Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus

Shamil Shetekauri; Lali Kutateladze

doi:doi:10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus

Shamil Shetekauri, Lali Kutateladze

Published in Earth Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 5-1)

Received: 14 June 2017 Accepted: 19 June 2017 Published: 17 July 2017

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Abstract

The paper considers diversity, systematic-geographical, ecotopologic (biotopologic) structure and peculiarities of hypsometric distribution of the endemic flora in the high-mountain phytolandscapes in the western (Abkhazia, Samegrelo), central (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli, Khevi) and eastern (Khevsureti, Tusheti, Mountainous Kakheti) parts of the Eucaucasus (Caucasus Mountains). Endemic calciphilous flora is especially characteristic of limestone lithological areas, which within the borders of Georgia are met only in Abkhazia, Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi, whereas diversity of endemic flora of argillaceous slate and marly habitats is observed in Tusheti and Pirikita Khevsureti (the gorges of the rivers Pirikita, Gometsari Alazani and Arghuni-Andaki-Asa). These habitats are nowhere else met within the boundaries of Georgia. It should be noted that in the florogenesis of the high mountain endemism a significant role was played by orogenesis processes of the Caucasus, which was caused due to extinction of ancestral species at lower altitudes and resulted in their geographical isolation. This is proved by geographical and hypsometric vicarism of some species of generas Campanula, Cerastium, Silene, Erysimum, Pedicularis, Delphinium, and Jurinea. The western, central and eastern parts of the Caucasus are floristically different not only from each other, but also from neighboring mountain massifs. The above mentioned is conditioned by distinct geographic isolation of the mountain system of the Caucasus, different altitudes, petrology, and glaciogenic relief. Floristically, slate screes and rocky habitats are most diverse. The endemic species are unequally distributed in different mountain systems and phytolandscapes of the Eucaucasus. It again indicates to the significance of the phenomenon of the well expressed geographical isolation of the Caucasus Mountains.

Published in	Earth Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 5-1) This article belongs to the Special Issue New Challenge for Geography: Landscape Dimensions of Sustainable Development
DOI	10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
Page(s)	38-48
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Caucasus, Endemism, Geographical Isolation, Hypsometric Distribution, Glaciation

References

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Shamil Shetekauri, Lali Kutateladze. (2017). Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sciences, 6(5-1), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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ACS Style

Shamil Shetekauri; Lali Kutateladze. Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sci. 2017, 6(5-1), 38-48. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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AMA Style

Shamil Shetekauri, Lali Kutateladze. Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sci. 2017;6(5-1):38-48. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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@article{10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16,
  author = {Shamil Shetekauri and Lali Kutateladze},
  title = {Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus},
  journal = {Earth Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5-1},
  pages = {38-48},
  doi = {10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  abstract = {The paper considers diversity, systematic-geographical, ecotopologic (biotopologic) structure and peculiarities of hypsometric distribution of the endemic flora in the high-mountain phytolandscapes in the western (Abkhazia, Samegrelo), central (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli, Khevi) and eastern (Khevsureti, Tusheti, Mountainous Kakheti) parts of the Eucaucasus (Caucasus Mountains). Endemic calciphilous flora is especially characteristic of limestone lithological areas, which within the borders of Georgia are met only in Abkhazia, Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi, whereas diversity of endemic flora of argillaceous slate and marly habitats is observed in Tusheti and Pirikita Khevsureti (the gorges of the rivers Pirikita, Gometsari Alazani and Arghuni-Andaki-Asa). These habitats are nowhere else met within the boundaries of Georgia. It should be noted that in the florogenesis of the high mountain endemism a significant role was played by orogenesis processes of the Caucasus, which was caused due to extinction of ancestral species at lower altitudes and resulted in their geographical isolation. This is proved by geographical and hypsometric vicarism of some species of generas Campanula, Cerastium, Silene, Erysimum, Pedicularis, Delphinium, and Jurinea. The western, central and eastern parts of the Caucasus are floristically different not only from each other, but also from neighboring mountain massifs. The above mentioned is conditioned by distinct geographic isolation of the mountain system of the Caucasus, different altitudes, petrology, and glaciogenic relief. Floristically, slate screes and rocky habitats are most diverse. The endemic species are unequally distributed in different mountain systems and phytolandscapes of the Eucaucasus. It again indicates to the significance of the phenomenon of the well expressed geographical isolation of the Caucasus Mountains.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus
AU  - Shamil Shetekauri
AU  - Lali Kutateladze
Y1  - 2017/07/17
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
T2  - Earth Sciences
JF  - Earth Sciences
JO  - Earth Sciences
SP  - 38
EP  - 48
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5982
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
AB  - The paper considers diversity, systematic-geographical, ecotopologic (biotopologic) structure and peculiarities of hypsometric distribution of the endemic flora in the high-mountain phytolandscapes in the western (Abkhazia, Samegrelo), central (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli, Khevi) and eastern (Khevsureti, Tusheti, Mountainous Kakheti) parts of the Eucaucasus (Caucasus Mountains). Endemic calciphilous flora is especially characteristic of limestone lithological areas, which within the borders of Georgia are met only in Abkhazia, Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi, whereas diversity of endemic flora of argillaceous slate and marly habitats is observed in Tusheti and Pirikita Khevsureti (the gorges of the rivers Pirikita, Gometsari Alazani and Arghuni-Andaki-Asa). These habitats are nowhere else met within the boundaries of Georgia. It should be noted that in the florogenesis of the high mountain endemism a significant role was played by orogenesis processes of the Caucasus, which was caused due to extinction of ancestral species at lower altitudes and resulted in their geographical isolation. This is proved by geographical and hypsometric vicarism of some species of generas Campanula, Cerastium, Silene, Erysimum, Pedicularis, Delphinium, and Jurinea. The western, central and eastern parts of the Caucasus are floristically different not only from each other, but also from neighboring mountain massifs. The above mentioned is conditioned by distinct geographic isolation of the mountain system of the Caucasus, different altitudes, petrology, and glaciogenic relief. Floristically, slate screes and rocky habitats are most diverse. The endemic species are unequally distributed in different mountain systems and phytolandscapes of the Eucaucasus. It again indicates to the significance of the phenomenon of the well expressed geographical isolation of the Caucasus Mountains.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5-1
ER  -

