BRYOPHYTE FLORA OF THE KARKARALY REGION (KARAGANDY REGION, KAZAKHSTAN): SPECIES COMPOSITION AND HABITAT DISTRIBUTION
Main Article Content
Authors
Rabiga Uakhit
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Nurassyl Manapov
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Aldina Nasredin
Department of Biology and Genomics, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Abai Alash
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Ainura Smagulova
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Ikimat Taiwo
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Sara Bekkuzhina
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Vladimir Kiyan
Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, LLP “National Center of Biotechnology”, Astana, Kazakhstan
Abstract
Bryophytes represent an important yet insufficiently studied component of terrestrial biodiversity in Central Kazakhstan. This study investigates the species composition and phylogenetic relationships of mosses in Karkaraly National Park (Karaganda Region), a forest–steppe enclave within the arid landscapes of the Kazakh Uplands. A total of 29 moss samples were collected and analyzed using an integrative approach combining microscopic morphological examination and molecular identification based on nuclear ribosomal ITS1 and ITS2 markers. Nine species belonging to seven families and four orders were identified, including Ceratodon purpureus, Syntrichia ruralis, Dicranum muehlenbeckii, Dicranum schljakovii, Polytrichum juniperinum, Polytrichum piliferum, Sanionia uncinata, Pylaisia polyantha and Abietinella abietina. Phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum Likelihood method confirmed species-level identification and revealed consistent clustering of samples within their respective genera. The detected assemblage reflects the ecological heterogeneity of the Karkaraly Mountains, where microclimatic variation supports both xerophytic and mesophilous moss species. This study represents one of the first integrative analyses combining morphological and molecular (ITS1 and ITS2) approaches to identify mosses in Central Kazakhstan. The results provide novel baseline data on species composition and phylogenetic relationships of bryophytes in the Karkaraly region and highlight its role as a refugium for both xerophytic and mesophilous taxa within a semi-arid landscape.
Keywords
bryophytes, moss diversity, Karkaraly National Park, ITS phylogeny, molecular identification, Kazakhstan
Article Details
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