Comparative Floristic Analysis for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Land Management in Central Asia's Arid Zones

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.