Gholam Ali Heshmati; vahid karimian
Abstract
To apply scientific and proper management of rangeland ecosystems, having information on health and functions indices of ecosystem is required. Using landscape function analysis, the present study deals with assessing and comparing of ecological indices in northern and southern landscapes, Darehkonari ...
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To apply scientific and proper management of rangeland ecosystems, having information on health and functions indices of ecosystem is required. Using landscape function analysis, the present study deals with assessing and comparing of ecological indices in northern and southern landscapes, Darehkonari Khashab of Gachsaran. Length and width for ecological patches in northern landscapes in species Astragalus fasciculifolius Boiss, Centaurea intricanta Boiss, Cousinia multiloba DC, and inter patches(bare and litter), in southern ones on species Cousinia multiloba DC, Stachys byzantina C. Koch, Stachys byzantina C. Koch and Cousinia multiloba DC and inter patches were recorded along three 50 m transects across both southern and northern aspects. In addition, eleven soil surface indices were measured. These indices belong to three main characteristics of soil stability, infiltration and nutrient cycling. The results showed that the indices of stability and nutrient cycling in both landscapes have a significant difference (p <0.05), but this was not case for infiltration index (p>0.05). The main ecological indicator of northern and southern landscapes are C. intricanta and S. byzantine + C. multiloba, respectively.
Gholam Ali Heshmati; Diana Askarizadeh; Rahim Forouzeh
Abstract
In order to determine the diet of Dalagh sheep, winter rangeland of Gomishan plain was selected. After delineating of the grazingland territory, rangeland condition and plant combination was determined by Range Value method and range trend was obtained by Trend Balance method. Time of bite-count record ...
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In order to determine the diet of Dalagh sheep, winter rangeland of Gomishan plain was selected. After delineating of the grazingland territory, rangeland condition and plant combination was determined by Range Value method and range trend was obtained by Trend Balance method. Time of bite-count record was done in morning and afternoon in a five-day period; first week of November (1389) and last week of April (1390). The diet selection of sheep was evaluated by direct vision method and comparison of the diet in two record periods was done by T-test and one way ANOVA method. Result showed that the most selection of sheep was Aeluropus littoralis (36/6% in a.m. & 33/3% in p.m.) and the minimum also was Halocnemum strobilaceum (1/01% in a.m. & 0/23% in p.m.) in first record. Lastly, the most selection of sheep was Hordeum marinum (42/99% in a.m. & 59/76% in p.m.) and the minimum also was Salicornia herbaceae (2/04% in a.m. & 4/16% in p.m.) Moreover, there is not any significant difference between grazing periods. Although shrub is the most species in the study area, diet selection of sheep was grasses form. It was for their growing phenology period that this time, grasses are palatable than halophytes shrubs.
D. Askarizadeh; Gh. A. Heshmati
Abstract
Abiotic factors, as topographic and physicochemical properties of soil, are the most important effective factor on vegetation in rangeland ecosystems which have the most important performances to forming and succession of plant vegetation. Ecologic management of rangelands can be desired by better understanding ...
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Abiotic factors, as topographic and physicochemical properties of soil, are the most important effective factor on vegetation in rangeland ecosystems which have the most important performances to forming and succession of plant vegetation. Ecologic management of rangelands can be desired by better understanding of these effective factors. Then, rangeland of Javaherdeh (Ramsar) in the northern Alborz Mountains ranging 2000-3200 m a.s.l. was selected in this study and altitudinal classes of 300 meter were selected to obtain field records on the basis of field monitoring and plants structures. About 15 plots (1 m2) in each altitudinal class were considered in order to obtain the field data, e.g. percentage of life-form covers. It was also chosen five plots to gather soil samples. Statistical analyses, using cluster analysis, DCA and CCA, were done by PC-Ord V.5.1 software. The results showed that life forms of plant under 183 species and 33 families have been divided into five sub-associations so that their segregation is done based upon elevation, aspect, and soil properties. Multivariate analysis (CCA) also can as well divide the life forms of plants based on their ecological requirements into subgroups include annual and perennial grasses with perennial forbs, annual forbs, shrubs, and bushy trees. These life forms are also found different ecologic niches funded upon influence of the topographic factors and physicochemical properties of soils. Hence, ecologic management of terrestrial ecosystems needs to knowing and understanding of vegetation structures under different environmental factors.
GH.A Heshmati; M S. Azimi; P Ashouri
Volume 63, Issue 3 , December 2010, , Pages 319-329
Abstract
Rangeland ecosystem contains various patches with different functions. Structural and functional characteristics of rangeland patches are changed by management practices and can be used to interpret management effects. The structural and functional characteristics of fertilized patches in two rangeland ...
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Rangeland ecosystem contains various patches with different functions. Structural and functional characteristics of rangeland patches are changed by management practices and can be used to interpret management effects. The structural and functional characteristics of fertilized patches in two rangeland ecosystems of Ghareh Ghir and Maraveh Tapeh were measured and analyzed in this study. A group of measurable and simple indices of landscape function analysis (LFA) methods were used to evaluate these characteristics. Five structural characteristics such as: the number of patches, total patch area, patch area index, landscape organization index and inter patch length mean on the east and western aspects of Ghareh Ghir and Maraveh Tapeh were measured. On the basis of statistical analysis, the structural characteristics of patches in the east and western aspects of the two areas (Ghareh Ghir and Maraveh Tapeh) were highly significant (P
