DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF THE GENUS COUSINIA (ASTERACEAE) IN IRAN

The geographical distribution of the genus Cousinia in Iran has been analyzed using a dataset of ۳۰۹۵ georeferenced observations. The ۲۴۱ species of the genus are distributed throughout Iran. However, about third of the observations are made from provinces like, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, and Fars. The genus has ۱۳۵ rare species and ۱۹۷ endemic species. The maximum distance between two observations of the same species, (MaxD) is ۱۸۶۳ kilometers. Razavi Khorasan, Lorestan, Esfahan, North Khorasan and Tehran have the highest number of rare species. Species richness was mapped with the point-to-grid richness analysis tool DIVA-GIS, using a ۱۰×۱۰ kilometer grid cell and the circular neighborhood option with a ۵۰ km radius. High species richness occurs in large area in North of Semnan province, Dena Mountains, Central Alborz, Lorestan province, NW Iran and also in Kopet Dagh Mountain in Khorasan where the hotspots for endemic species are located. Forty five ۰.۵o×۰.۵o grid cells are needed to capture all species at once, which have the most conservative importance for this group of plants.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cousinia ، Iran ، geographical distribution ، Species richness ، grid cell