Title : Study of the populations of Pterocarya fraxinifloia in Georgia to identify conservation areas
Abstract:
Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifloia (Lam.) Spach) is a relict species, of the family Juglandaceae. In eastern Georgia, it grows in the Alazani River basin, and also forms small groups in wet areas on the banks of valleys. Since the natural populations of the species have not been fully evaluated in Georgia, the goal of our study was to describe, inventory the locations of P. fraxinifloia and identify the best areas for conservation. Small groups of Caucasian wingnut are also found in western Georgia along river banks. However, its range extends to the territories of Southern Dagestan, Azerbaijan and Iran at an altitude of 500– 800 m above sea level. In deciduous forests, this species is often found mixed with Alnus, Fagus orientalis, Carpinus betulus and Fraxinus exelsior. The species is Vulnerable (VU) according to the IUCN Red List, and in Georgia it is also assigned the status of Vulnerable due to its small and fragmented range. As a result of the research, maps of the distribution of the P. fraxinifloia in Georgia were prepared using GIS software, seeds were collected and processed for storage in a seed bank, a database was prepared in Georgian-English, and the best population was identified in Telavi Municipality- Lapankuri, where in-situ conservation is possible. This work was implemented with the financial support of Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (Grant # FR- 22- 2188).
