Analysis of the flora of Dagestan: 2. Geographical structure

For the flora of Dagestan, 27 groups of geographical elements have been identified, which are combined into 6 classes. The most numerous is the class of Ancient Mediterranean species, which make up almost 60% of the flora of Dagestan (2072 species). In second place in terms of the number of species is the class of Common Holarctic species, which makes up almost 20% of the flora. The class of Boreal species, to which 454 species belong, makes up 12.98%. This is followed by Linking species (158 species) with 4.51%.

In the floristic regions located on the flat part of the republic, the proportion of the class of Ancient Mediterranean species is less compared to all other regions and ranges from 39–41%. In the strip of the upper foothills, where three floristic regions are located (Kazb., Buin. and Kait.-Tab.), the proportion of species of this class increases markedly and ranges from 45–48%. In the mountainous part, the proportion of species belonging to this class increases even more, and ranges from 58 to 64% in different areas.

The second place in terms of the number of species in all regions is occupied by the class of the General Holarctic species, with the exception of the Tersko-Kumskii, where they are inferior to the Boreal species. Their shares in floristic regions fluctuate to a lesser extent, in contrast to the previous class. In low-lying areas, their share fluctuates mainly within the range of 26–29%, with the exception of the Tersko-Kumskii, where they make up 19.76%. In the strip of the upper foothills for all three floristic regions (Kazb., Buin., Kait.-Tab.), the share of the General Holarctic species is almost the same and ranges from 30–32%, which is the maximum value compared to other regions. In the remaining 5 floristic regions located in the mountainous part, the share of the Common Holarctic species in the floras somewhat decreases and varies within 23–28%.

The class of Boreal species also dominates for the most part in the floras of areas located in the lowland and foothill zones. The largest proportion of these species is observed in the flora of the Tersko-Kumskii lowland, where they account for more than 30%. The second place in terms of the share of these species is occupied by the Tersko-Sulakskii district with 20.3%. In the Primorskii district and in the areas located in the Piedmont zone (Predg., Kazb., Buyn., Kait-Tab.), the proportion of Boreal species in the floras is almost the same and ranges from 13–15%. In the Samurskii floristic region and in all 5 regions located in the mountainous part, the proportion of Boreal species in the floras decreases even more. So, in Sam., Akht.-Kur. and Centr.-Dag. their shares do not reach 

10%, in the districts of Dikl.-Dyult. and Bezht.-Did. boreal species make up about 8%, and in the Transsamurskii floristic region they are the least — 6.33%.

The class of Connecting species has a large share in the floras of floristic regions located on the lowlands and in the foothill zone, while their maximum values (more than 6%) are in the foothills and the Samurskii region, with the exception of the Kaitago-Tabasaranskii region, where they make up 4.39%. In the floristic regions located in the mountainous part, their share in the flora decreases even more and fluctuates within 2–3%.

Widely distributed species generally play an insignificant role in the floras of the regions, but they are more pronounced in the lowlands. Thus, the proportions of these species have the maximum value in the Primorskii floristic region, where they make up 6.31%, slightly less in the flora of the Samurskii region (5.4%) and even less in the Tersko-Sulakskii region — 4.5%, and in the Terek-Kumskii they are the least among the lowland regions — 3.23%. In all other regions, their share in the floras is almost the same, and it is insignificant, ranging from 1.5–2%.

Approximately the same regularity in terms of the value of the share in the floras is also characteristic of Adventive species. Their maximum share is noted in the Primorskii floristic region, where they amount to 5.61%. In second place is the Tersko-Sulakskii district, for which they account for 2.65%, and then the Samurskii district with 2%. In all other floristic regions, the proportions of these species in the floras are commensurate and insignificant, and fluctuate within 0.5–1%.

In addition, a brief description of each region is given by the value of the share of participation in the composition of the flora of individual geographical elements and the features of the flora of each of them are noted, as well as an analysis of groups of individual geographical elements with the identification of patterns of their distribution in the floristic regions of Dagestan. 

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