khadije naghizadeh; mohammad jafari; hosein azarnivand; mohamad ali zare chahiiki; Hamidreza Abasi
Abstract
The effect of environmental factors on vegetation diversity in Eshtehard rangeland was studied in present study. Sampling was done using Minimal Area method. To measure the plant properties in each type, regarding the extent of each type, three 500 meter transects with 50 meter intervals between transects ...
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The effect of environmental factors on vegetation diversity in Eshtehard rangeland was studied in present study. Sampling was done using Minimal Area method. To measure the plant properties in each type, regarding the extent of each type, three 500 meter transects with 50 meter intervals between transects (due to the scarce vegetation cover) were established. In each plot, the number and types of existing species and their percentages were determined. Also, profiles were dug at the beginning and end of each transect and soil specimens were sampled at 0- 20 cm depth. Among soil properties, the percentage of clay, silt, sand, organic matter, lime, acidity, electrical conductivity, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium were measured. After collecting data, Shanon-Winer species diversity and Simpson indices were determined using Ecological methodology Software. Finally, the most important factors effecting the species diversity variation were specified using Principle Component Analysis. The results showed that among the studied factors, elevation, slope, soil depth and lime are the most effective ones.
Javad Motamedi; Esmaeil Sheidai Karkaj
Abstract
Species diversity is one of the important characteristics shows rangeland ecosystems changes, which isalready under effects of management practices. Thus, this research was conducted to study speciesdiversity variation and assess suitable distributive abundance model in three rangeland sites in WestAzerbaijan. ...
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Species diversity is one of the important characteristics shows rangeland ecosystems changes, which isalready under effects of management practices. Thus, this research was conducted to study speciesdiversity variation and assess suitable distributive abundance model in three rangeland sites in WestAzerbaijan. These sites were almost similar in environmental properties and differ in view point ofgrazing intensity (light, moderate and heavy intensities). After selecting sampling areas in each of thesites, species cover were recorded in 60, one square meter quadrates with 10 meter far from each otherwhich established along 100 meter transects in sites and then richness, evenness and diversity(heterogeneity) indices were calculated. Thus, rank-abundance curves were plotted and fourdistribution models such as log-normal, geometric, log-series and Brocken stick were fitted to each ofthese sites and then best model was selected in 0.05 level of confidence. Means comparison testshowed that richness, evenness and heterogeneity indices have significant differences (P<0.01) insites. Highest diversity is observed in the light grazing intensity site and lowest diversity is in heavygrazing intensity site. Species rank-abundance curves point out that low-abundance species are seenlower in light grazing site and its curve have gentler slope than moderate and high grazing intensitysites thus its diversity is higher. There is lowest species number in high grazing intensity site andevenness is lowest too due to its high number of rare and dominant species. Log-normal model wasfitted to light site implying on sustainable community and high grazing intensity site is fitted withgeometric model which point out on distractive communities with low diversity. Overall resultsshowed that implementing light grazing can protect species diversity and heavy intensity declinesspecies diversity that this shows the need considering of management on implementing light grazingintensity in the rangeland.
E Ghehsareh Ardestani; M Bassiri; M Tarkesh; M Borhani
Volume 63, Issue 3 , December 2010, , Pages 387-397
Abstract
Our planet is threatened by nuclear wars, climate change and degradation of biodiversity. The first two dangers are relatively focused on, but biodiversity degradation is not properly considered yet. Species diversity is mostly composed of biodiversity and is considered an index of changes in ecosystems. ...
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Our planet is threatened by nuclear wars, climate change and degradation of biodiversity. The first two dangers are relatively focused on, but biodiversity degradation is not properly considered yet. Species diversity is mostly composed of biodiversity and is considered an index of changes in ecosystems. Many of researchers think of higher species diversity as an index of bio-system’s stability. This research aimed to study parametric models of species diversity on range vegetations of study sites and relationship of ecological factors such as climate, soil and topography with diversity index. Four range sites were selected on different geographic areas in Isfahan province and randomly- systematic sampling was conducted to collect density data on plant species by quadrates along transects of each site during six years (2002-2007). Broken stick, log normal, logarithmic series and geometric series models were fitted for each site, and log normal showed to be the most proper model of distribution with P>0.05. LSD’s test indicated a significant different at ?=1% level between species diversity of steppe1 and semi-steppe2 sites. Log normal model seemed to be the most proper model in all sites. Generally, when this model is fitted successfully communities are considered stable. On the basis of some related studies with this research, Hill ( ) showed to be most proper index for species diversity in study sites, therefore effects of ecological factors such as soil, climate and topography on this index were studied by CCA method. Results of CCA revealed a high positive correlation between species diversity and percent organic matters of soil as well as precipitation levels and negative correlation with temperature.
