This is a very important vegetation type in Central Asia, remaining in a dynamic relationship with broadleaf forests in fertile habitats, including walnut and apple woodland. On the basis of 120 phytosociological images, we were able to distinguish five plant communities, including those typical of wild apple tree occurrence Aflatunio ulmifoliae-Caraganetum. The main factors determining the species composition of the studied vegetation are altitude, average annual temperature and total annual precipitation. The presented research results fill a gap in the knowledge of the scrub vegetation of Tajikistan. Research in neighboring countries and focus on subalpine xerothermic scrub is another necessary to complete the knowledge of the classification of scrub vegetation of Central Asia.

Abstract

In this paper we propose the first syntaxonomic classification for the mesophilous scrub vegetation in Tajikistan with some remarks on their environmental variability. Methods: Altogether 120 relevés were sampled using the standard, seven-degree cover-abundance scale of Braun-Blanquet, in 2015-2021. They were classified by the modified TWINSPAN method using the four step interval scale with cutoff levels of 0%, 2%, 5% and 10% and total inertia as a measure of cluster heterogeneity. Diagnostic species were identified using the phi coefficient as a fidelity measure. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) was used to determine the relationship between the sampled plots, vegetation units and major gradients in species composition. Plant communities known so far as šhiblyak and including xeric and mesophilic shrublands seral or marginal to broad-leaved forests in the nemoral zone of the Irano-Turanian region are described herein. Numerical analyses of vegetation data allowed distinguishing five associations representing the Ranunculo tenuilobi-Cotoneasterion hissarici alliance. The new associations include: Eremuro comosi-Rhuidetum coriariae, Calophacetum grandiflorae, Fraxinetum raibocarpae, Pruno sogdianae-Crataegetum turkestanicae, Aflatunio ulmifoliae-Caraganetum turkestanicae. For the latter association, two habitat variants (with Ferula clematidifolia and Malus sieversii) are proposed. The main factors determining the species composition of the studied vegetation include elevation, mean annual temperature and sum of annual precipitation. The research results herein presented fill the gap in knowledge about the shrubland vegetation of Tajikistan. Studies in neighboring countries and a focus on subalpine scrubs in dry habitats are needed to complete the classification of shrubland vegetation of Middle Asia.

Cricket, S., Nobis, M., Nowak, S., Kotowski, M., Klichowska, E., Nobis, A., & Nowak, A. (2022). Syntaxonomy and ecology of mesophilous scrub vegetation in Tajikistan (Middle Asia). Phytocoenology. DOI: 10.1127/phyto/2022/0395

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2023-10-17 09:15:45