Ambient Science: Click the Volume and issue number for Complete Article

Location where to get the Complete Article --> Ambient Science: Vol 3, No 2 (2016): 75-79

ISSN- 2348-5191 (Print version); 2348-8980 (Online)

Effect of Glacial Retreat on Floral Distribution and/or Displacement in Khersan Glacier, Central Alborz Mountain range, Iran



Kourosh Kavousi, Taher Nejadsattari, Yunes Asri, Hamid Ejtehadi, Ramezan ali Khavari-Nejad

Abstract

During past few decades, worldwide various ecological alterations have been experienced after treat and decreasing of glaciers. Notable changes have been traced in Khersan glacier, Central Alborz of Iran by monitoring since 2013 to 2015. According to our studies, Khersan glacier surface reduced since 1991 and this significant reduction led to many ecological alterations. Species elimination close to the glacier, displacement of various flora from sub-Alpine to Alpine and Nival area including changes in floral frequency are notable alterations taken during glacier retreat. A large number of studies in Khersan glacier area since last two centuries have evidenced complete elimination of 6 plant species. Displacement of 16 plant species during recent years revealed that such species after retreat either found a new location for the establishment or got eliminated. Besides natural changes, the glacier area was also affected by man-made developments. Perhaps new condition puts many plant species in conservation level which need proper care programs. In this study multidimensional scaling model (MDS) is used to show the Nival areas where species are under much stress. Proper evidence has been tried to put forward for describing such changes..


References

  • Bornmuller, J. (1906): Beitrage zur Flora der Elburzgebirge Nord-Persiens. Bull Herb Boiss. Geneve. 6: 605-620,765-780.
  • Breckle, S.W.(2007): Flora and vegetation of Afghanistan. Basic Appl. Dryland Res., 1 (2): 155-194.
  • Cannone, N., Diolaiuti, G., Guglielmin, M. & Smiraglia, C. (2008): Accelerating climate change impact on Alpine glacier Forefield ecosystems in the European Alps. Ecol. Appl., 18 (3): 637-648.
  • Erschbamer, B., Unterluggauer, P., Winkler, E. & Mallaun, M. (2011): Changes in plant species diversity revealed by long-term monitoring on mountain summits in the Dolomites (northern Italy). Preslia, 83: 387-401.
  • Ghelichnia, H.(2014): Flora and vegetation of Mt. Damavand in Iran. Phytologia Balcanica, 20(2-3): 257-265.
  • Gottfried, M. (2006): Changing vegetation pattern sat the Alpine-Nival ecotone: Recent results from a GLORIA mastersitein the Central Alps. Austrian Academy of Sciences and University of Vienna, Vienna.
  • IUCN.(2001): IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, Version 3.1. Prepared by the IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, United Kingdom.
  • Kotschy, T. (1861a): Die Vegetation des westlichen Elbrus in Nordpersien. Osterr Bot Zeitschr, 11(4): 105-117.
  • Kotschy, T. (1861b): Der westliche Elbrus bei Teheran. Mitt. der K. K. Oester Geogr Gesell Wien, 5: 65-110.
  • Komarov, V.L. (1939): Flora of USSR, Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R. Izdatel'stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR Moskva-Leningrad. 8: 276-237.
  • Klein, J.K. (1982): Les groupments chinphilesde l' Alborz central (Iran). Comparasion avec lears homologues d' Asia centrale. Phytocoenologia, 10:463-485.
  • Melchior, H. (1937): Zur pflanzengeographie ddes Elburs-Gebirges in Nord-Iran. Sber Ges Naturf Freunde Berl., 1937: 55-71.
  • Mizuno, K. (2005): Vegetation succession in relation to glacial fluctuation in the high mountains of Africa. African Stud Monogr Suppl., 30: 195-212.
  • Rechinger, K.H. (ed) (1963-2010): Flora Iranica, vols 1-178. Akad. Druck-u. Verlagsanstalt Graz.
  • Sharpe, C., Grant, L. & Domes, K. (2008): Plant Community Analysis and Dating of the Asulkan Glacier, A study of plant community succession over time in a glacial forefield,.Department of geography , University of Victoria.

  • DOI:10.21276/ambi.2016.03.2.ra05


    Creative Commons License


    This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
    Published by: National Cave Research and Protection Organization, India

    <Environmental Science+Zoology+Geology+Cave Science>AMBIENT SCIENCE