Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol.12, Issue 01, 2006; Page No.(9-15)

DETERMINATION OF PLANT ECOLOGICAL GROUPS IN THE BEECH (FAGOUS ORIENTALIS LIPSKY) FORESTS OF SIYAHKLE, EASTERN GUILAN, IRAN

Hassan Pourbabaer, Marzieh Beygom Faghir,Ahmad Poor-rostarn

Abstract

In order to determine plant ecological groups and their relations with topographical factors in the beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) forests a survey was carried out on area of 200 ha, and altitude ranged from 750 to 1250 m a.s.l. of Siyahkle, ShenRood. For data collection, the systematic random method with dimension 80 m x 80 m was used. The sampling plot area was obtained by using nested plot sampling in 20 m x 20 m area. Within each sampling plot different plants species including tree, shrub, herb and tree seedling layers were collected and identified, in spring and summer seasons. Their abundance- dominance was estimated based on Braun-Blanquet criterion. Ecological groups were diagnosed by means of TWINSPAN classification method. The results showed that three ecological groups were found in the tree and shrub layer. In the herbal and tree seedling layer of spring collection, four ecological groups and in the herbal and tree seedling layer of summer collection three groups were found. Comparing distribution of plant ecological groups with topographical factors (i.e., slope, aspect and elevation) revealed that there were significant relationship between aspect and plant ecological groups distribution and in some ecological groups with slope, while elevation had no remarkable influence on plant ecological groups distribution.

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