Mohammad Farzam

• PhD
• Research Fellow at Curtin University

Iran, situated in Southwest Asia, showcases a diverse landscape, including three phytogeographical regions and two global biodiversity hotspots. This diversity is attributed to its intricate geology, mountainous terrain, wide altitudinal range, and heterogeneous climate, fostering a rich flora characterized by a significant proportion of endemism....

Question Rocky outcrops in mountains represent unique ecosystems characterized by a series of stress‐inducing features on living organisms. Despite numerous studies focusing on plant diversity and species community composition in these ecosystems, less attention has been given to understanding plant strategies in response to their challenging envir...

Increases in the abundance of woody species have been reported to affect the provisioning of ecosystem services in drylands worldwide. However, it is virtually unknown how multiple biotic and abiotic drivers, such as climate, grazing, and fire, interact to determine woody dominance across global drylands. We conducted a standardized field survey in...

Earth harbours an extraordinary plant phenotypic diversity¹ that is at risk from ongoing global changes2,3. However, it remains unknown how increasing aridity and livestock grazing pressure—two major drivers of global change4–6—shape the trait covariation that underlies plant phenotypic diversity1,7. Here we assessed how covariation among 20 chemic...

Mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) constitutes a major fraction of global soil carbon and is assumed less sensitive to climate than particulate organic carbon (POC) due to protection by minerals. Despite its importance for long-term carbon storage, the response of MAOC to changing climates in drylands, which cover more than 40% of the global...

Safe sites are microhabitats that provide the basic requirements for seed dormancy breaking, germination, and seedling establishment. They reduce threats from seed predators, herbivores, pests, and competitors. We identified and assessed living and non-living safe sites in the rocky outcrops and their effects on species diversity at six sites along...

Investigation on tolerant, adapted and sensitive plant traits to chronological wildfires in a semiarid rangeland

توالی ثانويه پس از آتشسوزی میتواند سبب تکامل يا قهقرای پوششگياهی شود. از گروههای عملکردی گياهی میتوان برای بررسی اثر آشفتگیهای محيطی از جمله آتشسوزی بر جوامع گياهی استفاده نمود. هدف اصلی ين تحقيق شناسايی، طبقهبندی و تجزيه و تحليل گروههای عملکردی گياهی طی توالی ثانويه در يک مرتع آتشسوزی شده بود.

Perennial plants create productive and biodiverse hotspots, known as fertile islands, beneath their canopies. These hotspots largely determine the structure and functioning of drylands worldwide. Despite their ubiquity, the factors controlling fertile islands under conditions of contrasting grazing by livestock, the most prevalent land use in dryla...

In recent years, researchers have extensively investigated the remediation of heavy metal–contaminated soil using plants, microorganisms, and iron nanoparticles. The objective of this study was to investigate and compare the individual and simultaneous effects of Paulownia elongata S. Y. Hu, cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria sp.), arbuscular mycorrhizal...

Abstract Backgrounds Plant-plant interactions are among the most important factors affecting the natural recovery of vegetation. While the impacts of nurse plants on species composition and biodiversity are well documented, the effects of different nurse’s growth forms on all biodiversity components including taxonomic, functional, and phylogeneti...

The new species Onosma nuristanica is described and illustrated here on the basis of specimens collected from Parun in Nuristan and Chapa Dareh in Kunar, one of the eastern provinces of Afghanistan. An extensive review of the literature and a comparative study with specimens from several herbaria led to the determine of this new species. Our res...

Nurse plants play a crucial role on plant biodiversity in drylands. While the nurse's impacts in biodiversity are documented, we know little about such impacts of different nurse's life forms; and how these impacts associate to climatic gradients. In this regard, we re-analyzed a dataset of 72 dryland sites, established across climatic gradients in...

Phytoremediation experiments were carried out to investigate the ability of two species of Salicornia persica and Salicornia perspolitana for the extraction of heavy metals including aluminum, iron and copper. In this study, manure and biochar were applied to improve phytoremediation performance. The two species of S. persica and S. perspolitana we...

Soil mulches and conditioners have been shown to improve soil moisture conservation, infiltration, and seed germination and survival, but their interactive effects with sporadic rainfall and the existing vegetation have rarely been considered. In an experimental field study, we assessed the effects of soil additives (sawdust and hydrogel) and mulch...

