodes flavidus in Alborz Mountains.
Kamran Almasieh, Kazem Negaresh, Mohammad Mahmoodi,
Volume 8, Issue 2 (7-2021)
Abstract
Centaurea glastifolia, a plant species from the Asteraceae family, is distributed in the Northwest of Iran. This study carried out to determine suitable habitats and habitat connectivity of Centaurea glastifolia in three Provinces of West Azarbayejan, East Azarbayejan and Ardabil. Seven habitat variables and 36 presence points were selected for habitat modelling using six habitat distribution models of GLM, GAM, MARS, MaxEnt, RF and GBM. The ensemble map resulting from these models was used for habitat connectivity modelling using electrical-circuit method. Results of habitat evaluation revealed that suitable habitats of the species studied were mainly located in West Azarbayejan and east of Ardabil Provinces, for which distance from agricultural lands, mean annual temperature and distance from rangelands had the highest contribution to the model. Habitat connectivity modelling showed that the current density movement was highest in West Azarbayejan. Current density movement between East and Southeast of Ardabil was evaluated to be significant, whereas the current density movement between West Azarbayejan and Ardabil Provinces was relatively low. The high current density movement in West Azarbayejan indicates the species’ high dispersal ability in expanding its range across the area. The results of the current study could facilitate understanding of the distribution and dispersal of Centaurea glastifolia.
Farideh Attar, Hossein Maroofi, Mansour Mirtadzadini, Arash Sotoodeh,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Two new species of Cousinia are described from Iran. Cousinia bornmulleriana from the west that can be placed in sect. Haussknechtii based on some key characters such as flower numbers, phyllary numbers and the inflorescence form traits. This species can be also compared with its closest relative C. haussknechtii. and C. karkasensis. The second new species, C. semnanensis, from North East of Iran, belongs to the sect. Stenocephalae for its flower numbers, winged stem, and phyllaries shape, and is compared to C. alexeenkoana and C. glaucopsis as its close relative. Natural photos and distribution maps are presented.
Mahmoud Bidarlord, Mohamad Dehdar Dargahi, Adel Jalili,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (6-2023)
Abstract
Solanum chenopodioides is introduced here as a new record for the flora of Iran from the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, Guilan province. This species grows in Bujagh National Land-Sea Park, on sand dunes, along with other coastal psammophytic plants. This species belongs to the Morelloid clade. It differs from the related species S. nigrum, by its shrubby nature, perfect leaves margin, dull berries, bi-colored petals in the middle, and peduncle that bends a bit downwards in fruit. This plant is native to southern South America. It is introduced as a common weed all over the world; in addition, this species is considered an alien species for the flora of Iran. Transit of goods, especially wool, to the different parts of the world is one of the ways of the spread of this species all over the world. In addition to providing some pictures of the plant, some notes about the distribution and ecology of this species were also provided in this paper. The numerous reports of alien species from Bujagh National Park in recent years could be regarded as a credible warning for the stability of native vegetation of the area and existing ecosystems.
Dr. Fatemeh Rabizadeh, Dr. Farzane Bahadori,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (8-2024)
Abstract
Iran, having about 79 species of the genus Lamiaceae, is one of the regions of origin of this genus. About 77% of the identified species of the mentioned genus in Iran have been registered as exclusive species. There is an Iranian Nepeta species, which was previously taken as a separate species in botanical reference sources, but has been reclassified as a variety of Nepeta kotschyi in the flora of Iran (Jamzad, 2012). In this research, the correctness of the taxonomic position of these two species by examining their various morphological and micromorphological traits such as plant height, leaf size, canopy, type of hairs and nuts, using stereo electron microscope (SEM) photos and SPSS statistical studies. The results of morphological and microstructural studies of the two species N. persica and N. kotschyi showed that there is a significant difference in the characteristics such as the shape of the leaf, the hairs of its apertures and also the height of the two species. Although these differences in the size and shape of the seeds were not clearly observed, in this study, both N. kotschyi and N. persica species had reticulated nuts with papilus. Also, the appearance of the long hairs on the leaves of the two species is completely different. The hairs in N. persica species have papilus, but the hairs in N. persica species have a smooth surface. Therefore, it was suggested that the two species are independent.
