Aq-dagh, a protected area with a unique species and habitat diversity in the south of Ardabil province

Document Type : Over looking Iranian Nature

Author

Assistant Prof., Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, AREEO, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

The Aq-dagh protected area is located in the south of Ardabil province. Geographic location, proximity to the Irano-Turanian and Hyrcanian regions, topography, altitude variation from 560 to 3332 meters above sea level, and edaphic diversity have led to the formation of a unique combination of habitats in this area. A high diversity of plant species is found in various habitats such as alpine, semi-alpine, steppe and wetlands. Due to the multiple exploitation in mountainous and lowland regions, a number of destructive habitats are also observed close to the steppe and shrub habitats. This area is the habitat of endemic and rare species, some of which, like Hedysarum persicum, have only been reported in this area. The fauna diversity of this region is also high with a variety of species such as Bezoar Goat and Persian leopard. The conservation of this natural reserve requires a program and a comprehensive management.

Keywords

References

- Akhani, H., Djamali, M., Ghorbanalizadeh, A., & Ramezani, E. (2010). Plant biodiversity of Hyrcanian relict forests, N Iran: an overview of the flora, vegetation, palaeoecology and conservation. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 42(Special Issue), 231-258.
 - Ahmadzadeh, F., Kiabi, B.H., Kami, H.G. & Hojjati, V. (2008). A preliminary study of the lizard fauna and their habitats in Northwestern Iran. Asiatic Herpetological Research, 11: 1-9.
- Björk, R.G. & Molau, U. (2007). Ecology of alpine snowbeds and the impact of global change. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, 39(1): 34-43.
- Dudley, N., & Stolton, S. (2008). Defining protected areas: an international conference in Almeria, Spain. IUCN, Gland.
- Kolahi, M., Sakai, T., Moriya, K. & Makhdoum, M.F. (2012). Challenges to the future development of  Iran’s protected areas system. Environmental management, 50(4): 750-765.
- Geological Map of Iran, National Geoscience Database of Iran, 2018, www.ngdir.ir
- Kürschner, H. (1986). The subalpine thorn-cushion formations of western South-West Asia: ecology, structure and zonation. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences, 89: 169-179.
- Naderi, G., Riazi, B., Aref, N., Khalatbari, M., Mohammadi, S., Lahoot, M. & Kamran, M. (2013). Habitat preferences of Bezoar wild goats (Capra aegagrus) in Agh-Dagh protected area, Iran. North-Western Journal of Zoology, 9(1): 99-102.
- Noroozi, J., Akhani, H., & Breckle, S. W. (2008). Biodiversity and phytogeography of the alpine flora of Iran. Biodiversity and Conservation, 17(3), 493-521.
- Zohary, M. 1973. Geobotanical foundations of the Middle East. Vols 1–2. Gustav Fischer Verlag.
Iran Nature
Volume 4, Issue 2 - Serial Number 15
May and June 2019
Pages 91-99

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics