Taxonomy and determination of conservatism coefficient for herb layer of three forest types in central Zagross

Document Type : Scientific article

Authors

1 Ph.D candidate of silviculture and forest ecology, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Recourses, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Recourses, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Recourses, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, I. R. Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Silviculture and Forest Ecology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Recourses, Gorgan, I. R. Iran

Abstract

This study investigates floristic quality of central Zagros forest in relation to environmental disturbances using conservatism coefficient. Tree layer of the most important forest types in central Zagros was surveyed using 24 plots (500 m2 area) and herb layer was measure by 72 plots (4 m2 area). Then the list of collected flora send to an expert group of botanist and ecologist to assign conservatism coefficient to them based on the amount of each species sensitivity to disturbances and fidelity to the ecological site condition. Based on the results only a few species take high rank score which means the most collected plant species were sensitive to the disturbances and have low fidelity to the site. In fact more than half of the collected species belong to the lowest class of conservatism coefficient (1-3), which pyrus glabra forest type involves the most plant species of this class.

Keywords

References

- Abrari Vajari, K. & G. Veis Karami, 2005. Floristic study of Hashtad- Pahlu region in Khorramabad (Lorestan), Pajouhesh & Sazandegi, 67(2): 58-64 (In Persian).
- Andreas, B. K., J. J. Mack & J. S. McCormac, 2004. Floristic Quality Assessment Index (FQAI) for vascular plants and mosses for the State of Ohio. Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water, Wetland Ecology Group, Columbus, Ohio, 219 p.
- Asadi, M., 1988- 2011. Flora of Iran. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Researchs, Vol. 1-72 (In Persian).
- Asri, Y., 2008. Plant diversity in Mouteh Refuge, Iran, Rostaniha, 9(1): 25-48 (in Persian).
- Augusto, L., J. L. Dupouey & J. Ranger, 2003. Effects of tree species on understory vegetation and environmental conditions in temperate forests, Annals of Forest Science, 60(8): 823-831.
- Beiranvand, R., B. Shirzad, A. Azizian & A. A. Bozorgi, 2004. Chmhsar reservoir project of Delfan. Forest Rangeland and Watershed country, 105 p (in Persian).
- Bernthal, T. W., 2003. Development of a floristic quality assessment methodology for Wisconsin. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Integrated Science Services, Madison, WI, USA, PUB-SS-986 2003.
- Bourdaghs, M., 2004. Properties and performance of the floristic quality index in Great Lakes coastal wetlands, M.S. Thesis. University of Minnesota. Minneapolis, USA, 150 p.
- Bowers, K. & C. Boutin, 2008. Evaluating the relationship between floristic quality and measures of plant biodiversity along stream bank habitats, Ecological Indicators,8(5): 466-475.
- Cretini, K. F., J. M. Visser, K. W. Krauss & G. D. Steyer, 2012. Development and use of a floristic quality index for coastal Louisiana marshes, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184(4): 2389-2403.
- Davis, P. H., 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. University of Edinburgh, Vol. 1-9.
- Eshghi Malayeri, B., M. Asgari Nematian, F. Kazemaini & M. M. Dehshiri, 2013. Study of floristics, life form of Ahan Gelali main, Iranian Journal of Plant Biology, 5(15): 45-58 (in Persian).
- Farhadi, P., J. Soosani, K. Adeli & V. Alijani, 2014. Analysis of Zagros forest structure using neighborhood-based indices (Case study: Ghalehgol forest, Khorramabad), Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 22(2): 294-306 (in Persian).
