This study assesses the effects of vegetation patterns and environmental factors on the abundance of natural tree and shrub regeneration in semi-arid forests of the Zagros Mountains, western Iran. We sampled 120 relev...This study assesses the effects of vegetation patterns and environmental factors on the abundance of natural tree and shrub regeneration in semi-arid forests of the Zagros Mountains, western Iran. We sampled 120 releves at different topographic positions in a protected area of the studied region. Floristic composition, slope, elevation and soil properties were recorded at each releve, and woody seedling density was measured. We have first discerned five floristic groups using two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis(DCA), and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) and then explored the relationships among the floristic group compositions, environmental factors and seedling densities. The indicator species of the five groups were Quercus brantii, Acer monspessulanum, Cerasus microcarpa, Rhamnus arvensis and Astragalus licyoides. Our results indicated that these groups were significantly affected by elevation and soil properties and the soil properties refer to: EC(electrical conductivity), N(nitrogen), K(potassium), OM(organic matter), and bulk density. Woody regeneration was composed of Q. brantii, A. monspessulanum, C. microcarpa, Amygdalus scoparia and Crataegus pontica seedlings. The highest density of seedlings was found for Q. brantii(97.14(±48.00) plants/hm^2) and the lowest for A. scoparia(2.28(±1.50) plants/hm^2). Quercus brantii was the dominant species and the seedling density was positively correlated with soil p H and P(phosphorus) values. Amygdalus scoparia regeneration was negatively correlated with elevation, and the seedling density peaked in C. microcarpa group. There was no significant variation in distribution of C. pontica seedlings among the groups, but the seedling density of this species was positively correlated with slope and K. Cerasus microcarpa seedlings were more abundant in the Q. brantii group than in other groups. This study showed that the regeneration of tree and shrub species was unequally distributed in different floristic groups for some species(A. scoparia and C. microcarpa) but not for other(Q. brantii and C. pontica) and was generally correlated with some environmental factors, particularly elevation, slope and soil nutrients(P and K). These results are a first step to implement future management and restoration strategies for promoting forest regeneration.展开更多
The relationships between different aspects of diversity(taxonomic,structural and functional)and the aboveground biomass(AGB)as a major component of global carbon balance have been studied extensively but rarely under...The relationships between different aspects of diversity(taxonomic,structural and functional)and the aboveground biomass(AGB)as a major component of global carbon balance have been studied extensively but rarely under the simultaneous influence of forest dieback and management.In this study,we investigate the relationships between taxonomic,functional and structural diversity of woody species(trees and shrubs)and AGB along a gradient of dieback intensity(low,moderate,high and no dieback as control)under two contrasted management conditions(protection by central government vs.traditional management by natives)in a semi-arid oak(Quereus brantii Lindl.)forest ecosystem.AGB was estimated and taxonomic diversity,community weighted average(CWM)and functional divergence indices were produced.We found that the aerial biomass was significantly higher in the intensively used area(14.57(±1.60)t/hm^(2))than in the protected area(8.70(±1.05)t/hm^(2))due to persistence of some large trees but with decreasing values along the dieback intensity gradient in both areas.CWM of height(H),leaf nitrogen content(LNC)and leaf dry matter content(LDMC)were also higher in the traditional managed area than in the protected area.In contrast,in the protected area,the woody species diversity was higher and the inter-specific competition was more intense,explaining a reduced H,biomass and LDMC.Contrary to the results of CWM,none of the functional diversity traits(FDvar)was affected by dieback intensity and only FDvar values of LNC,leaf phosphorus content(LPC)and LDMC were influenced by management.We also found significantly positive linear relationships of AGB with CWM and FDvar indices in the protected area,and with taxonomic and structural diversity indices in the traditional managed area.These results emphasize that along a dieback intensity gradient,the leaf functional traits are efficient predictors in estimating the AGB in protected forests,while taxonomic and structural indices provide better results in forests under a high human pressure.Finally,species identity of the dominant species(i.e.,Brant’s oak)proves to be the main driver of AGB,supporting the selection effect hypothesis.展开更多