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Author Information

Shamil Shetekauri

Department of Biology, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Ivane Javakishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Lali Kutateladze

Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Department of Geography, Ivane Javakishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

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Shamil Shetekauri, Lali Kutateladze. (2017). Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sciences, 6(5-1), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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ACS Style

Shamil Shetekauri; Lali Kutateladze. Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sci. 2017, 6(5-1), 38-48. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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AMA Style

Shamil Shetekauri, Lali Kutateladze. Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus. Earth Sci. 2017;6(5-1):38-48. doi: 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16

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@article{10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16,
  author = {Shamil Shetekauri and Lali Kutateladze},
  title = {Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus},
  journal = {Earth Sciences},
  volume = {6},
  number = {5-1},
  pages = {38-48},
  doi = {10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.earth.s.2017060501.16},
  abstract = {The paper considers diversity, systematic-geographical, ecotopologic (biotopologic) structure and peculiarities of hypsometric distribution of the endemic flora in the high-mountain phytolandscapes in the western (Abkhazia, Samegrelo), central (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli, Khevi) and eastern (Khevsureti, Tusheti, Mountainous Kakheti) parts of the Eucaucasus (Caucasus Mountains). Endemic calciphilous flora is especially characteristic of limestone lithological areas, which within the borders of Georgia are met only in Abkhazia, Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi, whereas diversity of endemic flora of argillaceous slate and marly habitats is observed in Tusheti and Pirikita Khevsureti (the gorges of the rivers Pirikita, Gometsari Alazani and Arghuni-Andaki-Asa). These habitats are nowhere else met within the boundaries of Georgia. It should be noted that in the florogenesis of the high mountain endemism a significant role was played by orogenesis processes of the Caucasus, which was caused due to extinction of ancestral species at lower altitudes and resulted in their geographical isolation. This is proved by geographical and hypsometric vicarism of some species of generas Campanula, Cerastium, Silene, Erysimum, Pedicularis, Delphinium, and Jurinea. The western, central and eastern parts of the Caucasus are floristically different not only from each other, but also from neighboring mountain massifs. The above mentioned is conditioned by distinct geographic isolation of the mountain system of the Caucasus, different altitudes, petrology, and glaciogenic relief. Floristically, slate screes and rocky habitats are most diverse. The endemic species are unequally distributed in different mountain systems and phytolandscapes of the Eucaucasus. It again indicates to the significance of the phenomenon of the well expressed geographical isolation of the Caucasus Mountains.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Diversity, Ecotopology and Hypsometric Distribution of the Endemic Flora in High- Mountain Phytolandscapes of the Caucasus
AU  - Shamil Shetekauri
AU  - Lali Kutateladze
Y1  - 2017/07/17
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
T2  - Earth Sciences
JF  - Earth Sciences
JO  - Earth Sciences
SP  - 38
EP  - 48
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5982
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.earth.s.2017060501.16
AB  - The paper considers diversity, systematic-geographical, ecotopologic (biotopologic) structure and peculiarities of hypsometric distribution of the endemic flora in the high-mountain phytolandscapes in the western (Abkhazia, Samegrelo), central (Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Shida Kartli, Khevi) and eastern (Khevsureti, Tusheti, Mountainous Kakheti) parts of the Eucaucasus (Caucasus Mountains). Endemic calciphilous flora is especially characteristic of limestone lithological areas, which within the borders of Georgia are met only in Abkhazia, Samegrelo and Racha-Lechkhumi, whereas diversity of endemic flora of argillaceous slate and marly habitats is observed in Tusheti and Pirikita Khevsureti (the gorges of the rivers Pirikita, Gometsari Alazani and Arghuni-Andaki-Asa). These habitats are nowhere else met within the boundaries of Georgia. It should be noted that in the florogenesis of the high mountain endemism a significant role was played by orogenesis processes of the Caucasus, which was caused due to extinction of ancestral species at lower altitudes and resulted in their geographical isolation. This is proved by geographical and hypsometric vicarism of some species of generas Campanula, Cerastium, Silene, Erysimum, Pedicularis, Delphinium, and Jurinea. The western, central and eastern parts of the Caucasus are floristically different not only from each other, but also from neighboring mountain massifs. The above mentioned is conditioned by distinct geographic isolation of the mountain system of the Caucasus, different altitudes, petrology, and glaciogenic relief. Floristically, slate screes and rocky habitats are most diverse. The endemic species are unequally distributed in different mountain systems and phytolandscapes of the Eucaucasus. It again indicates to the significance of the phenomenon of the well expressed geographical isolation of the Caucasus Mountains.
VL  - 6
IS  - 5-1
ER  -

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