- Fleming, G. M., J. E. Diffendorfer & P. H. Aedler, 2009. The relative importance of disturbance and exotic- plant abundance in California coastal sage scrub, Ecological Applications, 19(8): 2210- 2227.
- Gerken Golay, M., 2013. Assessing the composition and function ofhardwood forest herbaceous flora: implications and applications for forest restoration, Ph.D. thesis. University of Iowa, 153 p.
- Ghahreman, A., 1991-2000. Color Flora of Iran. Institute of Forests and Rangelands Researchs, Vol 1-20 (in Persian).
- Gilliam, F. S. & M. R.Roberts, 2003. The Herbaceous Layer in Forests of Eastern North America, Oxford University Press, New York, NY.
- Gilliam, F. S., 2007. The ecological significance of the herbaceous layer in temperate forest ecosystems, BioScience, 57(10): 845-858.
- Godefroid, S., S. S. Phartyal, G. Weyembergh & N. Koedam, 2005. Ecological factors controlling the abundance of non- native invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina) in deciduous forest understory in Belgium, Forest Ecology and Management, 210(1-3): 91-105.
- Gurarni, D., N. Arya, A. Yadava & J. Ram, 2010. Studies on plant biodiversity of pure Pinus Roxburghii Sarg. Forest and mixed pine-oak forest in Uttarakhand Himalaya, New York Science Journal, 3(8): 1-5.
- Herman, K. D., L. A. Masters, M. P. Penskar, A. A. Reznicek, G. S. Wilhelm, W. W. Brodovich & K. P. Gardiner, 2001. Floristic quality assessment with wetland categories and examples of computer applications for the state of Michigan, second edition, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Natural Heritage Program, In partnership with U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rose Lake Plant Materials Center, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Jalili, A. & Z. Jamzad, 1999. Red data book of Iran. A preliminary survey of endemic, rare and endangered plants species in Iran. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands Press, Tehran, 750 p (in Persian).
- Matthews, J. W., 2003. Assessment of the floristic quality index for use in Illinois, Natural Areas Journal, 23(1): 53-60.
- Mehdifar, D., R. Karamian, Kh. Sagheb-Talebi & M. Sepahvand, 2015. Effects of some physical and chemical soil properties on quantitative characteristics of Quercus infectoria Oliv. at Shine Forest of Lorestan Province, Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 23(2): 234-245 (in Persian).
- Mehrnia, M. & P. Ramak, 2014. Floristic investigation of Noujian Watershed (Lorestan province), Iranian Journal of Plant Biology, 6(20): 113-136 (in Persian).
- Mirazadi, Z., B. Pilehvar & K. Abrari Vajari, 2017.Introducing Conservatism Coefficient and determining it for ground flora in middle Zagros Forest, (Case study: Kakareza Forest, Lorestan province), Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 25(1): 70-81 (in Persian).
- Modaberi, A. & J. Soosani, 2016. Dynamic assessment of changes in the statistical distribution of the canopy in the central Zagros forests with impact of the decline (Case study: Dadabad- Lorestan), Forest Research and Development, 2(1): 73-83 (in Persian).
- Molder, A., M. Bernhardt-Romermann & W. Schmidt, 2008. Herb-layer diversity in deciduous forest: Raised by tree richness or beaten by beech?, Forest Ecology and Management, 256(3): 272-281.
- Mortellaro, S., M. Barry, G. Gann, J. Zahina, S. Channon, C. Hilsenbeck, D. Scofield, G. Wilder & G. Wilhelm, 2012. Coefficients of Conservatism Values and the Floristic Quality Index for the Vascular Plants of South Florida, Southeastern Naturalist, 11(3): 1-62.
- Myers, N., R. A. Mittermeier, C. G. Mittermeier, G. A. B. da Fonseca & J. Kent, 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities, Nature, 403(6772): 853-858.
- Naghipour Borj, A. A., M. Haidarian Aghakhani & H. Tavakoli, 2011. Investigation of flora, life forms and chorotypes of plants in the Sisab protected area, North Khorasan province (Iran), Sciences and Techniques in Natural Resources, 5(4): 113-123 (in Persian).