文摘This study assesses the effects of vegetation patterns and environmental factors on the abundance of natural tree and shrub regeneration in semi-arid forests of the Zagros Mountains, western Iran. We sampled 120 releves at different topographic positions in a protected area of the studied region. Floristic composition, slope, elevation and soil properties were recorded at each releve, and woody seedling density was measured. We have first discerned five floristic groups using two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis(DCA), and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) and then explored the relationships among the floristic group compositions, environmental factors and seedling densities. The indicator species of the five groups were Quercus brantii, Acer monspessulanum, Cerasus microcarpa, Rhamnus arvensis and Astragalus licyoides. Our results indicated that these groups were significantly affected by elevation and soil properties and the soil properties refer to: EC(electrical conductivity), N(nitrogen), K(potassium), OM(organic matter), and bulk density. Woody regeneration was composed of Q. brantii, A. monspessulanum, C. microcarpa, Amygdalus scoparia and Crataegus pontica seedlings. The highest density of seedlings was found for Q. brantii(97.14(±48.00) plants/hm^2) and the lowest for A. scoparia(2.28(±1.50) plants/hm^2). Quercus brantii was the dominant species and the seedling density was positively correlated with soil p H and P(phosphorus) values. Amygdalus scoparia regeneration was negatively correlated with elevation, and the seedling density peaked in C. microcarpa group. There was no significant variation in distribution of C. pontica seedlings among the groups, but the seedling density of this species was positively correlated with slope and K. Cerasus microcarpa seedlings were more abundant in the Q. brantii group than in other groups. This study showed that the regeneration of tree and shrub species was unequally distributed in different floristic groups for some species(A. scoparia and C. microcarpa) but not for other(Q. brantii and C. pontica) and was generally correlated with some environmental factors, particularly elevation, slope and soil nutrients(P and K). These results are a first step to implement future management and restoration strategies for promoting forest regeneration.
基金the Islamic Azad Univercity of Chalusand Ilam University,Iran(research team managed by Dr.Mehdi HEYDARI)for financial support of the research。
文摘The relationships between different aspects of diversity(taxonomic,structural and functional)and the aboveground biomass(AGB)as a major component of global carbon balance have been studied extensively but rarely under the simultaneous influence of forest dieback and management.In this study,we investigate the relationships between taxonomic,functional and structural diversity of woody species(trees and shrubs)and AGB along a gradient of dieback intensity(low,moderate,high and no dieback as control)under two contrasted management conditions(protection by central government vs.traditional management by natives)in a semi-arid oak(Quereus brantii Lindl.)forest ecosystem.AGB was estimated and taxonomic diversity,community weighted average(CWM)and functional divergence indices were produced.We found that the aerial biomass was significantly higher in the intensively used area(14.57(±1.60)t/hm^(2))than in the protected area(8.70(±1.05)t/hm^(2))due to persistence of some large trees but with decreasing values along the dieback intensity gradient in both areas.CWM of height(H),leaf nitrogen content(LNC)and leaf dry matter content(LDMC)were also higher in the traditional managed area than in the protected area.In contrast,in the protected area,the woody species diversity was higher and the inter-specific competition was more intense,explaining a reduced H,biomass and LDMC.Contrary to the results of CWM,none of the functional diversity traits(FDvar)was affected by dieback intensity and only FDvar values of LNC,leaf phosphorus content(LPC)and LDMC were influenced by management.We also found significantly positive linear relationships of AGB with CWM and FDvar indices in the protected area,and with taxonomic and structural diversity indices in the traditional managed area.These results emphasize that along a dieback intensity gradient,the leaf functional traits are efficient predictors in estimating the AGB in protected forests,while taxonomic and structural indices provide better results in forests under a high human pressure.Finally,species identity of the dominant species(i.e.,Brant’s oak)proves to be the main driver of AGB,supporting the selection effect hypothesis.
