Charophytes (Charophyceae, Charales) of South Kazakhstan: Diversity, Distribution, and Tentative Red List

Nurashov S. Jumakhanova G. Barinova S. Romanov R. Sametova E. Jiyenbekov A. Shalgimbayeva S. Smith T.E.
January 2023 MDPI

Plants
2023 #12 Issue 2

The presented research was conducted during 2019–2022 in south and southeast Kazakhstan to document the species richness, distribution, and ecology of charophytes (Characeae) as a first step towards to estimate the need for species protection. Across the 54 sites, we found ten species and one variety. Chara vulgaris Linnaeus and C. contraria A.Braun ex Kützing were the most common species, followed by C. canescens Loiseleur, C. kirghisorum C. F. Lessing, C. tomentosa Linnaeus, C. dominii J. Vilhelm, C. globata W. Migula, Nitellopsis obtusa (Desvaux) J. Groves, and Nitella hyalina (De Candolle) C. Agardh. The list of localities for each species was compiled. The distribution of each taxon was mapped in relations to the ecoregions studied. The two most frequent species were found in a wide spectrum of ecoregions, whereas all other species occurred in only a few regions in Kazakhstan. The Kaskelen River Valley had the most sampled sites with the highest number of co-occurring species (up to five together). Statistical maps were plotted in attempt to outline key environmental variables explaining the distribution of each species. A comparison of species and environmental variables distribution maps lets us assume that C. vulgaris prefers low altitude habitats with higher water temperatures, organic enrichments, and color, but low oxygen and pH. Other species prefer clear, alkaline, organically unpolluted, and well-oxygenated waters in lowland habitats. The redundancy detrended analysis (RDA) defined pH and altitude as negative factors for Nitellopsis obtusa whereas an increase in water temperature was positive. Altitude and water temperatures affected Chara contraria positively while altitude negatively influenced the rare species: Chara tomentosa, C. kirghisorum, and C. dominii. The matK sequences were obtained for C. contraria and C. vulgaris to confirm their identity according to morphological traits and to compare populations of C. gymnophylla and C. vulgaris from an arid region in Israel. Our data allowed for the preparation of a tentative red list from the study region. One species was recognized as endangered, four species and one variety as vulnerable, and two species as least concern. There was insufficient data to determine the status of two species and one variety.

Characeae , DNA barcoding , ecology , Kazakhstan , morphology , species protection

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

RSE on REM “Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction” FWLC MEGNR RK, 36 “D” Timiryazeva Str, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, 71 Al-Farabi Ave, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Abba Khoushi Ave, 199, Mount Carmel, Haifa, 3498838, Israel
Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professora Popova Str. 2, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russian Federation
Institute for Water and Environmental Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Molodezhnaya Str. 1, Barnaul, 656038, Russian Federation
Faculty Math and Science, Arkansas State University Beebe, 1000 W Iowa St., Beebe, 72012, AR, United States

RSE on REM “Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction” FWLC MEGNR RK
Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology
Institute of Evolution
Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute for Water and Environmental Problems
Faculty Math and Science

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026