<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<bold>Aims</bold>: To complete the syntaxonomic conspectus of the vegetation of Tajikistan, hot semi-deserts and ruderal vegetation, mainly of the lowlands and montane belt, were surveyed with some remarks on their environmental predictors. <bold>Location</bold>: Tajikistan.
<bold>Methods</bold>: A total of 143 relevés were sampled in 2022 using the seven degree cover-abundance scale of Braun-Blanquet. All these samples were classified by unsupervised k-means analysis with cut-offs of 0%, 5%, 25% and Hellinger transformation. Diagnostic species were identified using the <italic>phi</italic> coefficient as a measure of fidelity. Non-metric multidimentional scaling analysis was used to show the relationship between groups in the dataset with passively plotted environmental variables, to identify the influence of key environmental factors.
<bold>Results</bold>: Four new associations - <italic>Artemisio annuae-Dittrichietum graveolens</italic>, <italic>Eminio albertii-Haloxyletum persici</italic>, <italic>Leptalaeo filifolii-Calligonetum grisei</italic> and <italic>Clematidi songaricae-Ephedretum intermediae</italic> were coined. In addition, two vegetation types already known from Eastern Europe were found: <italic>Sagino procumbentis-Bryetum argentei</italic> and <italic>Amarantho blitoidis</italic>-<italic>Tribuletum terrestris</italic>. Three plant communities were additionally identified: <italic>Alhagi kirghizorum-Chrozophora tinctoria</italic>, <italic>Halimocnemis hispida-Microcephala lamellata</italic> and <italic>Salsola montana</italic>-<italic>Halogeton glomeratus</italic>. A new alliance (<italic>Carici physodes-Haloxylion persici</italic>) was proposed for the hot semi-desert shrublands of the Irano-Turanian region, and for the vegetation of large rocky outcrops, screes and badlands in the subhumid zone of Pamir-Alai, the alliance of <italic>Ephedro intermediae-Spiraeion baldschuanicae</italic> was proposed. The main factors responsible for the species composition of the studied vegetation are altitude, mean annual temperature and annual precipitation.
<bold>Conclusions</bold>: The dryland and ruderal vegetation of Tajikistan as in the whole arid Middle Asia is species rich and diverse, and deserves further detailed studies. Our research provides a first insight into this anthropogenic and natural vegetation of lowland, warm and often deserted areas, which are undergoing strong changes due to climate warming, grazing and urbanisation.
</abstract>

Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic conspectus of the vegetation of Tajikistan, hot semi-deserts and ruderal vegetation, mainly of the lowlands and montane belt, were surveyed with some remarks on their environmental predictors. Location: Tajikistan.
Methods: A total of 143 relevés were sampled in 2022 using the seven degree cover-abundance scale of Braun-Blanquet. All these samples were classified by unsupervised k-means analysis with cut-offs of 0%, 5%, 25% and Hellinger transformation. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a measure of fidelity. Non-metric multidimentional scaling analysis was used to show the relationship between groups in the dataset with passively plotted environmental variables, to identify the influence of key environmental factors.
Results: Four new associations - Artemisio annuae-Dittrichietum graveolens, Eminio albertii-Haloxyletum persici, Leptalaeo filifolii-Calligonetum grisei and Clematidi songaricae-Ephedretum intermediae were coined. In addition, two vegetation types already known from Eastern Europe were found: Sagino procumbentis-Bryetum argentei and Amarantho blitoidis-Tribuletum terrestris. Three plant communities were additionally identified: Alhagi kirghizorum-Chrozophora tinctoria, Halimocnemis hispida-Microcephala lamellata and Salsola montana-Halogeton glomeratus. A new alliance (Carici physodes-Haloxylion persici) was proposed for the hot semi-desert shrublands of the Irano-Turanian region, and for the vegetation of large rocky outcrops, screes and badlands in the subhumid zone of Pamir-Alai, the alliance of Ephedro intermediae-Spiraeion baldschuanicae was proposed. The main factors responsible for the species composition of the studied vegetation are altitude, mean annual temperature and annual precipitation.
Conclusions: The dryland and ruderal vegetation of Tajikistan as in the whole arid Middle Asia is species rich and diverse, and deserves further detailed studies. Our research provides a first insight into this anthropogenic and natural vegetation of lowland, warm and often deserted areas, which are undergoing strong changes due to climate warming, grazing and urbanisation.

Vegetation of hot semi-deserts, badlands and related ruderal vegetation in western Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

Prawdziwka 2, 02-973 Warszawa, Poland & Botanical Garden of the Wrocław University

Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Department of Taxonomy, Phytogeography and Palaeobotany

Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University

Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Aims: To complete the syntaxonomic conspectus of the vegetation of Tajikistan, hot semi-deserts and ruderal vegetation, mainly of the lowlands and montane...

Vegetation of hot semi-deserts, badlands and related ruderal vegetation in western Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

Published Online: May 30, 2024

Page range: 40 - 68

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2024-0005

Keywords
semi-deserts, subtropical vegetation, Pamir-Alai, syntaxonomy, plant communities, Middle Asia

© 2024 Arkadiusz Nowak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Vegetation of hot semi-deserts, badlands and related ruderal vegetation in western Tajikistan (Middle Asia)

Published Online: May 30, 2024

Page range: 40 - 68

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2024-0005

Keywordssemi-deserts, subtropical vegetation, Pamir-Alai, syntaxonomy, plant communities, Middle Asia

© 2024 Arkadiusz Nowak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
semi-deserts, subtropical vegetation, Pamir-Alai, syntaxonomy, plant communities, Middle Asia