نشریه تاکسونومی و بیوسیستماتیک
سال سیزدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 48، پاییز 1400)

In the present study, the biodiversity of pseudoscorpions was studied in two different habitats (Oak forests and cultivated areas) in Kuhdasht, Khorramabad, and Delfan counties during eight months of 2016. For this purpose, in each habitat, a cycle area of about 100m radius was selected and samples were taken from 20 plots each with 200 m2 inside the cycle. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 10 and a diameter of 50cm. The soil samples were then transferred to the laboratory and the specimens were extracted using Berlese trap. Different indices of biodiversity (Shannon, Simpson, and Brilloun) were calculated using Excel and SDR v.4. Comparison of species diversity in different habitats showed that Delfan (Shannon index = 2.529) had a greater diversity of species than Khorramabad (Shannon index = 2.508) and Kuhdasht (Shannon index = 2.390). The results of calculating the species structure of the pseudoscorpion population in the province showed that Minniza babylonica, Calocheiridius centralis, and Cardiolpium bisetosum were dominant in three studied counties. It seems that these three species were unrestricted in terms of height, temperature, and humidity in the three cities.

The present study was conducted to determine the body shape variation among the populations of Iranian goby (P. Iranicus) in the southern Caspian Sea basin using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. A total of 350 specimens of the species were sampled using electro-shocker, and in the laboratory, the left sides of the fish samples were photographed by a digital camera. Fourteen landmark points were digitized on two-dimensional images using TPSDige2 software. The obtained data from Landmarks were analyzed using multivariate statistical analyses including PCA, CVA, and cluster analysis (CA). The phenotype plasticity patterns of each population related to the shape of the overall average of populations were illustrated. The results of the study demonstrated that there was a significant difference among the studied populations in terms of morphological features. Dendrograms revealed that both sexes could be divided into five groups related to the localities of specimens. Analysis of MANOVA/CVA showed that females of P. Iranicus have a high separation rate among the provinces, while males of Mazanderan province had significant isolation from males of Guilan and Golestan provinces. The two provinces showed a high overlap in the morphological characteristics. The results of the study can improve understanding of growing phenotype patterns plasticity of these fishes in the water bodies of different river systems from the southern basin of the Caspian Sea as well as identifying species of P. Iranicus populations in the southern basin of the Caspian Sea rivers.

The population structure and genetic diversity of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fish were studied in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea using AFLP molecular markers. In the present study, 70 samples were collected from the Persian Gulf (Bushehr, Hendijan, and Dayyer) and 2 regions of the Makran Sea (Bandar Abbas and Chabahar). The results indicated that 557 loci were amplified by 10 pairs of primers and 243 loci showed polymorphism. An average of 43.6% of polymorphic loci was amplified for each primer combination. The genetic average diversity was 0.29. The highest and lowest genetic diversities were observed in the samples obtained from Chabahar (0.37) and Bushehr, respectively. Variance analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the studied populations in terms of genetic diversity. The coefficient of genetic differentiation between the populations (FST) ranged from 0.024 to 0.204 indicating a low level of gene differentiation within the population in the Persian Gulf, while gene differentiation between the populations in the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea was intermediate. The genetic distance and phylogenetic tree showed a clear pattern of the separation of populations of the Persian Gulf and Makran Sea. Gene flow (Nm) between the populations was measured to be 0.93-10.6 based on the genetic differentiation coefficient between the populations, indicating that there was l gene flow between the populations. Therefore, the results of clustering, genetic distance, Fst index, and PCA analysis revealed that the Persian Gulf populations were not separated, but they were separated from Jask and Chabahar populations.

This study compares the anatomical and histological structure of the male reproductive system in Trapelus agilis of Agamidae. Male specimens of Trapleus agilis were collected in two seasons of spring and summer from Shadegan county (South Khuzestan Province). Samples after complete anesthesia with chloroform and die were dissected in the laboratory. Then, the male reproductive system was studied anatomically and then removed from the animal's body and tissue passage stages tissue passage steps (dehydration, clarification, infiltration, and embedding) were performed on them. Following the cutting stage with a rotating microtome, serial sections were prepared from the male reproductive system. The prepared slides were stained by the hematoxylin-eosin method and then examined histologically by light microscopy. Histological results showed that the testicles become larger in the reproductive phase (spring) and their lumen is full of sperm. Also in June, a large number of spermatozoa were seen in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules, and from spring to late summer, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the germinal layer decreased. In late summer (September), when sexual activity is declining, the testicles are small and wrinkled, and the lumen of sperm-producing cells is almost empty of sperm, and the animal increases its body fat storage by feeding and preparing for hibernation. In late summer (September) when sexual activity decreases, the testicles are small and wrinkled and the lumen of sperm cells is almost empty of sperm, and the animal increases its body fat storage by feeding and preparing for hibernation.

Identification of plant species in different habitats of the country, specially protected areas, is of special importance .In the present research, the flora of the Qalajeh protected area in the south of Kermanshah province was studied during the period from 1393 to 1395 (2015 to 2017). A total of 326 species (258 species of dicotyledons and 68 species of monocotyledons) belonging to 58 families and 225 genera were identified in this area. The largest families were Fabaceae with 13 genera and 43 species, Asteraceae with 29 genera and 39 species, Poaceae with 27 genera and 38 species, Apiaceae with 17 genera and 23 species, Lamiaceae with 13 genera and 21 species, Brassicaceae with 16 genera and 20 species, Boraginaceae with 10 genera and 13 species and Caryophyllaceae with 9 genera and 11 species. The life forms of the studied plant species included phanerophytes (5.2%), chamaephytes (7.7%), Hemicryptophytes (32.5%), Geophytes (11.4%), Therophytes (42.0%), Hydrophytes (0.9%), and Epiphytes (0.3%). From the chorological point of view, 26.3% of the total species were Irano-Turanian elements from which 4% were Iranian endemic species. The other species belong to two, three, or more phytogeographical regions.

Protected areas are one of the most important and effective tools in the world to preserve biodiversity. Faunal studies and subsequent adoption of species conservation measures are priorities for biodiversity conservation. Considering that 16 areas in Kerman province have been registered in the form of four areas of the Environmental Protection Organization, the study of reptile fauna in many of these areas has not been done yet. Thus, the reptile fauna of the Saadi protected area was identified during 2015 and 2016. The results of the study showed that 15 species of reptiles including nine species of lizards from five families of Agamidae, Gekkonidae, Lacertidae, Sphaerodactylidae, and Varanidae, five species of snakes from three families of Colubridae, Lamprophiidae, and Varanidae, and one species of tortoise from the family of Testudinidae live in the Saadi protected area. Among lizards, the Gekkota lineage has a higher species diversity while Laudakia nupta fusca has the highest relative abundance and the widest range of distribution among reptiles in the region. Among the snakes of the region, the family Colubridae has the highest species diversity and Pseudocerastes persicus from the family Viperidae has the highest relative abundance. The presence of Testudo graeca as a vulnerable species, Varanus griseus in Appendix I (CITES) and the endemic species, Agamura kermanensis and Microgecko latifii in the region have been added to its conservation values. Consecutive droughts, orchard development, overgrazing, mining, road accidents, and misconceptions about reptiles are threatening reptiles in the area.