Reproduction and the importance of nurse species in the monitoring plots of Zagros forests, Iran

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 Corresponding author, Assistant Prof., 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 Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

4 Assistant Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

5 Associate Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shahr-eKord, Iran

6 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran

7 Associate Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Khorramabad Iran

8 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Kurdistan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Sanandaj, Iran

9 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Khuzestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ahvaz, Iran

10 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Yasuj, Iran

11 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran

12 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Lorestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Khorramabad, Iran

13 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, Ilam Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ilam, Iran

14 Assistant Prof., Research Division of Natural Resources, West Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Urmia, Iran

15 Faculty member

16 Researcher, Research Division of Natural Resources, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran

10.22092/ijfpr.2024.364224.2135

Abstract

 
Background and objectives: Reproduction (regeneration) is a fundamental process that drives the dynamics of a forest, occurring continuously in a healthy and natural forest with a specific spatial and temporal pattern. Natural regeneration poses significant challenges in Zagros forests, Iran. This research was undertaken to examine and analyze the current state of reproduction of tree and shrub species in the monitoring sample plots of Zagros forests. This study, while scrutinizing the species composition, origin, distribution curves, and health of seedlings and saplings, explores the interrelationship between reproduction and nurse species. It will serve as the foundation for long-term studies that determine the temporal changes in reproduction and its characteristics in the Zagros forests.
Methodology: This research was conducted in the permanent monitoring plots of Zagros, spanning from West Azerbaijan to Fars province. A total of 120 sample plots of 100 square meters were studied within these plots. Each province had 30 studied sites in the typical forests, with 10 of them located in the protected forests. The variables studied included reproduction density by species, origin and type of reproduction, nurse species, height of seedling, terminal bud, and health status of reproduction. A height of 0.5 meters was set as the criterion to distinguish reproduction. The t-test was used to compare parametric data in two groups, while the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were employed for non-parametric data.
Results: In the studied area, the reproduction of 20 forest tree and shrub species was recorded, and the density of seedlings and saplings was calculated to be 366 plants per hectare. However, the reproduction was not uniformly distributed, with 37% of the sample plots lacking reproduction. The abundance distribution diagram in the height classes revealed a decrease in the number of oak (Quercus spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) reproduction with a height of less than 5 cm. Of the total number of recorded reproduction, 72.5% originated from seeds and 25% were shoots. Overall, 66% of reproduction was dependent on nurses, with oak, hawthorn, stone, and rock playing the greatest roles as nurses. Stones and rocks played a more significant role in the revival of seedlings. Cerasus microcarpa (C.A.Mey.) Boiss., Q. infectoria Oliv., and Q. libani Oliv. had the highest dependence on the nurse, while Pyrus spp., Daphne mucronata Royle, and Crataegus spp. had the least dependence on nurse species. Reproduction sheltered by nurses was significantly healthier than those without nurses. Also, reproduction sheltered by stones and rocks had a higher health rate than reproduction sheltered by trees, although this difference was not significant. Lonicera nummulariifolia Jaub. & Spach, Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl, and Acer monspessulanum L. had the worst condition in terms of reproduction. Despite the presence of mature trees, they had no reproduction (L. nummulariifolia and F. angustifolia) or had very low reproduction (A. monspessulanum). The results showed that the number of reproduction in protected sites was higher than non-protected sites. Although this difference was not significant, the reproduction in the protected sites was significantly healthier.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the reproduction in the Zagros forests is not in a normal situation. However, given suitable spatial and temporal conditions, reproduction occurs and establishes. Although in conditions of disturbance and overgrazing, reproduction attempts to survive by taking shelter near stones, pits, or under thorny shrubs, the conservation of the forest stand by maintaining the tree canopy (oak, hawthorn, and other species) and the forest’s natural structure provides the best conditions for the establishment and survival of reproduction, thereby ensuring the sustainability of the ecosystem.
 
