The effect of elevation on plant distribution pattern in central Zagros forests (case study: educational and research forest of Razi University)

Subject Areas : forest

Azadeh Sohrabi Zadeh ¹ , rezahossein hheidary ² , Maziar Heidri ³

1 - *1Department of Forestry, University of Razi, Kermanshah, Iran
2 - Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.
3 - Research Department of Natural Resources, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Sanandaj, Iran

Received: 2020-09-25 Accepted : 2021-05-29 Published : 2021-08-23

Keywords: Spatial pattern, Moricita, Standardized Moricita, Middle Zagros forest,

Abstract :

Ecological factors have a significant role in establishment, growth, survival and distribution of plant species in their natural environments. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial distribution of trees, shrubs and herbaceous part of the central Zagros forests in Kermanshah. For this purpose, three elevation classes of less than1000, 1000-1500 and more than1500 m above sea level (asl) was selected. In each class, 32 circular plots (1000 square meters as circular), by random- regular inventory methods as 100 x 100 m were picked and the number of trees in each plot was recorded. In each circular plot, a micro- plot of 5 x 5 m (25 m2) to check shrubs and a plot of 1 x 1 meter (1 square meter) to check herbaceous and record the number of shrubs and herbaceous plant species were selected. Quadrat index or plot (Indicators ratio variance/mean, Morisita, Morisita standardized, cluster, and green) was used to investigate the spatial distribution of plants. The results showed the highest average of Variance/average, Morisita, Morisita standardized, clustering David - Moore and Green was observed in 1000-1500 m asl. Moreover, the highest average value of these indices for shrubs and herbaceous plant species was found in the classes of more than 1500 m asl. ANOVA revealed that the difference between spatial-pattern indices in elevation classes was significant in three layers of trees, shrubs, and herbs and the elevation significantly influenced tree distribution.