Based on literature data and own fieldwork in Tadzhikistan (Middle Asia), the taxonomic structure, distribution, habitat preferences as well as conservation state of a group of 1486 species of ...vascular plants of endemic and sub-endemic character are presented. In addition to verifying the number of endemics, the present study has shown that Tadzhik endemics are the most numerous in the northwest of the country, in the Gissar-Darvasian and Zeravshan regions. An analysis of average richness of endemics per surface unit has revealed that Gissar-Darvasian F is the richest area. An assessment of the taxonomic similarity of geobotanical regions based on endemic species composition has shown that differences in general correspond to the geobotanical subdivision of Tadzhikistan. The endemics studied are stenochoric species with a distributional area for endemics
sensu stricto varying between ca. 486 and 111,489
km
2 (average 12,478
km
2) and between 11,830 and 349,473
km
2 (mean 74,097
km
2) for sub-endemics. The habitats harbouring the richest group of endemics are steppes and semi-savannas, alpine forests, xerothermophilous shrubs, alpine meadows and swards. The most numerous endemic groups have been recorded from altitudes of around 1800, 2000 and 2500
m above sea level. The most important threats to Tadzhik endemics are intensive grazing and erosion of soils, as well as denudation. Vegetation types most vulnerable to human impact are forest and scrub communities. For effective protection of endemics a greater involvement of international organisations as well as legal and organisational changes in the Republic of Tadzhikistan are needed.
We validate eleven syntaxa (eight associations and three alliances) of tall-forb vegetation that were published earlier as
nomina provisoria
according to the International Code of Phytosociological ...Nomenclature. The validation concerns syntaxa of tall-forb vegetation of the class
Prangetea ulopterae
Klein 1987 reported from Pamir-Alai and western Tian Shan Mountains (Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan).
Taxonomic reference
: Cherepanov (1995).
Abbreviations
: ICPN = International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature.
This paper presents the results of research conducted on chasmophytic vegetation occurring within the alpine belt (approx. 1,850-4,000 m a.s.l.) in the eastern part of Middle Asia. We specifically ...focused on the diversity and syntaxonomy of rock vegetation as well as on environmental variables determining its distribution. Altogether, 242 releves were sampled in rock fissures, ledges, and clefts during field surveys conducted in 2013-2019. The size of each recorded vegetation plot was 1 m (2). Five main groups of chasmophytic vegetation were distinguished in the studied area. Each group was confined to a specific combination of substrate type and climatic conditions. Altogether, 16 specific plant communities representing chasmophytic vegetation were defined in the study area. For each community diagnostic, constant and dominant species as well as its taxonomic composition and habitat characteristics are given. Seven communities were described: community of Androsace villosa var. dasyphylla, and associations of Crepidifolio tenuifolii-Stipetum tianschanicae, Parryetum schugnanae, Corydalideto bucharicae-Hippolytietum schugnanicae, Drabetum darvasicae, Acantholimonetum alexeenkoani, and Inuletum schmalhausenii are newly coined. Due to the extremely high endemism of the chasmophytic flora of the eastern part of Middle Asia, it is difficult to find strong relationships between the rock vegetation recorded in the region and that occurring in neighboring areas. Keywords Asplenietea trichomanis; petrophytes; chasmophytes; alpine belt; syntaxonomy; Tajikistan; Kyrgyzstan
This paper discusses the floristic structure, distribution and habitat requirements of a new aquatic syntaxon, Stuckenietum amblyphyllae ass. nova. Patches of the Stuckenietum amblyphyllae ...association occur in the Pamir Alai Mountains in Middle Asia (Tajikistan). The biotope of this community represent high mountain rivers and ponds at the bottom of glacial river valleys situ- ated at elevations between 1900 and 3800 m. Patches of the Stuckenietum amblyphyllae association are characterised by a clear predominance of the typical species, i.e. Stuckenia amblyphylla, which occupies an aerial extent of between near 40 up to 90% of the surface studied. Patches of the community are poor in species, comprising a maximum of five taxa. Among associated species mainly rush, aquatic, meadow and marsh taxa have been noted. The Stuckenietum amblyphyllae community prefers cold, open, alkaline waters with medium flow-rate, ranging in depth from 15 to 75 cm. It is also, but rarely, found in the mountain ponds. Together with the Stuckenia filiformis community it designates in the Pamir Alai Mountains the upper limit of aquatic vegetation.
