Abstract:
This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of the flora of Donyztau, Zheltau,
and the mountainous regions of Mangyshlak and Mugodzhar, situated within the arid
zone of Asia. The main objective was to understand the similarities and differences in the
floristic composition of these regions and their importance for biodiversity conservation.
Standard botanical and floristic methods were employed, including field surveys and the
analysis of herbarium specimens. Comparative floristic analysis was performed using the
Jaccard similarity coefficient to quantify floristic relationships among the regions. A total
of 312 species, representing a significant proportion of the group, are flowering plants.
The flora of Donyztau showed the greatest similarity with the mountain flora of
Mangyshlak, sharing 123 species, with a Jaccard coefficient of 0.21. The flora of
Mugodzhar and Zheltau showed the least similarity, sharing only 34 and 63 species with
Donyztau, respectively. These differences were attributed to variations in regional habitat
conditions and floristic composition. The study enabled the authors to outline a general
characterization of the previously unexplored flora of the Donyztau escarpment. Based
on the identified spectrum of biodiversity, further studies could be undertaken to explore
strategies for reducing aridity and enriching the regional flora.
