There are more than 500 lakes in Uzbekistan and they are used wisely for various purposes [1]. A number of studies have been conducted on the hydrobiology of these lakes. However, not all lakes have been fully studied along the waterfront and aquatic plants. One such lake is Dengizkul Lake. Dengizkul is located in the south-west of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the Alat district of Bukhara region, 75 km from the city of Bukhara, on the border with Turkmenistan, 40 km northwest of the center of Alat district (Figure 1). Dengizkul physically and geographically occupies the depth part of the plains of Bukhara region. In the twentieth century, the Zarafshan River played an important role in the formation of the Dengizkul River. The lower tributary of the Zarafshan River, Tayqir, flows into the lake [2]. Currently, the main water source of the lake is the southern Alat collector. In recent years, the salinity of the water has increased significantly as a result of the decrease in the amount of water discharged into the lake. Lake Den

gizkul is a reservoir formed as a result of the discharge of water from the Bukhara

and Karakul oases through the Khamza collector in the 1960s-1970s on the site of a natural depression [3].

Currently, Dengizkul receives sewage and collector water from Bukhara region. But these waters cannot maintain the water level of the lake permanently. In summer, very hot days cause the lake water to evaporate, and as a result of the decrease in the amount of water, the amount of salt in it increases, leading to the accumulation of salt at the bottom of the lake up to half a meter. The results of such studies serve as a scientific basis for improving the economic development and epidemiological sanitation of these areas.

Scientists from Central Asia and the Republic of Uzbekistan have conducted a number of scientific studies on aquatic and marine plants. In particular, the aquatic plants found in the Farkhod Reservoir are N.V. Generalov [4], K.V. on the formation of aquatic plants. Dobroxotova [5] [6], data on the ecology of plants distributed in water basins V.S. Pokrovskiy [7], V.V. Nikitin [8] is mentioned in his scientific works. The distribution of aquatic plants T.G. Matyukova [9], A.A. Ashirova [10], V.M. was studiedby Katansky [11] and others. The largest research work on the study of aquatic and coastal plants in Central Asia was conducted by M.G. Popov, E.P. Korovin, V.P. Drobov, N.V. Pavlov, A.M. Muzafarov, K.Z. Zakirov, L.E. Rodina, I.I. Granitov, F.N. Belongs to Rusanov and others. On the composition of species of plants and their useful properties in the water basins of Uzbekistan and its environs A.M. Muzafarov and others [12], A.E. Ergashev [13], T. Taubaev [14], S. Keldibekov [15], N.E. Rashidov [16] and other scientists. High plants have been studied by Esanov [17] and lists 11 species of water and coastal plant species. Also, the plants of Karakir Lake are studies by A.M. Kobilov and others. [18], Devkhona Lake Plants are studied by A.R. Kuzmetov and others [19].

The object of study is the tall plants distributed in and around Lake Dengizkul, Bukhara region. Data from Flora of Uzbekistan [20], Opredelitel rasteniy Sredney Azii [21] and Analysis of Flora of Bukhara Oasis [22] were used to determine the composition of plant species. Herbarium specimens were collected by the route [23] method. The scientific names of the categories and species are “Opredelitel rasteniy Sredney Azii” [21], according to international indexes—International Plants Names Index [24], The Plant List [25] and the authors of the species Brummit, R.K., Powell, C.E. [26]. The map of Bukhara region was created on the basis of ArcGIS 10 program.

In existing scientific sources [2] [20] [21] [27] Dengizkul data on marine vegetation have been provided. Some information about the plants is given only in the reports. Therefore, the water and waterfront vegetation of the lake in 2019-2020 were studied. Preliminary results of the study showed that due to the high salinity of the lake water, there were very few species of aquatic plants in it. It can be seen that the natural populations of higher plant species around Dengizkul Lake are very well preserved (Figure 2).

Due to the fact that this area is the object of Lukoil, it was studied on the basis of the collection of herbarium samples during the study that the lands are protected and the plant population is naturally preserved. Calligoniummatteianum Drobow, C. paletzkianum Litv., C. setosum Litv., included in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan, are very rare in this region and species encountered. As a result of the research, the collected plants were systematically analyzed and an initial list of species was compiled. They were divided into groups according to their meeting in the water and on the waterfront (Table 1).

In this region 70 species of tall plants belonging to 24 families have been identified. Of these, 18 species are found in lake water and 52 species in its vicinity. Unlike other lakes in Bukhara region, the number of aquatic plant species was small.

Lake Dengizkul was rich in flora and fauna in the early days of its emergence. However, in recent years, the decrease in the amount of water discharged into the lake and the strong transpiration process have increased the salinity of the water, leading to a decrease in the number of higher aquatic plants. The number of species in this lake was lower than in other lakes of Bukhara region. Even Phragmitesaustralis and Typhaangustifolia, which are recorded as the main plant of all lakes, can be found only in some parts of the lake shores. The population of terrestrial plants around the sea is naturally preserved and rich in species.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Esanov H.К., Shodmonov F.Q. and Kobilov A.M. (2021) High Plant Species Distributed in and around Dengizkul, Bukhara Region. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 12, 266-273. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2021.122016