Stipa purpurea
is a high-alpine species that occurs in cryophilous steppes, semi-deserts and stony slopes, from the Tian Shan and Pamirian Plateau through Qinghai-Xizang Plateau to the Himalayas and ...is characterised by a great morphological variability. During the revision of specimens of the taxon, we observed that the pattern of this variability is linked to the geographical distribution of the specimens. Numerical analyses (PCA and UPGMA) revealed three groups of OTUs corresponding to three morphotypes within the
S. purpurea
complex. A set of macro- and micromorphological characters, supported by a map of general distributional ranges, are presented to distinguish each of the three taxa within the complex and we reassess the status of
Lasiagrostis tremula
described by Ruprecht in 1869. As a result,
Stipa tremula
,
S. purpurea
and
S. arenosa
were distinguished within the complex. The intermediate characters of
S. arenosa
may suggest its putative hybrid origin (
S. tremula
×
S. purpurea
), whereas the presence of extremely long florets may be an expression of the gigas effect. We propose two new combinations (
S. tremula
and
S. arenosa
), describe a new nothospecies (
S. × ladakhensis
) that originated from hybridisation between
S. klimesii
and
S. purpurea
s.l. and designate the lectotype for
Ptilagrostis semenovii
. An identification key and detailed morphological description of species from the
S. purpurea
complex are also presented.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the global economy, including the provision of health services, with medical facilities and patients cancelling or postponing medical ...appointments. An alternative to in-person appointments was through the available forms of telemedicine. Scientific reports around the world have suggested that the accessibility and quality of health services declined. The aim of this study was to investigate the accessibility and quality of health services in Poland and to verify whether there were differences between men and women in this respect. The study was based on the authors’ own survey questionnaire filled in by 265 respondents, including 181 women, 82 men, and 2 persons without a defined gender. The study revealed that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the accessibility and quality of health services declined. Additionally, women were more likely to use general and specialist health services than men, but a comparison of changes in the assessment of accessibility and quality of services by gender revealed no differences in the assessment of accessibility and quality.
The paper presents the results of phytosociological research conducted on the vegetation of rock clefts and ledges in the Pamir-Alai Mountains (Tajikistan, Middle Asia). During the field studies, ...done in 2010–2012, 101 phytosociological relevés were taken. Plant species were recorded according to the Braun-Blanquet cover-abundance scale. Communities of calcareous rock clefts and ledges with small soil amounts from several ranges (Zeravshan Mts, Hissar Mts, Hazratishokh Mts, Darvaz Mts, Rushan Mts and Vanch Mts), inhabiting mainly the alpine and subnival zone, have been described. A synopsis of the rock communities of the Pamir-Alai is proposed. In the examined vegetation plots 77 vascular plant and 6 moss species were noted. The most frequent were: Achoriphragma pinnatifidum, Artemisia rutifolia, Asperula albiflora, Campanula incanescens, C. lehmanniana, Parietaria judaica, Pentanema albertoregelia, Poa relaxa and Stipa zeravshanica among vascular plants and Brachythecium albicans and Bryum caespiticum among mosses. Most of them are narrow endemics of Tajikistan or Middle Asia. The collected material presents most of the variability among the phytocoenoses of large crevices and rock ledges in limestone massifs in the alpine and subnival zones. As a result of field research and numerical analyses, 7 associations have been distinguished: Achoriphragmetum pinnatifidi, Asperulo albiflorae-Stipetum zeravshanicae, Inuletum glaucae, Paraquilegietum anemonoidis, Pentanemetum albertoregeliae, Rhinactinidietum popovii and Saussureaetum ovatae. The distinctiveness of habitat and species composition of Middle Asiatic rock communities makes it necessary to distinguish a new suballiance, Pentanemenion albertoregeliae, within the Asperulo albiflorae-Poion relaxae alliance. The main factors determining the species composition of classified associations seem to be the elevation above sea level and exposition. Alpine rock communities are one of the most unique and interesting plant formations in the moutainous areas of Pamir-Alai. Despite not being species-rich they often harbour many specialists adapted to harsh and extreme environments, especially in areas of Mediterranean-like climate.
The purpose of this work is to present arguments that support the thesis about the need to formulate professional ethics for mortgage brokers. Due to the lack of a broader reflection on the ...professional ethics of this profession, a theoretical gap has arisen between general ethical thinking and the practice of ethical codes. Based on the literature, it was found that to formulate professional ethics, it is necessary to know the specifics of the work and to identify the specific ethical problems of the profession. These issues for mortgage brokers are described in this paper thanks to the use of the retrospective participant observation method. The conclusions of this study make it possible to recommend formulating the basics of professional ethics that refer to the value of professionalism, honesty, and responsibility.
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