Effects of topographic variables on plant species diversity in rangelands of Hir County, Ardabil Province, Iran

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
A. Ghorbani 1
N. Porghorban 1
M. Moameri 2
S. Ghafari 1
M. bidar lord 3
M. Taheri Niari 1
1 Department of Range and Watershed Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
2 Department of Plant Sciences and Medicinal Plants, Faculty of Meshginshar Agriculture, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
3 Forests and Rangelands Research Department, Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Rasht, Iran
Abstract
Aim This study was conducted to investigate the association between plant species diversity indices with topographic variables in the rangelands of Hir county, Ardabil Province, Iran.

Materials & Methods Random-systematic sampling was performed in three elevation profiles at 11 sites. The elevation was divided into five classes, slope into three classes, and aspect into four classes. Indices of plant species richness, Margalef’s, Menhinick’s, Hill evenness, density, and dominance were calculated. Indices in different classes of topographic variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's mean comparison.

Findings Results showed that the highest value of the Shannon-Wiener indices was observed in the elevation class of 1800-2000 meters above sea level (masl). The highest values of plant species evenness, richness, and diversity of Simpson’s and Shannon-Wiener were related to the slope of 0-20%. The values of species richness indices and dominance in the southwest direction, and Menhinick’s richness in the northwest direction, were higher than the other directions. At the level of Plant Functional Types (PFTs), the highest amount of evenness is at the grasses PFT and elevation classes of 1800-2000 and 2400-2600 masl. The maximum amount of Hill evenness at the shrub PFT and slope of 40-60%. The highest amount of Margalef’s richness and Shannon-Wiener plant diversity was in the forbs PFT and in the southwest direction.

Conclusion According to the results, elevation, and slope have the greatest effect and the aspects of the slope have the least effect on the diversity of plant species in the region.
Keywords
Elevation gradient
Physiographic factors
Plant functional types
Richness
Uniformity

Subjects

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ECOPERSIA
Volume 10, Issue 4 - Serial Number 42
December 2022
Pages 285-295