The mycorrhizal fungus, Astraeus hygrometricus, which was found thriving beneath Quercus baloot and Cedrus deodara trees is being documented in Afghanistan for the first time. Despite previous reports confirming the presence of this fungus in other parts of Asia, Europe and America, there is no prior documentation of its presence in Afghanistan. Th...

Abstract Question: Rocky outcrops generally restrict recruitment and survival of plant species due to their environmental conditions including low soil moisture, nutrient shortages and microclimate harshness. Under such severe conditions, nurse plants may play critical roles to preserve plant biodiversity. Although, the nurses’ effects on plant bio...

Fire is a key disturbance affecting plant biodiversity patterns and evolution. Although a wide range of studies have shown important impacts of fire on vegetation, most have focused on taxonomic diversity, with less emphasis on other aspects of biodiversity, such as functional and phylogenetic diversity. Therefore, we assessed the recovery of biodi...

Growth-promoting bacteria (GPB) have shown promising effects on serving plants against environmental constraints such as drought. Nevertheless, simultaneous effects of different GPB have less been considered for arid land plants and under field conditions. We investigated the effects of single and combined application of GPB, including free-living...

Growth season rain pulses affect biological and physiological activities of wild plants in arid and semi-arid regions. Despite of numerous reports on the effects of rain pulses on plant physiological indices, there is little information on how rain pulses may affect secondary metabolites of medicinal plants. Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) plays a crit...

Experiments were conducted to investigate the ability of two species of Salicornia persica and Salicornia perspolitana to extract heavy metals, including aluminum, iron, and copper. In this study, manure and biochar were applied to improve performance. The two species of S. persica and S. perspolitana were grown outdoor in experimental pots. The ef...

Grazing represents the most extensive use of land worldwide. Yet its impacts on ecosystem services remain uncertain because pervasive interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil properties, and biodiversity may occur but have never been addressed simultaneously. Using a standardized survey at 98 sites across six continents, we show that in...

Grazing represents the most extensive use of land worldwide. Yet its impacts on ecosystem services remain uncertain because pervasive interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil properties, and biodiversity may occur but have never been addressed simultaneously. Using a standardized survey at 98 sites across six continents, we show that in...

Heavy metals are among the most dangerous contaminants in the environment. Organic components and plant species that can accumulate and stabilize heavy metals in their organs are a good option for soil remediation of these elements. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and biochar on the accumulation of heavy metals by S...

Ferula foetida is one of the important medicinal plants in Iran. Applying effective solutions in its establishment can be useful for reviving the ecosystems of arid areas and the economy of its indigenous people. Due to the fact that drought stress is one of the main limitations in the establishment of plants in arid and semi-arid regions, in this...

Climate and soil factors induce substantial controls over plant biodiversity in stressful ecosystems. Despite of some studies on plant biodiversity in extreme ecosystems including rocky outcrops, simultaneous effects of climate and soil factors have rarely been studied on different facets of biodiversity including taxonomic and functional diversity...

One of the most pressing issues confronting the civilized and modern world is air pollution. Particulate matter (PM) is a well-known pollutant that contributes significantly to urban air pollution and has numerous short- and long-term adverse effects on human health. One method of reducing air pollution is to create green spaces, mainly green walls...

Restoration of degraded environments is essential to mitigate adverse impacts of human activities on ecosystems. Plant-plant interactions may provide effective means for restoring degraded arid lands, but little is understood about these impacts. In this regard, we analyzed the effects of two dominant nurse plants (i.e., Artemisia sieberi and Stipa...

Aim Plant–plant interactions are an important factor in structuring plant biodiversity. However, most studies on the impacts of plant–plant interactions on biodiversity focus on species richness and to a lesser extent on other facets of diversity. When other facets of biodiversity are considered, studies often include a limited set of environmental...

Colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) is one of the major medicinal plants, naturally growing in deserts of Middle East and North Africa. Extending cultivation of this species is useful for sand dune fixation and livelihood of the local inhabitants. In spite of numerous studies on seed germination, there are still debates on the best methods of breaki...

Today, one of the most pressing issues confronting the civilized and modern world is air pollution. Particulate matter (PM) is a well-known pollutant that contributes significantly to urban air pollution and has numerous short- and long-term adverse effects on human health. One method of reducing air pollution is to create green spaces, mainly gree...

Background and objectives: In recent years, drought, soil erosion and continuous harvesting of wild pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) have prevented the natural regeneration of this valuable species in the woodland of Khajeh Kalat. Therefore, runoff management, soil moisture storage of seedling surrounding, and reduce the competition of invasive plants...

