Supplementary Files
Keywords
grid-based mapping
species richness
tugai ecosystems
Low Amy Darya
riparian vegetation
arid ecosystems
Central Asia
How to Cite
Abstract
Floristic knowledge of arid deltaic ecosystems remains limited by fragmented data and inconsistent methodologies, constraining reliable assessment of biodiversity patterns and long-term ecological change. Addressing this gap, we present a grid-based floristic assessment of the Lower Amu Darya State Biosphere Reserve (Uzbekistan), a representative ecotonal system at the interface of desert and riparian environments. Using a regular 2 × 2 km grid comprising 89 cells, we compiled an integrated dataset combining herbarium records, field collections, photographic observations, and recent georeferenced occurrence data. In total, 310 vascular plant taxa (173 genera, 44 families) were recorded. The flora is dominated by Amaranthaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Fabaceae, a taxonomic composition characteristic of the Turanian floristic province and shaped by arid and saline environmental conditions. Taxonomic structure is characterized by relative stability at the family level but higher turnover at the genus level. The flora also shows increasing dominance of xerophytic and halophytic taxa, accompanied by a decline of hygrophilous elements. Grid-based assessment revealed pronounced spatial heterogeneity in species richness and only partial correspondence with collection density, indicating uneven floristic coverage across the reserve. These patterns suggest ongoing floristic reorganization that may be associated with aridification, hydrological alteration, and anthropogenic pressure linked to the desiccation of the Aral Sea. Beyond the regional context, the study demonstrates the value of grid-based approaches for detecting biodiversity change in data-limited dryland systems and provides a transferable framework for long-term ecological monitoring.
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