 
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

- Arekhi, S., Heydari, M. and Pourbabaei, H., 2010. Vegetation-environmental relationships and ecological species groups of the Ilam oak forest landscape, Iran. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 8(2): 115-125.
- Bihamta, M.R. and Zare Chahouki, M.A., 2015. Principles of Statistics for the Natural Resources Science. University of Tehran Press, Tehran, Iran, 302p (In Persian).
- Chazdon, R.L. and Guariguata, M.R., 2016. Natural regeneration as a tool for large-scale forest restoration in the tropics: prospects and challenges. Biotropica, 48(6): 716-730.
- Fatemi, S.S., Rahimi, M., Tarkesh, M. and Ravanbakhsh, H., 2018. Predicting the impacts of climate change on the distribution of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb. in the central and eastern Alborz Mountains, Iran. iForest-Biogeosciences and Forestry, 11(5): 643-650.
- Feldmann, E., Glatthorn, J., Ammer, C. and Leuschner, C., 2020. Regeneration dynamics following the formation of
understory gaps in a Slovakian beech virgin forest. Forests, 11(5): 585.
- Ferretti, M. and Fischer, R., 2013. Forest Monitoring; methods for terrestrial investigations in Europe with an overview of North America and Asia. Elsevier, Netherland, 507p.
- Hosseini, A. and Aazami, A., 2018. Determining the natural establishment pattern of Quercus persica generative regeneration in different site conditions to restore Zagros forests. Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 7(4): 53-63 (In Persian with English summary).
- Hosseini, A., Jafari, M.R., Najafi-far, A. and Rezaei, J., 2017. Evaluating and recognising the status of standard regeneration of Crataegus pontica, Cerasus microcarpa and Amigdalus orientalis in the Central Zagros Forests (Case study: Dalab Forests of Ilam Province). Ecology of Iranian Forests, 5(10): 42-52 (In Persian with English summary).
- ICP Forests, 2016. Manual on methods and criteria for harmonized sampling, assessment, monitoring, and analysis of the effects of air pollution on forests. Part VII.1. Assessment of Ground Vegetation.
- Jazirehi, M.H. and Ebrahimi Rostaghi, M., 2003. Silviculture in Zagros. University of Tehran Press, Tehran, Iran, 560p (In Persian).
- Karimi, Z., Shakeri, Z. and Shabanian, N., 2015. Estimation of acorn production by gall oak (Quercus infectoria Oliv.) in Baneh forests. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 23(3): 516-526 (In Persian with English summary).
- Kohler, M., Pyttel, P., Kuehne, C., Modrow, T., and Bauhus, J., 2020. On the knowns and unknowns of natural regeneration of silviculturally managed sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) forests, a literature review. Annals of Forest Science, 77(4): 1-19.
- Leal, A.I., Bugalho, M.N. and Palmeirim, J.M., 2022. Effects of ungulates on oak regeneration in Mediterranean woodlands: A meta-analysis. Forest Ecology and Management, 509: 120077.
- Lenoir, J., Gégout, J.C., Pierrat, J.C., Bontemps, J.D. and Dhôte, J.F., 2009. Differences between tree species seedling and adult altitudinal distribution in mountain forests during the recent warm period (1986–2006). Ecography, 32(5): 765-777.
- Löf, M., Madsen, P., Metslaid, M., Witzell, W. and Jacobs, D.F., 2019. Restoring forests: regeneration and ecosystem function for the future. New Forests, 50: 139-151.
- Mehdi Karami, Sh., Pilehvar, B., Hosseinzade, R. and Abrari Vajari, K., 2017. Investigation of positioning, mixture and size diversity of Lonicera nummulariifolia Jaub. & Spach in Zagros forests (Case study: Parak Area, Khorramabad City). Journal of Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(4): 59-68 (In Persian with English summary).
- Mohammadpour, M., Tatian, M.R., Tamartash, R. and Hossienzadeh, J., 2018. Investigating the effects of grazing intensity on the structure and diversity of woody species in the Ilam Strait Dalab forest. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 26(3): 306-318 (In Persian with English summary).
