Investigation on flora and habitat conditions of wild Fig (Ficus johannis Boiss.) in Shirkuh Mountains, Yazd

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. candidate of forestry, Yazd University, Yazd, I.R. Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, ‎I.R. Iran

3 Associate Professor, Department of Environmental sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, ‎I.R. Iran

4 Assistant Professor, Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Yazd University, Yazd, I.R. ‎Iran ‎

Abstract

In this survey, we investigated the flora and habitat conditions of wild Fig (Ficus johannis Boiss.) in a part of its natural habitat in Yazd province. To obtain climatic information, the required data were obtained from the closest climatologic stations. With average precipitation of 177.4 mm/year and the average annual temperature of 14.4 °C, the study area is a dry temperate region. Physiochemical analyses were conducted on previously-taken soil samples. Floristic investigation was conducted in two subdistricts (Sadegh-Abad and Mazrae-Ghebleh). Moreover, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of trees were recorded via transect sampling. Results of soil analysis indicated that F. johannis grows in the soils featuring a pH ranging between 7.74 and 8.39 with sand-silt texture. Results also showed that there were 27 families, 64 genera and 73 species in the study area. The family of Compositae with 22% (16 species) and Labiatae with 14% (10 species) presented the highest richness among all families. In terms of biological forms, the following composition was indicated: Chaemoephytes with 34% (25 species), Throphytes with 12% (7 species), Hemicryptophytes with 40% (27 species), Microphanerophytes and Nanophanerophytes with 5% (4 species), Geophytes with 6% (5 species) and Mezophanerophytes with 1 % (one species). Among the total 90 species, 15 species were found to be endemic to Iran.  F. johannis was evaluated as a hydrophyte species according to its frequent growth in valley margins which is due to higher moisture content. The transect sampling resulted in calculating the population density and cover in Mazrae-Ghebleh (46 ha-1 and 3.51 %.ha-1) as well as in Sadegh-Abad district (49 ha-1 and 7.76 %.ha-1), respectively. Overall qualitative features of trees were moderate. Partial withering of branches was observed in majority of trees but no damage was observed on stems.

Keywords


- Abrari Vajari, K. and Veiskarami, Gh. 2004. Floristic staudy of Hashtad-Pahloo Region, Khoram Abad (Lorestan province). Pajouhesh Va Sazandgi, 2(18): 58-64 (In Persian).
 - Baghestani, N., 2000. Final report of the plan: Collection and identification of plants of Yazd province and herbarium construction. Agricultural and Natural Resources Reesrach center of Yazd Province, 130p (In Persian).
- Esmaeilzadeh A., Hosseini, S.M., and Oladi J. 2005. Presentation of flora, life form and geographic distribution of plants in Taxus baccata site in Afra-Takhteh. Pajouhesh Va Sazandgi, 3(18): 66-76 (In Persian).
- Ghoochani., R. 2004. Study of flora and plant communities of Kheza-Abad region, Yazd, M. Sc. Thesis, Payam Noor University, Tehran, 120 p (In Persian).
- Iran-Nezhad Parizi, M.H. 1995. Ecological investigation of plant communities of Almond natural species in Kerman Province. M. Sc. Thesis, Department of Forestry, Tarbiat Modares University, 145 p (In Persian).
- Jahanbazi Goojani, H. 1999. Investigation on site demands of Elm in Tange-Hooni, Bazoft, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. M. Sc. Thesis, Department of Forestry, Gorgan University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, 64 p (In Persian).
- Jalili, A. and Jamzad, Z. 1999. Red data book of Iran. A preliminary survey of endemic, rare and endangered plants species in Iran. Published by Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Tehran, 750p (In Persian).
- Kashipazha, A.H., Asri, Y. and Moradi, H.R. 2004. Introduction of flora, living form and geographical distribution of plants in Shad Garden. Pajouhesh Va Sazandegi, 2(17): 95-103 (In Persian).
- Mirjalili, A. 1997. Floristic study and investigation of plant communities of Harat and Marvast region, Yazd. M. Sc. Thesis, Tehran University, 121 p (In Persian).
- Mozaffarian, V. 1996. Dictionary of Iran plant’s names. Farhang Moaser Press, 760p (In Persian).
- Razavi, S.A. and Hassan Abbas, N. 2009. A floristic and chorology investigation of oriental arborvitae in Sourkesh Reserve (Fazel Abad- Golestan Province). Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, (16): 83-100 (In Persian).
- Safikhani, K., Rahiminezhad, M.R. and Kolvandi, R. 2006. Floristic staudy and biotic forms of plants in Khan-Gormoz protected area, Hamedan Province. Pajouhesh Va Sazandegi, 3(19): 70-78 (In Persian).
- Sheikholeslami, A. and Ahmadi, T. 2007. Study of site specifications of Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Lam.)Spach in Mashalk forest, Nowshahr. Pajouhesh Va Sazandegi, 75: 92-102 (In Persian).
- Zarezadeh, A. 2000. Final report of the project: Collection and detectionof the medicinal plants of Yazd province. Agricultural and Natural Resources Reesrach center of Yazd Province, 433p (In Persian).
- Zarezadeh, A., Mirvakili, S.M. and Mirhosseini, A. 2007. Presentation of flora, life form and geographic distribution of plants in Damgahan Valley, Mehriz, (Yazd Province). Pajouhesh Va Sazandgi, 74: 129-137 (In Persian).
- Zobeiri, M. 2002. Forest biometry. Tehran University Press, 411p (In Persian).
In this survey, we investigated the flora and habitat conditions of wild Fig (Ficus johannis Boiss.) in a part of its natural habitat in Yazd province. To obtain climatic information, the required data were obtained from the closestclimatologicstations. With average precipitation of 177.4 mm/year and the average annual temperature of 14.4 °C, the study area is a dry temperate region. Physiochemicalanalyses were conducted on previously-taken soil samples. Floristic investigation was conducted in two subdistricts (Sadegh-Abad and Mazrae-Ghebleh). Moreover, qualitative and quantitative characteristics of trees were recorded via transect sampling. Results of soil analysis indicated that F. johannis grows in the soils featuring a pH ranging between 7.74 and 8.39 with sand-silt texture. Results also showed that there were 27 families, 64 genera and 73 species in the study area. The family of Compositae with 22% (16 species) and Labiatae with 14% (10 species) presented the highest richness among all families. In terms of biological forms, the following composition was indicated: Chaemoephytes with 34% (25 species), Throphytes with 12% (7 species), Hemicryptophytes with 40% (27 species), Microphanerophytes and Nanophanerophytes with 5% (4 species), Geophytes with 6% (5 species) and Mezophanerophytes with 1 % (one species). Among the total 90 species, 15 species were found to be endemic to Iran.  F. johannis was evaluated as a hydrophyte species according to its frequent growth in valley margins which is due to higher moisture content. The transect sampling resulted in calculating the population density and cover in Mazrae-Ghebleh (46 ha-1 and 3.51 %.ha-1) as well as in Sadegh-Abad district (49 ha-1 and 7.76 %.ha-1), respectively. Overall qualitative features of trees were moderate. Partial withering of branches was observed in majority of trees but no damage was observed on stems.