ASSESSING PHYLOGENETIC DIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES OF MESOPHYTIC PLANTS IN THE FERGANA VALLEY: A REGIONAL ADAPTATION OF THE COMPLEMENTARITY APPROACH

The Fergana Valley, located in Central Asia, hosts a rich mesophytic flora shaped by its diverse topography and temperate climatic gradients. Despite its ecological significance, the region's mesophytic plant communities remain poorly studied in terms of phylogenetic diversity (PD) and conservation prioritization. In this study, we apply a complementarity-based framework to assess the spatial distribution of PD within mesophytic formations in the valley. Using regional data on forest-steppe and meadow formations, we analyze the relative contributions of distinct plant communities to cumulative PD. Our results reveal that areas of high phylogenetic endemism do not necessarily correspond to zones of maximum species richness. Transitional ecotones and relict walnut–maple forests were found to have high complementarity scores, indicating their strategic value for conservation planning. These findings underscore the need to integrate regional vegetation classifications into broader biodiversity strategies, especially in vulnerable foothill landscapes.