Colocynth is one of the major medicinal plants that naturally grows in deserts of Middle East and North Africa. Extending cultivation of this species is useful for sand dune fixation and for making incomes for the needy inhabitants. Despite of numerous studies on seed germination, there are still debates on best method of seed dormancy breaking...

The interspecific plant interactions along grazing and aridity stress gradients represent a major research issue in plant ecology. However, the combined effects of these two factors on plant-plant interactions have been poorly studied in the northeast of Iran. To fill this knowledge gap, 144 plots were established in 12 study sites with different g...

Aims Understanding fine-grain diversity patterns across large spatial extents is fundamental for macroecological research and biodiversity conservation. Using the GrassPlot database, we provide benchmarks of fine-grain richness values of Palaearctic open habitats for vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and complete vegetation (i.e., the sum of the...

Aridity and intensive grazing have been confirmed to affect the facilitative effects of dryland shrubs. However, their combined effects on plant-plant interactions have rarely been tested. To test how these two factors affect relations between plants, we analyzed 144 plots (under shrub canopy vs. open areas) at 12 sampling areas established in the...

Heavy metals are among the most dangerous contaminants in the environment. Application of organic compounds and plant species with the ability to accumulate and stabilize heavy metal in their organs is the best option for remediation of these elements in the soil. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and biochar on the a...

Two separate experiments was carried out in a randomized complete design in 4 replicates in order to evaluate agronomy aspects of cultivation and aim of evaluation effective treatments in breaking dormancy of native and valuable medicinal plant, Caper seeds (Mazdavand ecotype) and also to evaluate the best seed bed medium for germination of Caper s...

Questions (i) Do patterns of species diversity and composition differ between the plots exposed to high versus low grazing intensity? (ii) Do these differences vary among three regions with different climate, representing the gradient from the arid to sub‐humid conditions? Location northeastern Iran Methods We compared plots intensively grazed by...

The consequence of climate change in the natural habitats of arid and semi-arid regions is the reduction of species diversity which highlights the necessity of domestication and cultivation of wild species in agricultural systems. The medicinal plant caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is one of the valuable native plants in the natural arena that can be c...

Introduction: The times of seed collection and storage have significant impacts on seed viability. This information is vitally needed for the management of seed production stations. Methods: Effects of two methods of cultivating maternal plants (irrigation or rainfed), five times of seed harvesting (early September, November, October, December, a...

Researches related to invasive plant ecology has recently increased, hence the terminology used in the early studies can later be perused by other researchers. Incorrect use of the term "invasive species" instead of "non-invasive species" may lead to environmental consequences and threatens the biodiversity and life of endangered species. Therefore...

We examined how biological soil crust (BSC) communities are affected by micro-geomorphology and soil characteristics in an arid ecosystem in northeastern Iran. Sampling was carried out systematically in the summer of 2016 along a geomorphic gradient within an alluvial fan by using micro-scale plots (0.25 m2) and soil samples from the top soil layer...

In recent decades, tragacanth gum extraction from Astragalus verus has dramatically increased across Iranian rangelands. However, little information is available about the best method of gum harvest, which is economically efficient and maintains the health of the plant. This research was conducted as a factorial combination and in a completely r...

We examined how biological soil crust (BSC) communities are affected by micro-geomorphology and soil characteristics in an arid ecosystem in northeastern Iran. Sampling was carried out systematically in the summer of 2016 along a geomorphic gradient within an alluvial fan by using micro-scale plots (0.25 m2) and soil samples from the top soil layer...

Understanding the responses of vegetation characteristics and soil properties to grazing in different precipitation regimes is useful for the management of rangelands, especially in the arid regions. In northeastern Iran, we studied the responses of vegetation to livestock grazing in three regions with different climates: arid, semiarid, and subhum...

The time of preparation seeds and storage methods has a great impact on the seedling viability and establishment. The effects of seed harvesting time and storage methods were investigated on seed germination of Krashninkovia ceratoides in the Shahrak-Imam Seed Production Station in Neyshabur Iran. Experiment treatments were: the effect of approp...

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) have a vital role regarding vegetation and soil development in arid and semi-arid areas in the world, and apparently in Iran, where they comprise more than 85% of the land. In this research, the relationship between BSCs and plant functional groups, considering soil parameters along an arid alluvial fan located in Khor...

