Journal of Range and Watershed Managment

Comparing Ecological Functions of Northern and Southern landscapes of Darehkonari Khashab rangeland, Gachsaran County

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Gholam Ali Heshmati 1
vahid karimian 2

1 Head of Engineering & Management Hazards of Natural Habitats Department, Institute of Engineering Natural Hazards & Food Security, Danesh Andish, Gorgan, Iran.

2 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Yasooj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yasooj, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22059/jrwm.2016.61499
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 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.

Keywords

l‌andscapes
Ecological indices
ecosystem function
Gachsaran
Khashab rangeland
Journal of Range and Watershed Managment
Volume 69, Issue 3
Autumn 2016
Pages 575-585

  • Receive Date 29 July 2014
  • Revise Date 09 December 2016
  • Accept Date 05 November 2015
  • Publish Date 21 November 2016

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