An investigation of environment factors’ impact on life form of plants (Case study: Javaherdeh rangelands of Ramsar)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc. Student, Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Gorgan, I.R. Iran

2 Professor, Gorgan University of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Gorgan, I.R. Iran.

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 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.

Keywords


Volume 65, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
Winter 2013
Pages 529-540

  • Receive Date 01 May 2011
  • Revise Date 14 July 2013
  • Accept Date 08 November 2011
  • Publish Date 21 December 2012