Iranian Plateau Herpetology Research Group (IPHRG), Faculty of Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
Zoological Institute, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
PLoS One. 2024 Oct 16;19(10):e0309120. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309120. eCollection 2024.
The events of the Cenozoic era such as mountain formation caused Iran to become one of the most amazing biodiversity hotspots in the world today. This pioneering study on Iranian snake biogeography integrates historical and ecological analyses. A phylogeographic review traces speciation and dispersal, while cluster analysis with a new snake checklist assesses faunistic similarities within Iran and its surroundings. Jaccard and Sorenson indices generate similarity dendrograms, Indicator Species Analysis pinpoints regional key species, and Endemism index calculates regional endemism rates, enriching our knowledge of Iran's species diversity. Phylogeographic analyses identify four biogeographical corridors for snake ingress into Iran: the Arabian region through southwestern Iran, the Western Asian mountainous transition zone via northwestern Iran, the Turanian region into northeastern Iran, and the Indus River Valley into southeastern and eastern Iran. Dendrogram analysis divides snake fauna into three groups. The first group associates western Zagros and Khuzestan fauna with the Sahara and Arabian regions. The second group links Kopet Dagh and Turkmen Steppe fauna with the Turanian region, and Central Plateau and Baluchistan fauna with the Iranian region. The third group connects northwest highlands, Alborz and Zagros mountains, and Caspian Sea coasts with the Western Asian Mountain transition zone. The study validates broad biogeographic patterns via ecoregional associations and indicator species analysis, providing finer resolution. Species like Platyceps najadum in Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests exemplify ecoregional alignment, while Zagros and Alborz mountains exhibit unique faunal indicators, indicating species-level divergence. Shared indicators among widespread ecoregions reflect habitat continuity; exclusive indicators emphasize regional distinctiveness. Despite endemic species prevalence, they seldom act as significant indicators due to various factors. Our research confirms the Zagros Mountains, Khuzestan Plain, Alborz Mountains, and Persian Gulf coasts as snake diversity hotspots, marked by higher species richness compared to other Iranian regions.
新生代的事件，如山脉的形成，导致伊朗成为当今世界上最令人惊叹的生物多样性热点之一。这项关于伊朗蛇类生物地理学的开创性研究综合了历史和生态分析。系统发生地理学综述追踪了物种形成和扩散，而聚类分析与新的蛇类清单评估了伊朗及其周边地区的动物区系相似性。Jaccard 和 Sorenson 指数生成相似性 dendrograms，Indicator Species Analysis 确定了区域关键物种，而特有种指数计算了区域特有种比率，丰富了我们对伊朗物种多样性的认识。系统发生地理学分析确定了蛇类进入伊朗的四个生物地理走廊：通过伊朗西南部的阿拉伯地区、通过伊朗西北部的西亚山地过渡带、通过伊朗东北部的图兰地区以及通过印度河谷进入伊朗东南部和东部。dendrograms 分析将蛇类动物群分为三组。第一组将西部扎格罗斯山脉和胡齐斯坦省的动物群与撒哈拉和阿拉伯地区联系起来。第二组将 Kopet Dagh 和土库曼斯坦草原的动物群与图兰地区联系起来，将中央高原和俾路支省的动物群与伊朗地区联系起来。第三组将西北部高地、阿尔伯兹山脉和里海海岸与西亚山地过渡带联系起来。该研究通过生态区关联和指示物种分析验证了广泛的生物地理格局，提供了更精细的分辨率。像 Caspian Hyrcanian 混合森林中的 Platyceps najadum 这样的物种就是生态区一致性的例证，而扎格罗斯山脉和阿尔伯兹山脉则表现出独特的动物区系指示种，表明物种水平上的分化。广泛分布的生态区之间的共有指示种反映了栖息地的连续性；特有指示种则强调了区域的独特性。尽管特有种普遍存在，但由于各种因素，它们很少作为重要的指示种。我们的研究证实了扎格罗斯山脉、胡齐斯坦平原、阿尔伯兹山脉和波斯湾海岸是蛇类多样性热点地区，与伊朗其他地区相比，这些地区的物种丰富度更高。
