Feruz Akbarov's scientific contributions

Poa bactriana Roshev, a perennial monocot, serves as a crucial forage plant for both livestock and wildlife in Central Asia and the Himalayas. Despite its ecological importance, our understanding of its distribution and ecological niche remains limited, raising concerns about its vulnerability to climate change and anthropogenic impacts. In this study, we employed Maxent, a Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) method, to predict the present and future distribution of P. bactriana using occurrence data and environmental variables. Our analysis identified altitude, aridity index, and various bioclimatic and topographic variables as primary determinants influencing the distribution of P. bactriana. Presently, the species is predominantly concentrated in mountainous regions spanning Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, and select areas of Mongolia, Turkey, Russia, and China. However, projections under two climate change scenarios (RCP2.6 and RCP8.5) for 2050 reveal a significant decline in suitable habitat and habitat quality for P. bactriana. Elevations ranging from 1500 to 4000 meters emerged as optimal habitats, underscoring the critical importance of high-altitude landscapes in supporting this species. Our study provides novel insights into the ecology and biogeography of P. bactriana, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation and management strategies to safeguard its future amidst changing environmental conditions.

Daminova N, Nosirov S, Akbarov F, Tojibaev K, Temirov E. 2024. Distribution and conservation of the narrow sub-endemic shrub, Lonicera paradoxa in Pamir-Alay, Central Asia. Biodiversitas 25: 439-448. Lonicera paradoxa Pojark. (Lonicera ser. Alpigenae Pojark. ex A.Byalt) is a shrub with a geographically limited range. This species is included in the national red book lists of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and is considered one of the rare species in danger of extinction in nature. The species grows in a significant elevation from 1600 to 3200 m on the Northern slopes of the Alay Range, Central Asia. In this study, we investigated the geographic distribution of L. paradoxa based on scientific literature, herbarium data collections, and field surveys. We then modeled the current and potential future geographic distribution using Maxent. We also conducted a propagation study for its conservation under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Our fieldwork in 2021-2022 found new records of L. paradoxa in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. We calculated the Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area of Occupancy (AOO) of the species, which were 5.08 km 2 (VU) and 28 km 2 (EN), respectively. Therefore, based on the IUCN Red List and Criteria, we recommend the conservation status of L. paradoxa as endangered (EN) in categories B2 ab (ii, iii, iv) + D. Our modeling prediction suggested that compared to the current, suitable habitat of L. paradoxa to reduce significantly in the future with very suitable habitats are expected to expand to the south and high mountain areas. For the first time, the conservation measures of L. paradoxa were carried out at the Tashkent Botanical Garden. The conducted research made it possible to preserve L. paradoxa in ex-situ conditions. The results of this research can be helpful in determining and planning measures for the protection of L. paradoxa in the territory of the Kyrgyz and Tajikistan Republics, both now and in the future.

In light of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, appropriate conservation strategies are urgently needed. The steadily increasing anthropogenic pressure on nature in Central Asian countries seriously threatens the fate of local species and their habitats. Here, we analyze the threats to the genus Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Uzbekistan and propose an appropriate conservation strategy based on field surveys, observations and literature review. Among the threats evidenced for these species, the most relevant are overgrazing, land use, urbanization, and fragmentation. Analysis of Tulipa distribution in Uzbekistan revealed that

In light of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, appropriate conservation strategies are urgently needed. The steadily increasing anthropogenic pressure on nature in Central Asian countries seriously threatens the fate of local species and their habitats. Here, we analyze the threats to the genus Tulipa (Liliaceae) in Uzbekistan and propose an appropriate conservation strategy based on field surveys, observations and literature review. Among the threats evidenced for these species, the most relevant are overgrazing, land use, urbanization, and fragmentation. Analysis of Tulipa distribution in Uzbekistan revealed that 27 species of Tulipa occur in 19 protected areas. Among them, the most important are Ugam-Chatkal State National Natural Park, Chatkal State Biosphere Reserve, Hissar and Surkhan State Nature Reserves, harboring 10, 9, 9 and 8 species respectively. However, 8 species (of which five species are red-listed) occur in unprotected areas. In addition to the two major conservation approaches, in situ and ex situ, civic awareness is proposed as a third important conservation component. Besides, home garden conservation is proposed as an effective tool for conservation of Tulipa that requires support from the government.

Surkhondaryo province is one of the largest and richest in vascular plant species diversity administrative units of Uzbekistan, which also has an extremely high concentration of species endemic to Mountainous Central Asia and Uzbekistan in particular. A characteristic geological feature of this area is the wide spread of variegated outcrops formed during the Cretaceous and partly Paleogene age. Using the botanical-geographical zonation of Uzbekistan and 5x5 km grid cells, we analyzed the distribution of 63 Surkhondaryo province endemics to identify the hotspots of endemic species richness. The Boysun phytogeographic region, located in the southwest spurs of the Hissar ridge, had the largest number of species-rich grid cells. The Surkhon-Sherobod and Bobotog phytogeographic regions, located mainly in the piedmonts, foothills and low mountain belt of the Kugitang and Bobotog mountains, turned out to be poor in endemic species. The extent of occurrence and area ofoccupancy of 63 provincial endemic species were estimatedfor the first time. Based on the analysis of available data and long-term field observations, the extinction of one of the narrow endemics of the Surkhondaryo province - Dipcadi turkestanicumVved. appears to be a sad reality.

The article examines the therapeutic use and quantitative ethnobotany of 20 families, 73 genera, and 117 species of medicinal plants used by the population of the Kitab district of Kashkadarya region for the treatment of various diseases. During the study, interviews with local residents were conducted in 5 villages of Kitab district. The data were statistically analyzed in JASP 0.14.1.

В статье представлены результаты инвентаризации гербарных образцов рода Parrya R.Br., хранящихся в Национальном гербарии Узбекистана (TASH). Исследование проводилось в рамках подготовки новых изданий Флоры Узбекистана. Составлены ГИС карты на основе образцов, собранных с 1909 года. При формировании базы данных гербарных образцов указаны годы сбора, распределение по ботанико-географическим районам и основные коллекторы.

The article analyzes the data on the geographical distribution of the endemic species Helichrysum nuratavicum for the flora of Uzbekistan based on the samples stored in the National Herbarium of Uzbekistan (TASH) using the Maxent program. Areas with the most optimal growing conditions were predicted and maps of the distribution of this species were created.