Relative contribution of vegetation types to regional biodiversity in Central Zagross forests of Iran |
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Authors: | Babak Pilehvar Gholamhasan Veiskarami Kambiz Taheri Abkenar Javad Soosani |
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Institution: | (1) Forestry Department, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran;(2) Forestry Department, Gilan University, Rasht, Iran |
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Abstract: | Managers in conservation biology are continually faced with the dilemma of needing to demonstrate which areas should receive
conservation priority based on the diversity of species contained. Darenasab (Hashtadpahloo) forest catchment with dominated
oak species in Mediterranean forests of Zagross in Iran was chosen as a case study. In order to estimate plant species richness
in different vegetation types at landscape level, field method that sample both trees and herbs strata simultaneously (modified
multi-scale Whittaker plots) was used to make species–area curves. Twenty-one modified multi-scale Whittaker plots (250 m2 area) were located randomly in four vegetation types. Three species–area, species–log (area) and log (species)–log (area)
curves models were constructed. The log (species)–log (area) model had the highest adjusted r2 among others. Based on Jaccard’s coefficient, the pure oak vegetation type was the most heterogeneous (22% overlap), and
the cushion plants vegetation type is the most homogeneous (29% overlap). The slope of species–area curves had the least range
(0.05) and the slope of species–log (area) curves had the largest range (4.38). When the slopes of species–log (area) curves
divided by mean Jaccard’s coefficient, the species–log (area) curves estimated values closest to those observed. The index
of vegetation types contribution to regional diversity for determining conservation priority in off-reserve area, based on
ranking of the observed mean species per plots, slopes of the species–log (area) curves, mean of Jaccard’s coefficient, mean
unique species per plot, and the number of threatened species in each vegetation types were calculated. This composite index
may provide a scientific method to rank vegetation types with high conservation value. |
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