Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review
Iran is a country characterized by high biodiversity and complex biogeographic patterns. Its diverse landscape and steep climatic gradients have resulted in significant faunal diversity and high level of endemism. To better understand these patterns, we investigated the historical environmental driv...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Sajad Noori Reza Zahiri Gholam Hosein Yusefi Mahdi Rajabizadeh Oliver Hawlitschek Ehsan Rakhshani Martin Husemann Hossein Rajaei |
| author_facet | Sajad Noori Reza Zahiri Gholam Hosein Yusefi Mahdi Rajabizadeh Oliver Hawlitschek Ehsan Rakhshani Martin Husemann Hossein Rajaei |
| author_sort | Sajad Noori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Iran is a country characterized by high biodiversity and complex biogeographic patterns. Its diverse landscape and steep climatic gradients have resulted in significant faunal diversity and high level of endemism. To better understand these patterns, we investigated the historical environmental drivers that have shaped Iran’s current geological and climatological conditions, and, consequently, have shaped the current zoological distribution patterns. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the country’s zoological diversity and zoogeography by reviewing published studies on its fauna. We analyzed nearly all available catalogs, updated checklists, and relevant publications, and synthesized them to present a comprehensive overview of Iran’s biodiversity. Our review reports approximately 37,500 animal species for Iran. We also demonstrated that the country serves as a biogeographic transition zone among three zoogeographical realms: the Palearctic, Oriental, and Saharo-Arabian, where distinct faunal elements intersect. This biogeographic complexity has made it challenging to delineate clear zoogeographical zones, leading to varying classifications depending on the taxon. The uplift of mountain ranges, in particular, has played a crucial role in shaping faunal diversity by serving as barriers, corridors, and glacial refugia. These mountains are largely the result of orogeny and plate collisions during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, coupled with the development of the Tethyan Sea and the uplift of several ranges during the Miocene. Despite these insights, our understanding of biodiversity distribution in Iran remains incomplete, even for some well-studied taxa, such as certain vertebrate families and arthropods. We highlight the existing gaps in knowledge regarding zoogeographical patterns and propose approaches to address these gaps, particularly concerning less-studied species and the highly diverse group of insects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8737c76b80e740769a5cd39a930b89a7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj-art-8737c76b80e740769a5cd39a930b89a72025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182024-10-01161062110.3390/d16100621Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A ReviewSajad Noori0Reza Zahiri1Gholam Hosein Yusefi2Mahdi Rajabizadeh3Oliver Hawlitschek4Ehsan Rakhshani5Martin Husemann6Hossein Rajaei7State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1-3, 70191 Stuttgart, GermanyStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Erbprinzenstraße 13, 76133 Karlsruhe, GermanyCIBIO Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Campus de Vairão, University of Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalDepartment of Biodiversity, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman 76315, IranDepartment of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol 98615, IranStaatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Erbprinzenstraße 13, 76133 Karlsruhe, GermanyState Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1-3, 70191 Stuttgart, GermanyIran is a country characterized by high biodiversity and complex biogeographic patterns. Its diverse landscape and steep climatic gradients have resulted in significant faunal diversity and high level of endemism. To better understand these patterns, we investigated the historical environmental drivers that have shaped Iran’s current geological and climatological conditions, and, consequently, have shaped the current zoological distribution patterns. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the country’s zoological diversity and zoogeography by reviewing published studies on its fauna. We analyzed nearly all available catalogs, updated checklists, and relevant publications, and synthesized them to present a comprehensive overview of Iran’s biodiversity. Our review reports approximately 37,500 animal species for Iran. We also demonstrated that the country serves as a biogeographic transition zone among three zoogeographical realms: the Palearctic, Oriental, and Saharo-Arabian, where distinct faunal elements intersect. This biogeographic complexity has made it challenging to delineate clear zoogeographical zones, leading to varying classifications depending on the taxon. The uplift of mountain ranges, in particular, has played a crucial role in shaping faunal diversity by serving as barriers, corridors, and glacial refugia. These mountains are largely the result of orogeny and plate collisions during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, coupled with the development of the Tethyan Sea and the uplift of several ranges during the Miocene. Despite these insights, our understanding of biodiversity distribution in Iran remains incomplete, even for some well-studied taxa, such as certain vertebrate families and arthropods. We highlight the existing gaps in knowledge regarding zoogeographical patterns and propose approaches to address these gaps, particularly concerning less-studied species and the highly diverse group of insects.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/10/621biodiversity hotspotsbiogeographyclimate oscillationsIranian faunamountain upliftmacro-transitional zone |
| spellingShingle | Sajad Noori Reza Zahiri Gholam Hosein Yusefi Mahdi Rajabizadeh Oliver Hawlitschek Ehsan Rakhshani Martin Husemann Hossein Rajaei Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review Diversity biodiversity hotspots biogeography climate oscillations Iranian fauna mountain uplift macro-transitional zone |
| title | Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review |
| title_full | Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review |
| title_short | Patterns of Zoological Diversity in Iran—A Review |
| title_sort | patterns of zoological diversity in iran a review |
| topic | biodiversity hotspots biogeography climate oscillations Iranian fauna mountain uplift macro-transitional zone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/16/10/621 |
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