Esmaeil Sheidai Karkaj; isa jafari; roghayeh jahdi
Abstract
Fires are one of the most important factors affecting natural ecosystems. This study was done in order to investigate the effects of fire on soil chemical properties, soil seed bank and vegetation cover in Yeke Bermagh, Highland ranegelands in the southern part of Golestan National Park. After determination ...
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Fires are one of the most important factors affecting natural ecosystems. This study was done in order to investigate the effects of fire on soil chemical properties, soil seed bank and vegetation cover in Yeke Bermagh, Highland ranegelands in the southern part of Golestan National Park. After determination of control and burned area, sampling was done with 5 transects and 5 plots. Vegetation cover, density and production were recorded in each site. One plot was chosen for analysis of soil chemical properties and soil seed bank along transects. Sampling for seed soil bank determination was accomplished in two depths, 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm. In order to distinguish the differences between the two depths in each site, the independent t-test, and pair t-test were used. Comparison of soil properties in the two control and burned areas showed that pH, potassium, nitrogen, phosphors, carbon, EC and CEC in the burned area was more than control area. According to the results the amount of richness and diversity of seed bank in the control area was higher than the burned area. Furthermore, richness and diversity in the first depth was more than the second depth, in both areas.
Pejman Tahmasbi
Abstract
Fire is one of the most important ecological factors in semi-steppe rangelands directing plant community composition, diversity, structure and function of ecosystems. Our primary aim was to examine the effect of fire on plant community composition, diversity, plant species restoration and animal selectivity ...
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Fire is one of the most important ecological factors in semi-steppe rangelands directing plant community composition, diversity, structure and function of ecosystems. Our primary aim was to examine the effect of fire on plant community composition, diversity, plant species restoration and animal selectivity in semi-steppe rangeland in Karsanak region, Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province in years 2005, 2008 and 2009. To do so, sampling was performed in burned and control areas using quadrates (2*2 m) installed along a 200 meter transect and plant cover, number of restored and grazed plant species estimated within them. There was a significant difference in plant community composition and diversity between the burdened and control areas in years 2008 and 2009. However, no significant difference was observed for year 2005. This may confirm that a four year period is needed to restore vegetation after fire. Most of graminoids species such as Agropron repense and Bromus tomentellus were restored by 90 and 80 percent respectively whereas, shrub species such as Astragalus adcendense and Astragalus susianus restored by 60 and 40 percent just one year after fire. The results also showed that animals selected burdened areas significantly more than controls in areas burned in 2008 and 2009, while the selectivity was the same for control and burned areas in 2005.