Authors
1
Research Expert, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Kermanshah Province, I.R. Iran
2
Member of Scientific Board, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, I. R. Iran.
3
Member of Scientific Board, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Kermanshah Province, I.R. Iran.
Abstract
Climate, plant and soil diversity during ecological development, resulted in complex ecosystems at Zagros zone of Iran. Different forest types diversity from north to south of Zagros, is a good evidence for that case. The importance and the critical role of this ecosystem on economical, social and environmental prospectives of the country, makes it essential to study and investigate the zone comprehensively. However, investigation on relationship between plant cover and the ecological factors which affect the zone, can lead to a better knowledge of the zone.
In vestigation on tree, shrub and grass species autecology at these forest is highly important in order to identify forest distribution of the province according to climate diversity, the climate map (according to the important climate method of de Martonne) was matched with the topographical map of Iran, then controlled by forest walking. The tree, shrub and herb species characteristics and some of the edaphic and topographical parameters were studied using 126 macro plots (500 m2) and 630 micro plots (105 m2), the sampling plots were located on contour lines at loo m. altitude intervals.
Overall, 13 forest sites at six climate types were identified, based on the applied research parameters, dominant slope direction and 1000 m. distance between the sample plots at each contour line, including: Bayangan & Gahvareh with cold humid climate, Islam – Abade – garb, Darbadam and Geomarg with semi – humid cold climate Tazehbad with very humid cold climate, Ghalajeh with semi humid ultra cold climate, Javanrood with 2 climate types; humid temperate and humid cold and finally five sites: Chaharzbar, Harrasam, Sarv -e- no, Sarpole - e - zahab and Qeymas with semi dry cold climate. Moreovoer, it was identified that: The greatest and the lowest density of the tree and shrub species belonged to Harrasam (semi – arid cold climate) and Galajeh (semi – humid ultra – cold climate), respectively.
The highest and the lowest density of the seed origin forests, belonged to Tazeabad (very humid cold climate) and Sarv-e – no (semi – arid cold climate), respectively.
The greatest and the lowest percentage of forest crown cover belonged to humid cold and humid temperate climates of Javanroud, respectively.
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