Bbiodiversityiodiversity
Biodaversity of Algeti National Park
A large part of the park is covered with coniferous and deciduous forests. Botanists call Algeti National Park a “floristic hub” - 1,664 plant species are represented here. The park is rich in large mammals and is a migration area for several species.
Flora
6,044 ha of Algeti National Park are covered with forests. A significant part of the Algeti Reserve territory (23%) is covered with coniferous forests, which are represented by strong edificator species: oriental spruce, Caucasian fir and Caucasian pine. Fir and fir are relict species and their protection and care are very important for the preservation of the Caucasian flora. They grow in the park at an altitude of 1,100-1,850 m above sea level.
Algeti National Park is home to 1,664 plant species: 80 trees, 74 shrubs, more than 800 herbaceous plants, 156 medicinal plant species, 43 poisonous, 24 vegetables, 69 ornamental, and 3 endemic to Georgia and the Caucasus. The park is characterized by a diverse phytocenosis of spruce, pine, beech, and oak forests. The Caucasian spruce and the sedge are represented in the form of single specimens. In the vicinity of the Klde-Kari, there are small-scale ridges of the Caucasian Deca, the Algeti Gorge is the eastern border of its distribution.
The floristic composition of the park is exceptionally diverse. We find: representatives of the Colchian, Hyrcanian, Iberian, Iranian, specifically Caucasian, and Trans-Asian flora. From the Tertiary period, the following species have survived: Caucasian fir, Eastern beech, Caucasian sycamore, wild cherry, and other plants of the mesophilic flora of Colchis and the Eastern Mediterranean. From the Hyrcanian flora, we find the Hyrcanian maple, and from the Near East, we find the Pallas' black locust, the linden, and others.
The forest ecosystems in the Algeti National Park have high soil protection and water regulation value.
514 species of fungi (183 micromycetes, 331 macromycetes), 184 species of lichens, 304 species of algae, and 150 species of mosses are widespread.
7 species of macrometes (Arrhenia retiruga, Dacrymyces palmatus, Echinoderma aspera, Peziza petersii, Pulcherricum caeruleum , Russula pectinatoides, Thelephora penicillata), 3 species of lichens (Flavopunctelia flaventior, Hypotrachyna revolute , H. sinuosa.) and 5 species of algae (Cocconeis fluviatilis, Cymbella helvetica, Gomphonema intricatum, Gyrosigma spencerii, Hantzshia amphioxys) are new to the nature of Georgia.
Species of the Georgian "Red List"
Rare and endangered trees and plants are widespread in the reserve: Georgian hazelnut, highland oak, sea buckthorn, Caucasian elm, linden, elm.
Endemic species
Only 3 species of endemics grow in the park.
Fauna
In the national park, large predatory mammals include: brown bear and wolf, rarely – lynx, forest marten, squirrel, dormouse, hare, fox, wild boar. Roe deer are a permanent resident of these forests. Several species of amphibians and lizards live on the territory of the national park. Among the snakes, the inhabitants of Algeti are: copperhead, common ankara, water ankara, field viper and horned viper.
More than 60 species of birds are represented in the Algeti gorge, including: hawk, mimino, kakacha, meadow dzelkori, tchoti, kapkapi, opof, black woodpecker, swallow, thrush, chhikvi, tsitskana, chinchraka, chitbatona and others. The very rare white-tailed eagle is also recorded in the valley.
The following invertebrates are widespread in the national park: 4 types, 8 classes, 22 orders, 134 families, 567 genera and 1013 species, including 14 species of beetles and 131 species of insects.
52 species of harmful insects are widespread here.
Species of the Georgian “Red List”
The following representatives of the Georgian “Red List” animals and birds are represented in the Algeti National Park: brown bear (Ursus arctos), Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalis), Caucasian grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi), white-tailed eagle (Aquila heliaca), etc.
Relict and Endemic Species
The park is home to 27 endemic species of small mammals: the pygmy pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), the common dormouse (Myoxus glis), the Nering's bruce (Nannospalax nehringi), the snow vole (Chionomys nivalis), the common vole (Microtus arvalis), the Asia Minor mouse (Sylvaemus mystacinus), and others. Among invertebrates, 3 Caucasus endemics have been identified: 2 species of the family (Tipulidae) and 1 species of the family (Bibioniodae).