Alpine floristic diversity of Tochal Mountains

In recent decades, the synergistic effects of climate change and anthropogenic activities have placed numerous plant species, particularly those inhabiting alpine and subalpine zones, as well as endemic and rare taxa, under significant threat of extinction. Safeguarding these species requires detailed habitat investigations and the establishment of long-term monitoring programs to mitigate genetic erosion and biodiversity loss. The present study focuses on the alpine flora of the Tochal Mountains, where plant collections conducted in ۲۰۲۲-۲۰۲۳ documented ۲۲۵ taxa across ۱۳۲ genera and ۳۴ families. The most prominent families included Asteraceae (۱۷.۳%), Fabaceae and Poaceae (۱۰.۲% each), Brassicaceae (۸.۵%), Caryophyllaceae (۷.۱%), and Lamiaceae (۶.۲%). Analysis of life-form composition revealed hemicryptophytes (۴۴.۴%), cryptophytes (۲۴.۴%), and chamaephytes (۱۹.۶%) as the dominant categories. Of these, ۱۸۷ (۸۳.۱%) were restricted to the Irano-Turanian region, comprising ۵۱ endemic and ۱۷ regional endemic taxa in Iran. However, intensive human pressures, including overgrazing, infrastructure development such as cable cars and ski facilities, expansion of resorts and residential complexes, construction of shelters, and the establishment of mountaineering routes, combined with prolonged drought conditions, have inflicted severe and often irreversible damage on the vegetation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alborz mountains ، alpine ecosystem ، Climate change ، elevational gradient ، genetic resources