Distribution patterns of Convolvulaceae in Iran: priorities for conservation

Abstract

Assessing priorities is the most important action in conservation programs. Rudimentary, mapping of diversity, and distribution patterns have been used to set priorities on diverse scales. The distribution patterns of plant taxa, largely reflect an actual ecological niche. <em>Convolvulaceae</em> s.str exhibits cosmopolitan dispersal of diverse life forms and includes 50–60 genera comprising 1600–1700 species including valuable ornamental, medicinal and food crops as well as weedy taxa. Little attention has been paid to the patterns and diversity centers of this family in scale of Iran and Asia. The present study, explains in as much detail as possible distribution patterns and the priorities for conservation of <em>Convolvulaceae</em> in the context of species and habitats in Iran. Threatened species of Iranian <em>Convolvulaceae</em> include 20.4% distributed in the Irano-Turanian phytochorion as a priority region for conservation planning. Moreover, this family represents the highest richness in the Alborz and central Zagros mountains of Iran. A meaningful proportion of priority taxa and habitats are located in protected areas of Iran. Regardless, some face several threatening factors (e.g. land use change, deforestation, and overgrazing) outside protected areas; therefore, emergent conservation actions (<em>in situ</em> and <em>ex situ</em> methods) appear necessary to protect these taxa. <br /><strong> </strong>