Effect of deadwoods on plant diversity in forest ecosystems in Jisa and Shahrestan Region, Mazandaran Province

Subject Areas :

Farshad Keivan-Behjo ¹ (Assistant Professor, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.)
Zeynab Pour-Gholi ² (M.Sc. Student in Forest Ecology and Silviculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.)
Jamshid Sanaee ³ (M.Sc. Student in Forestry, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.)

Received: 2017-11-24 Accepted : 2018-01-22 Published : 2018-02-20

Keywords: Biodiversity, Deadwoods, evenness, height, richness indices,

Abstract :

Due to effects on biological processes, deadwoods play an important role on sustainable forest management including biodiversity conservation, forest regeneration, increasing nutrition and nutrition cycle. The aim of this study was to evaluate deadwood effects on biodiversity in Makaroud forest management plan in Jisa and Shahrestan forests. Therefore, the species, diameter, decay degree and slop for each sample were recorded and 90 deadwoods were selected in 3 different heights above sea levels. Biodiversity was evaluated by using Simpson, Shannon Weiner indices as well as species richness index using Margalef, Menhinik indices and evenness ‎index by Hill index. Results showed that biodiversity indices in 150-300 m height above sea level were more than other heights. However, margalef index was lower in 1800 m height than 1000 m and 150-300 m height, and Hill evenness index was higher in 1800 m height than 1000 m and 150-300m. It can be concluded, the diversity index will be decreased, and evenness and richness indices will be increased by increasing height from sea level. There is significant correlation between diameter and height of deadwoods with plant species indices.