Woody species diversity in natural juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. stands in Northwest of Iran
Paper Details
Woody species diversity in natural juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. stands in Northwest of Iran
Abstract
In this research woody species diversity, species importance value (SIV) and stand structure of natural J. excelsa M. Bieb. stands were studied in Ardebil province in the North West of Iran. The elevation of the study area ranges from 2,000 to 2,100 m above sea level. Data were collected in summer 2014, by systematic sample plots with an area of 400 m2 (20 m × 20 m). A total of 30 woody species belonging to 14 families were recorded from the study area. The family of Rosaceae with 9 species had the most number of woody species. The J. excelsa had a highest density (63.6 stem ha-1) and species importance value (SIV=58.3) in the study area. After Juniper, the trees of Acer monspessulanum, Amygdalus lyciodes, Pistacia atlantica, Quercus macranthera and Berberis integerrima had the highest density and SIV. The Carpinus orientalis had a high seedling density (9.7 stem ha– 1). The seedling density of J. excelsa was 8.6 stem ha-1. The results showed that the studied stands had an uneven aged structure. The mean of Shannon – Wiener diversity index was calculated 1.62. The values of diversity and richness indices were decreases by increasing diameter classes (P<0.01). Regeneration in these forests is strongly inhibited by grazing pressure and human disturbance.
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Farzam Tavankar (2015), Woody species diversity in natural juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. stands in Northwest of Iran; JBES, V6, N4, April, P268-275
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