Use of Medicinal Species as an Ecological Indicator for Interpreting Changes in Rangeland Status (Case Study: Javaherdeh Rangelands of Ramsar)

الموضوعات :

Tina Salarian ¹ (Ph.D. Student of Rangeland Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran)
Hossein Arzani ² (Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran)
Mohammad Hasan Jouri ³ (Depatment of Range and Watershed Management Faculty of Natural Resources College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nour Branch, IA University Mazandran, Iran)
Mohammad Jafari ⁴ (Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran)

تاريخ الإرسال : 25 الإثنين , رمضان, 1441 تاريخ التأكيد : 26 السبت , رمضان, 1442 تاريخ الإصدار : 28 السبت , جمادى الأولى, 1443

الکلمات المفتاحية: Rangeland, Bioindicators, Species Diversity, Species richness, Javaherdeh Ramsar,

ملخص المقالة :

The use of modern methods in the analysis of rangeland ecosystems has received much consideration. The study of the diversity of medicinal and sometimes toxic species in rangelands can be regarded as an indicator of ecological status changes in rangeland ecosystems. In the present study, Javaherdeh mountain rangelands in north of Iran were selected under three sites including long-term exclusion, medium-term exclusion, and grazing during 2018-2019. Sampling was performed in each plant type with 4 transects of 200 meters and a random point every 10 m. Identification of species was carried out using published methods. Shannon’sdiversity,Margalef’srichness, dominance, and evenness indices were determined for each plot. The means comparisons were made for the three study sites using one-way ANOVA in SPSS v.22 software. According to the results, the highest values of diversity and richness indices for medicinal plants (1.817, 2.370) and total plants (2.062, 3.132) were calculated for the long-term exclosure. The evenness index for total species in the medium-term exclosure (0.588) and grazing area (0.620) was almost similar and higher than the amount of the long-term exclosure (0.058). However, the mentioned index for medicinal species in long term exclosure (0.739) was higher than two other sites. The dominance index for total plants in the grazing area (0.260) was higher than two other sites; however, this index of medicinal plants was higher in the grazing (0.355) and medium-term exclosure (0.393) sites as compared with the long-term exclosure (0.224). Overall, species diversity indices of medicinal plants could be a proper tool to interpret the ecological changes in range conditions. Therefore, ecological management of rangelands could be achieved through understanding and knowledge of these changes.

المصادر:

Abdelsalam, M., Abdalla, N., Abdelkreim, M., Ibrahim, M., Mohammed, M., 2017. The Impact of Continuous Grazing on Natural Rangeland in Alazzazah area Blue Nile State, Sudan. Jour. Rangeland Science, 7(4): 309-315.

Arzani, H., Abedi, M., 2015. Rangeland Assessment Vegetation Measurement, University of Tehran Press, second edition, 305pp. (In Persian)

Baghestani Maybodi, N., Zare, M. T., Zandi Esfahan, E., Zarekia, S., 2020. Effects of Intermediated-Term Grazing Rest on the Vegetation Characteristics of Steppe Rangelands, Journal of Rangeland Science, 10(1): 28-38.

Cain, S.A., 1932. Concerning certain ecological concepts. Ecological Monoger, 27(2), 475-508.

Climate information, Mazandaran, 2018-2019. Weathering forecasting of Airport station of Ramsar. (In Persian)

Cocca, G., Sturaro, E., Gallo, L., Ramanzin, M., 2012. Is the abandonment of traditional livestock farmingsystems the main driver of mountain landscape change in Alpine areas? Land Use Policy, 29: 878-886.

Ejtehadi, H., Sepehry, A., Ekkafi, H. R., 2009. Methods measuring biodiversity, university of Ferdosy Mashhad press, 229pp. (In Persian)

Ejtehadi, H., Ekkafi. H. R., Qorishi Al Husseini, S. J., 2002. Investigating and comparing numerical indices of species diversity in two habitats with different grazing management. Journal Biology of Iran, 13(3-4):49-58. (In Persian)

Eldrige, D. J., Delgado- Baquerizo, M., Travers, S. K., Val, J., Oliver, L., Dorrough, J. W., Soliveres, S., 2018. Livestock activity increases exotic plant richness, but wildlife increases native richness, with stronger effects under low productivity, Journal of Applied Ecology, 55: 766-776.

Gafna, D. J., Dolos, K., Mahiri, I. O., Mahiri, J. G., Obando, J. A., 2017. Diversity of medicinal plants anthropogenic threats in the sumburu central, sub-country of Kenya, Afr Journal Tradit Complement Altern Medicinal., 14 (5): 72-79.

Ghahraman, A., Atar, F., 1998. Species Biodiversity plant Iran, type 1, university of Tehran press, 1176pp. (In persian)

Gholinejad, B., 2015. Comparison of species diversity in different range conditions of Mouchesh rangelands in Kurdistan province, Iran. Iranian Journal of Rangeland and Desert Research, 22(2): 298-307. (In Persian)

Goodman. D., 1975. The theory of diversity- stability relationships in Ecology, The Quarterly Review of Biology, 50, 237-266.

Haynes, M.A., Fang, Z., Waller. D.M., 2013. Grazing impacts on the Diversity and Composition of alpine rangelands in Northwest Yunnan. Journal of Plant Ecology, 6(2):122-130.

Hoshino, A., Yoshihara, Y., Sasaki, T., Okayasu, T., Jamsran, U., Okuro, T., Takeuchi, K., 2009. Comparison of vegetation changes along grazing gradients with different numbers of livestock. Journal of Arid Environment, 73: 687-690.

Jahantab, E., Sepehry, A., Hanafi, B., Mirdeylami, S. Z., 2010. Comparison of plant species diversity in the two grazed and enclosed rangeland sites in mountainous rangelands of central Zagros (case study: dishmook in kohgiluyeh & buyer ahmad province), Journal of Iranian Range and Desert Research, 17(2 (39)): 292-300. (In Persian)

Jafari, A., Rahimi Baghabrishami, M., Tahmasebi Kayhani, P., 2017. Change Detection of Plants Diversity and Community Composition Due to Grazing in Rangelands of Toof Sefid Watershed, Journal Environmental Researchs, 8(15): 131-142.

Ji, L., Qin, Y., Jimoh, S. O., Hou, X., Zhang, N., Gan, Y., Luo, Y., 2020. Impacts of livestock grazing on vegetation characteristics and soil chemical properties of alpine meadows in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Journal Écoscience, 27(2): 107-118.

Jouri, M. H., 2010. Ecological investigation of upland grassland Alborz in two phytogeographical regions of Irano-Turanian and Euro-Siberian. Pune University India, 960pp.

Jouri, M. H., 1999. An investigation of socio-economic of early grazing on upland rangeland of west of Mazandaran. Ms.c. Thesis, Natural Resources faculty, Tarbiat Modares University, 82pp. (In Persian)

Jouri, M. H., Temzad, B., Shokri, M. Banihashemi, B., 2009. Comparison of diversity and richnnes in for evalliation of mountain rangeland health (Case study: rangeland of Javaherdeh Ramsar), Journal of scientific - research rangeland, 2(4): 334-356. (In Persian)

Karami, P., Bandak, I., Karaji, M. G., 2019. Comparing the effects of continuous grazing and long term exclosure on floristic composition and plant diversity in rangeland ecosystems of Saral, Iran. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology,16: 7769- 7776.

Khalatbari, k., Jouri, M. H., Ariapour, A., Mehrabi, H. R., 2014. Ecological survey of changes in rangeland status and its relation with toxic species, Quarterly Journal of Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 5(2): 93-103. (In Persian)

Lakey and Dorji k., 2016. Ecological status of high altitude medicinal plants and their sustainability: Lingshi, Bhutan. BMC Ecology, 16: 45, 1-14.

Laliberté, E., Lambers, H., Norton, D. A.,Tylianakis, J. M., Huston, M.A., 2013. A long-term experimental test of the dynamic equilibrium model of species diversity. Oecologia, 171: 439-448.

Louhaichi, M., Salkini, A. K., Petersen, S. L., 2009. Effect of small ruminant grazing on the plant community characteristics of semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems. International Journal Of. Agriculture and Biology, 11(6): 681–689.

Lyseng, M. P., Brok, E. W., Hewins, D. B., Alexander, M. J., Carlyle, C. N., Chang, S. X., Willms, W. D., 2018. Long- term grazing impacts on vegetation diversity, composition, and exotic species presence across an aridity gradient in northern temperate grasslands, Journal Plant Ecology, 1-15.

Margalef, R. 1957. Diversidad de species en las commundades naturals. Publicaciones del instituto de biological aplicate.No 6: 59-72.

Mesdaghi, M., Gholamibaghi, N., 2008. An investigation diversity location sample species rangeland park public Golestan, Journal of Iranian Natural Resources, 13(3): 161-171. (In Persian)

Mesdaghi, M., Sadeghnejad, M. R., 2000. Comparison of diversity indices fewer than three levels of range utilization in semi-stepic vegetation of north-eastern of Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, 7(3): 63-76. (In Persian)

Mligo, C., 2006. Effect of grazing pressure on plant species Composition and diversity inthe semi-arid rangelands of Mbulu district, Tanzania. Agricultural Journal, 4: 277-283.

Moghadam, M. R., 2005. Range and Range management, tree edition, university of Tehran press, 470pp. (In Persian).

Moridi, T., Karami, P., Shokri, M., Jouri, M.H., 2007. The relationship between diversity and production in the Zagros grasslands and shrublands. Journal of Iranian Rangeland, 1(1): 1-10. (In Persian)

Mozafarian, V. A., 2015. Recognition of medicinal and aromatic plants of Iran, Farhang Publishing, 1426PP. (In Persian)

Nathans, L. L., Oswald F. L., Nimon. K., 2012. Interpreting Multiple Linear Regressions: A Guidebook of Variable Importance. Practical Assessment,Research & Evaluation, 17(9):1-19.