- Naghipour Borj, A. A., M. Nowroozi & H. Bashari, 2014. Investigation of the flora, life forms and chorotypes of the plants in the Meymand Protected Area Kohkilouyeh va Boyer Ahmad provice, Iran, Taxonomy and Biosystematics, 6(19): 67-82 (in Persian).
- Najafi-Tireh-Shabankareh, K., A. Jalili, N. Khorasani, Z. Jamzad & Y. Asri, 2008. Investigation on relationship between ecological factors and plant associations of Geno protected area, Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 15(2): 179-199 (in Persian).
- Nasir, E., S. I. Ali & M. Qaiser, 1970-2000. Flora of West Pakistan. University of Karachi, vols. 1-202.
- Nichols, J. D., J. E. Perry & D. A. DeBerry, 2006. Using a floristic quality assessment technique to evaluate plant community integrity of forested wetlands in southeasternVirginia, Natural Areas Journal, 26(4): 360-369.
- Niemi, G. J. & M. E. McDonald, 2004. Application of Ecological Indicators, Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 35: 89-111.
- Raunkiaer, C., 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant geography. Oxford University Press, Clarendon.
- Rechinger, K. H., 1963-2012. Flora Iranica, Vol. 1-176.
- Rooney, T. P. & D. A. Rogers, 2002. The modified floristic quality index, Natural Areas Journal, 22(4): 340-344.
- Sabeti, H., 1976. Relation of plant and environment (Synecology). Dehkhoda, 492 pp. (In Persian(
- Sánchez-González, A. & L. López-Mata, 2005. Plant species richness and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the Sierra Nevada, Mexico, Diversity and Distributions, 11(6): 567-575.
- Sokhanvar, F., H. Ejtehadi, J. Vaezi, F. Memariani, M. R. Joharchi & Z. Ranjbar, 2013. Flora, life form and chorology of plants of the Helali protected area in Khorasan-e Razavi province, Taxonomy and Biosystematics, 5(16): 85-100 (in Persian).
- Spyreas, G. & J. W. Matthews, 2006. Floristic conservation value, nested understory floras, and the development of second-growth forest, Ecological Applications, 16(4): 1351-1366.
- Spyreas, G., S. J. Meiners, J. W. Matthews & B. Molano-Flores, 2012. Successional trends in Floristic Quality, Journal of Applied Ecology, 49(2): 339-348.
- Stohlgren, T. J., 2007. Measuring plant diversity. Oxford university press, 337 p.
- Sunil. C., R. K. Somashekar & B. C. Nagaraja, 2010. Riparian vegetation assessment of Cauvery River Basin of South India, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 170(1-4): 545-553.
- Swink, F. A. & G. S. Wilhelm, 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region. Indiana Academy of Science Press, 921p.
- Taft, J. B., C. Hauser & K. R. Robertson, 2006. Estimating floristic integrity in tallgrass prairie, Biological Conservation, 131(1): 42-51.
- Taft, J. B., G. S. Wilhelm, D. M. Ladd & L. A. Masters, 1997. Floristic quality assessment for vegetation in Illinois: A method for assessing vegetation integrity, Erigenia, 95 p.
- Talebi, M., Kh. Sagheb-Talebi & H. Jahanbazi, 2006. Site demands and some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Persian Oak (Quercus branti) in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province (western Iran), Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 14(1): 67-79 (in Persian).
- Townsend, C. C., E. Guest, S. A. Omar & A. H. Al-kayat, 1966-1985. Flora of Iraq. Ministry of Agriculture & Agrarian Reform, Baghdad, Vol. 1-9.
- Von Oheimb, G. & W. Hardtle, 2009. Selection harvest in temperate deciduous forests: impact on herb layer richness and composition, Biodiversity and Conservation, 18(2): 271-287.
- Whigham, D. F., 2004. Ecology of woodland herbs in temperate deciduous forests, Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 35: 583-621.
- Zohary, M., & N. Feindbrun-Dothan, 1966-1986. Flora Palaestina. Academic Press, Jerusalem, vols. 1-4.
- Zohary, M., 1963. On the geobotanical structure of Iran. Weizman Science Press, Jerusalem, vols. 1-10.
Forest Research and Development
Volume 5, Issue 1
June 2019
Pages 73-91

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics