and hot. Fall starts at the third decade of September and ends until the 2nd decade of November. The most humid periods are November–February and then April–May (Baghdasarian et al., 1971). Landscape and habitats The landscape of the reservation is very mosaic. Sandy deposits which are the core of the reservation along with tertiary clayey deposits historically arose in Pleistocene over the bed-rock - a Paleozoic limestone (Ararat Travertine). Later tectonic movements along with constant water and wind erosion of the bed rock adding even more complexity in the structure of the landscape (Baghdasarian et al., 1971, Tadevosyan, 2001). Sandy habitats of the reservation remained a pretty large and wide ash-grey shore-line, thought there are no seas or lakes around. Presence of diatomite shelves in the sand is an evidence of its lacustrine or marine origin. Today, the closest water body is the river Vedi, which is intermittent in its lower flow, and usually dries out every summer. It is situated within almost 900 meters from the reservation and separated from it by the road and a wide line of agriculture lands. Within the reservation there are no other water bodies except for a few small ephemeral springs at the bottom of the deepest limestone canyons. Different types of ground and distance from the water source determine different composition of biodiversity (Tadevosyan, 2001; 2002). Limestone rocks and their outcrops were found to be richest in diversity of vascular plants (102 species) and vertebrate animals. Habitats of spring beds support just some of the majority of plant and animal species. Rocks of different size and position on the surface of the ground create a kind of shell which protects the soil from fast and deep drying, the plants from losing humidity and relatively heavy-bodied vertebrate animals from overheating and from predators. The characteristic vegetation of this habitat is called phryganoids. Here one can encounter very dryness resistant (xerophylic) relatives of woody plants like Pallass's buckthorn (Rhamnus pallassii), white-hair cherry (Prunus incana), dragon-head sage (Salvia dracocephaloides), as well as relatively large animals which need reliable permanent shelters such as fox, Mediterranean tortoise (Testudo graeca armeniaca), blunt nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa), golden grass skink (Trachylepis septemlineatus transcaucasicus), and Caucasian agama (Laudakia caucasia). Many of organisms inhabiting rocky outcrops critically need rock cover for protection from predators, incubation and hibernation. Therefore, extensive travertine mining in the neighbourhoods of the reservation carries a serious