Nikan, M., Ejtehadi, H., Jajnkju, M., Memariani, F., Hasanpour, H., Noadoost, F., 2012. Floristic composition and plant diversity under different grazing intensities (Case study: semi steppe rangeland, Baharkish, Quchan). Iranian Journal of Range and Desert Research, 19(2): 306-320. (In Persian)

Odum, E. P., 1960. Organic Production and Turnover in Old Field Succession. Ecology, 41(1): 34-49.

Odum, E. P., 1964. The New Ecology, BioScience, 14(7): 14-16.

Odum, E. P., 1977. The Emergence of Ecology as a New Integrative Discipline, Science, New Series, 195(4284): 1289-1293.

O'Connor, T. G., Van Wilgen, B. W., 2020. The impact of invasive alien plants on rangelands in South Africa, Biological Invasions in South Africa, 14: 459-487

Pielou, E.C., 1975. Ecological diversity, Wiley Interscience, New York. 165 pp.

Parker, K. W., 1950. Report on 3-step method for measuring condition and trend of forest ranges. USDA Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 68pp.

Petz, K., Glenday, J., Alkemade, R., 2014. Land management implications for ecosystem services in a South African rangeland. Ecological Indicators, 45(7): 692-703.

Ranyard, C. E., Kirkpatrick, J. B., Johnson, C. N., Barmuta, L. A., Jones, M. E., 2018. An exotic woody weed in a pastoral landscape provides habitat for many native species, but has no apparent threatened species conservation significance. Ecological management & restoration, 19(3): 212-221.

Rechinger, K.H. (eds)., 1963-2005. Flora Iranica, Vols.1-176 Graz; AkademischeDruck-u Verlagsanstal.

Reed, M. S., Dougill, A. J., Baker, T. R., 2008. Participatory indicator development: what can ecologists and local communities learn from each other? Ecological Applications, 18(5): 1253-1269.

Rotich, H., Onwonga, R., Mbau, J., Koech, O., 2018. Vegetation Dynamics in Relation to Grazing Management Practices in Semi-Arid Grazing Lands of Makueni County Kenya, Journal Rangeland Science, 8(3): 227-239.

Rueda, M., Rebollo, S., García-Salgado, G. O., 2013. Contrasting impacts of different-sized herbivores on species richness of Mediterranean annual pastures differing in primary productivity. Oecologia, 172: 449-459.

Saether, B. E., Engen, S., Solberg, E. J., 2009. Effective size of harvested ungulate populations, Animal Conservation, 12: 488-495.

Sahli, H.F., Conne, J.K., 2006. Characterizing Ecological Generalization in Plant-Pollination Systems, 148(3): 365-372.

Salami, A.A., Zare, H., Amini, T., Ejtehadi, H., Jafari, B., 2007. Comparison of plant species diversity in the two grazed and ungrazed rangeland sites in kohne lashak, noshahr. Journal Pajouhesh and sazandegi, 75: 37-46. (In Persian)

Salarian, T., Jouri. M. H., Askarizadeh, D., Mahmoudi, M., 2015. The Study of Diversity Indices of Plants Species Using SHE Method (Case Study: Javaherdeh Rangelands, Ramsar, Iran), Journal of Rangeland Science, 5(1): 28-36.

Shannon, C. E., Wiener, W., 1949. The mathematical theory of communication. University of IllinoisPress 35 pp.

Sigcha, F., Pallavicini, Y., Camino, M.J. Martínez-Ruiz, C., 2018. Effects of short-term grazing exclusion on vegetation and soil in early succession of a Subhumid Mediterranean reclaimed coal mine. Plant and Soil, 426: 197.

Simpson, E. H.,1949. Measurement of diversity. Nature, 163, 688p.

Sokhanvar F., Ejtehadi H., Vaezi J., Memariani, F., 2016. Study of Plant Species Diversity and Certain Effective Factors in Helali Protected Area, Khorassan Razavi Province, Iran. Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology), 29(4): 794- 804. (In Persian)

Stringer, L. C., Reed, M. S., 2006. Land degradation assessment in southern africa: integrating local and scientific knowledge bases. Land degradation and Development, 18: 99-116.

Vallentine, J. F., 1990. Grazing Management, Academic Press, N.Y.

Waters, C. M., McDonald, S. E., Reseigh, J., Grant, R., Burnside, D. G., 2020. Insights on the relationship between total grazing pressure management and sustainable land management: key indicators to verify impacts, The Rangeland Journal 41(6): 535-556.

Wellstein, C., Otte, A., Waldhardt, R., 2007. Impact of site and management on the diversity of central European mesic grassland. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 122: 203–210.

Yao, X., Wu, J., Gong, X., Lang, X., Wang, C., 2019. Grazing exclosures solely are not the best methods for sustaining alpine grasslands. PeerJ, the Journal of life and Environmental Sciences, 1-30.

Yeylaghi, Sh., Ghorbani, A., Asghari, A., Heydari, M., 2012. Comparison of species diversity under grazed and ungrazed rangelands in Qushchi chat of Urmia. Journal of Rangeland, 6(3): 282-293. (In Persian)

Zohdi, M., Arzani, H., Javadi, S. A., Jalili, A., Khorshidi, G., 2018. Government and Range Management in Iran (Policy, Laws, and Plans). Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 16(4): 4637-4654. (In persian)