The most important and sensitive level in the modification of rangelands surrounding the mine is the initial seedling establishment of plants, which often faces failure due to adverse environmental conditions, poor soil nutrients, disturbance of soil different layers and its instability and unstable soil around the mines. New methods of rangeland i...

In this paper, the establishment and growth of medicinal species Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. were studied through inoculation with two mycorrhizal fungi species, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices, in arid/semi-arid Bahar-Kish rangelands, Iran in 2012 and 2013. The root colonization percentage of Ziziphora, as well as their establishment and...

Introduction: Heavy metals have become one of the sources of soil contamination as a result of human-induced mining for metal extraction. Early establishment of seedlings under the unfavorable environmental conditions of mined lands is a major stage that is often faced with failure. This is due to the shortage of precipitation, high evapotranspirat...

Drought and high temperatures are main environmental stresses for noxious plants in the arid environments. Responses of arid land plants to drought are complicated and include different adaptive mechanisms in terms of physiological, morphological, and phenological responses. This research aimed at investigating phenological and/or morphological res...

Drought and high temperatures are main environmental stresses for noxious plants in the arid environments. Responses of arid land plants to drought are complicated and include different adaptive mechanisms in terms of physiological, morphological, and phenological responses. This research aimed at investigating phenological and/or morphological res...

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are communities of cyanobacteria, green algae, lichens, ‎mosses and others associated closely with particles of surface soil or living inside few ‎millimeters of soil surface. In this study the geomorphology effects on habitat distribution ‎of biological soil crust along surface evolution of in an arid alluvial fan loc...

Introduction Today, mining led to severe degradation of natural and agricultural lands in a relatively large scale. Establishment of vegetation cover around the mining areas is a practical and enviromental sound strategy. However due to poor soil condition and presere of heavy metals this process is risky and establishment of plant cover is not...

Environmental crisis and the consequent loss of natural resources are the main reasons which force managers to pursue methods to manage risks and solve environmental tensions. This study was conducted in Samad-Abad as a center of wind erosion located in the southern part of Sarakhs region, Islamic Republic of Iran, near the Turkmenistan border a...

Livestock grazing is a major driver of ecosystem functions in drylands and would be expected to influence soil biota such as termites. We examined changes in soil chemistry and plant community composition on mounds constructed by the subterranean termite Anacanthotermes ahngerianus along a gradient in grazing intensity in an arid steppe in north-ea...

Fire is one of the incorporate vegetation management practices for grasslands and semi-arid rangelands. It may affect symbiotic relationship between range plants and mycorrhiza. Accordingly, this research was aimed to investigate the effects of a spring prescribed fire on the symbiotic relationships between mycorrhiza and 6 plant species. The study...

Classification of Ecological Species Groups (ESG) in plant community analysis is one method to describe vegetation and relating them to environmental factors. This study was conducted to recognize ESG and their relationships with some environmental factors in Chamanbid-Jozak protected area from 2014 to 2016. This area is located in the eastern part...

قارچ‌های میکوریز یکی از قدیمی‌ترین و گسترده‌ترین جوامع همزیست در طبیعت هستند. میکوریز نوعی قارچ همزیست با ریشه گیاهان است. قارچ‌های میکوریز از اهمیت ویژه‌ای در اکولوژی خاک برخوردار می‌باشد. وجود آن‌ها سبب تغییر ترکیب شیمیایی ترشحات ریشه، جذب عناصر قارچی، تعاملات جامعه میکروبی و ریزوسفر از محیط‌زیست می‌شود. فرم رویشی گیاهان رایج‌ترین و ساده‌ترین معی...

Plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis may significantly affect plant community dynamic and composition in dry grasslands. On the other hand, fire is a natural component of many dry grasslands worldwide. Prescribed fire, as a restoration technique, may alter the plant-mycorrhiza relationships. However, its effects may vary on different plant species, and depen...

Plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis may significantly affect plant community dynamic and composition in dry grasslands. On the other hand, fire is a natural component of many dry grasslands worldwide. Prescribed fire, as a restoration technique, may alter the plant mycorrhiza relationships. However, its effects may vary on different plant species, and depen...

Introduction: Due to the water shortage and location of Iran within an arid region, the total costs of maintaining urban green space is dramatically high. Most of the plant species cultivated in the urban green spaces of Iran are exotic and need a high amount of resources. Native species, in contrast, are adapted to the soil conditions and tempe...

Aims Species composition and diversity of the mountainous rangelands are results of interactions between environmental severities, heterogeneous topography and facilitative effects by nurse plants. This research was aimed to compare relative effects of these three environmental variables on the natural vegetation of a mountainous rangeland. For a m...

Severe lack of rainfall and its unfavorable distribution, very high evapotranspiration rate and the low water-holding capacity in some of the soils are the most important challenges for the establishment of plants in arid areas. This research was aimed at comparing efficiency of different water harvesting methods for establishment of six native...

It is very difficult to provide water for irrigating plants in arid areas. However, range and desert plants are usually drought tolerant and may need no additional water for growth. Therefore, determining the best cultivation method (irrigation or rainfed) in terms of seed production economy is an important issue for seed producers. This research w...

Iran is a dry country, with 88 percent of its territory being located in the hyper arid, arid, semi-arid, and dry subhumid areas. Iran has a 4000-year history of human civilization, vast diversity of landscapes with 8000 plant, 535 bird, 197 mammal and 870 fish species. However, rapid increase of human population, industrialization together with ad...

Plant-mycorrhiza symbiosis increases ecosystem biodiversity and stability. However, it may be affected by the environmental disturbances. Effects of wildfire burning were assessed the colonization rate of VA mycorrhizal fungi with four perennial grasses Festuca ovina , Poa bulbosa , Stipa barbata and Agropyron trichophorum, in Dasharasi rangela...

Significance Climate change is increasing the degree of aridity in drylands, which occupy 41% of Earth’s surface and support 38% of its population. Soil bacteria and fungi are largely responsible for key ecosystem services, including soil fertility and climate regulation, yet their responses to changes in aridity are poorly understood. Using a fiel...

Aims Climate and human impacts are changing the nitrogen ( N ) inputs and losses in terrestrial ecosystems. However, it is largely unknown how these two major drivers of global change will simultaneously influence the N cycle in drylands, the largest terrestrial biome on the planet. We conducted a global observational study to evaluate how aridity...

As the utilization of rangelands in Iran has exceeded 2.2 times its carrying capacity, increasing numbers of livestock, especially in drought years, have dramatic effects on rangelands. In this regard, the prediction of forage production is an important management strategy to mitigate the consequences of drought. In Plour and Saveh Range Experiment...

The Shimbar or Shirin Bahar region with an area of 53000 h is located in 45 km north east of Masjed Soleyman city, Andica town and north of Shahid Abaspour dam. The area belongs to the Zagrosian district of Irano-Turanian region. In three seasons, winter, spring and summer of 2012 to 2013, herbarium specimens of the area were collected and named...

Curved pits have been constructed in the upper slopes of Mohammadabad-e-Chahak playa, in order to reduce runoff entrance and thereby control the playa extension. Seeds of Haloxylon persicum and Atriplex canescence have also been sown inside the pits. This research was aimed to investigate effects of pit size and pit zones on establishment rates...

Artemisia is a widely distributed genus from Asteraceae. Some species family the of the genus despite having allelopathic effects, provide favorable microclimatic conditions for the establishment of range plants under its canopy. Therefor, study of nurse plant, s allelopathic effect such as Artemisia korassanica Krasch. on understory like Bromus...

Geographic, climatic, and soil factors are major drivers of plant beta diversity, but their importance for dryland plant communities is poorly known. This study aims to: i) characterize patterns of beta diversity in global drylands, ii) detect common environmental drivers of beta diversity, and iii) test for thresholds in environmental conditions d...

Abstract. Rangeland ploughing and cultivation using dry land farming crops may be a major reason for the destruction of natural resources in the semiarid and sub-humid regions which may significantly change the composition and reduce the stability of the affected communities. In present research, an abandoned ploughed site was compared with a ne...

The effect of six SiO2 nanosized concentrations (0, 5, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mg L-1) and three seed prechilling treatments (control, seed prechilling before nano SiO2 treatments, treatments of seed with nano SiO2 before prechilling) on germination and seedling growth of tall wheatgrass (Agropyron elongatum L.) were studied. Results indicated that appli...

Aim Geographical, climatic and soil factors are major drivers of plant beta diversity, but their importance for dryland plant communities is poorly known. The aim of this study was to: (1) characterize patterns of beta diversity in global drylands; (2) detect common environmental drivers of beta diversity; and (3) test for thresholds in environment...

The biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are interlinked by primary production, respiration and decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems1. It has been suggested that the C, N and P cycles could become uncoupled under rapid climate change because of the different degrees of control exerted on the supply of these elemen...