- Nazarpoor Fard, K., Zarooni, M., Etemad, V. and Namiranian, M., 2016. The effect of canopy cover, slope and direction of domain on continuing regeneration in Zagross forest (case study: Blooran. Koohdasht, Lorestan).  Journal of Natural Ecosystems of Iran, 7(1): 69-79 (In Persian with English summary).
- Pourhashemi, M. and Sagheb-Talebi, Kh., 2021. Natural Reproduction of Oak. Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, Iran, 299p (In Persian).
- Pourhashemi, M., Zandebasiri, M. and Panahi P., 2015. Structural characteristics of oak coppice stands of Marivan Forests. Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology), 27(5): 766-776 (In Persian with English summary).
- Pulido, F.J. and Díaz, M., 2005. Regeneration of a Mediterranean oak: a whole-cycle approach. Écoscience, 12(1): 92-102.
- Rahimzadeh, Gh., Najafifar, A. and Mirzaei Mola Ahmad, R., 2022. Investigation of the effect of above sea level on quantitative characteristics of Pistacia atlantica seeds in North Zagros forests (Case study: of Kolah Nokan reserve in West Azarbaijan province). Forest and Wood Products, 74(4): 457-467 (In Persian with English summary).
- Ravanbakhsh, H., Marvie Mohajer, M.R. and Etemad, V., 2010. Natural regeneration of woody species in woodlands of southern slopes of Elborz mountains (case study: Latian watershed). Iranian Journal of Forest, 2(2): 113-125 (In Persian with English summary).
- Sadat, M.A., Alvaninezhad, S., Salehi, A., Askari, Y. and Gholami, P., 2022. The importance of nurse‏ ‏species in establishing of natural regeneration in forests of ‎South Zagros (Vezg forest, Yasouj)‎. Journal of Forest Research and Development, 8(1): 27-41 (In Persian with English summary).
- Sagheb Talebi, Kh., Sajedi, T. and Pourhashemi, M., 2014. Forests of Iran: A Treasure from the Past, A Hope for the Future. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, 152p.
- Salek, L., Harmacek, J., Jerabkova, L., Topacoglu, O. and Machar, I., 2019. Thorny shrubs limit the browsing pressure of large herbivores on tree regeneration in temperate lowland forested landscapes. Sustainability, 11(13): 3578.
- Sedaghat, M., Riazi, B., Veisanloo, F. and Sagheb-Talebi, Kh., 2022. Spatial modeling of main degradation factors in the Zagros forests (Case study: Khorramabad sub-basin). Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 29(2): 59-75 (In Persian with English summary).
- Shakeri, Z., Marvi Mohajer, M.R., Namiraninan, M. and Etemad, V., 2009. Comparison of seedling and coppice regeneration in pruned and undisturbed oak forests of Northern Zagros (Case study: Baneh, Kurdistan province). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 17(1): 73-84 (In Persian with English summary).
- Taheri Abkenar, K., Salehi, A., Bagheri, J. and Ravanbakhsh, H., 2013. Some ecological properties of Pistacia atlantica Desf. in Khojir National Park of Iran. Chinese Journal of Applied and Environmental Biology, 19(3): 415-420.
- Vicente, E., Moreno-de las Heras, M., Merino-Martin, L., Nicolau, J.M. and Espigares, T., 2022. Assessing the effects of nurse shrubs, sink patches and plant water-use strategies for the establishment of late-successional tree seedlings in Mediterranean reclaimed mining hillslopes. Ecological Engineering, 176: 106538.
- Zabihi, K.A., Mataji, A., Akhavan, R. and Babaei Kafaki, S., 2022. Spatial pattern and structure analysis of natural and harvesting gaps in Hyrcanian forests using spatial statistics methods (Case study: Chamestan- Nour). Iranian Journal of Forest, 14(2): 169-183 (In Persian with English summary).
- Zafarian Rigaki, I., Soltani, A. and Jafari, A. 2023. The effect of some anthropogenic disturbances on the structure of oak forests in the Central Zagros. Iranian Journal of Forest, 15(3): 361–376 (In Persian with English summary).
- Zare, H., Amini, T. and Abedzeydi, A., 2024. The westernmost site of birch (Betula litwinowii Doluch.) in Hyrcanian forests, Iran: Daryasar in Tonekabon county. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 31(4): 338-344 (In Persian with English summary).
 

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics