Document Type : Short paper
Authors
1
Corresponding author, Postdoctoral Researcher, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
2
Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
3
Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran
4
Researcher, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.22092/ijfpr.2024.364042.2128
Abstract
Background and objectives: Forests are one of the most significant sources of species diversity in the biosphere, playing a crucial role in protecting endangered species. With a total of 115 indigenous plant species, Hyrcanian forests are considered one of the most valuable ecosystems in Iran and the world. Deadwood is one of the significant structural characteristics of these natural forests. Deadwood, as habitat trees, plays an essential role in maintaining biodiversity. Saproxylic species are invertebrates that depend on rotting wood, deadwood (standing or fallen), fungi, and other living organisms during part of their life cycle. Therefore, this study investigates and analyzes the need to replace the proposed word “خشکدارزی” instead of “saproxylic.”
Methodology: The method in this study involved a review of previous studies and the authors’ research related to the comprehensive plan of saproxylic species diversity in northern Iran. Based on this, the study investigates and evaluates the most important reasons for using the Persian word “خشکدارزی” instead of “saproxylic” in seven different cases. These include a specialized review of the word “saproxylic,” examining the distinction between obligatory and optional users of deadwood, estimating species related to deadwood, analyzing the variables affecting the abundance of saproxylic individuals, the relationship between the loss of biodiversity of Saproxylic species and the absence of deadwood, forest plantations and saproxylic individuals, and comparing the word “خشکدارزی” with other similar words.
Results: The specialized examination of the word “saproxylic” showed that this term forms the basis of biodiversity assessment in deadwood and describes insects living in decaying wood. Saproxylic organisms (hereafter: “خشکدارزی”) directly and indirectly use deadwood as a source of energy or habitat. Twenty to twenty-five percent of the insects living in the forest are species related to deadwood. The results of examining the variables affecting the abundance of Saproxylic individuals showed that deadwood volume, the degree of deadwood decay, and the volume of living trees had significant effects on the frequency of Saproxylic individuals. Various studies also showed the relationship between the loss of biodiversity of Saproxylic individuals and the absence of deadwood, with traps (window and pit) always installed where deadwood is present. On the other hand, although plantations for wood production are one of the most important sources of wood on a wide scale, there is no sign of deadwood and, consequently, no presence of saproxylic individuals in these areas compared to natural forests. While the meaning of deadwood is a dried tree, in nature, deadwood is not always a completely dead tree. In many cases, only part of the trunk or crown of the tree is dead, while other parts are healthy. This term is known to all experts in forest ecology as referring to any part of a completely dead tree, aligning with the term deadwood.
Conclusion: Therefore, the word “خشکدارزی”instead of “Saproxylic” can effectively describe this category of species in the Persian language. Finally, the necessity of replacing non-Persian words with suitable Persian words and equating these words in scientific research writings, while preserving their expressive meaning in Persian, can be a positive step towards specialized vocabulary.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)