Theme 1: Grassland Ecology
Description
The ecotone region of Darkesh with an area of 22,500 hectares is located in the Irano-Turanian xeric-continental bioclimatic zone of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh. To investigate the plant diversity patterns of understory communities along three elevation classes of 1100-1600, 1600-2100, and 2100-2600 m, 187 plots were sampled randomly and abundance and cover of species were recorded using 4-m2 plots. Beta diversity and Hill indices were calculated by using R and PAST software. A total of 252 species were recorded including 31 perennial grasses. The most abundant grasses were Poa nemoralis, Poa bulbosa, Bromus sterilis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, and Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata. Poa nemoralis was an important dominant grass under Quercus community. From the standpoint of species richness, Hill indices were highest under woods stories along the elevation of 1100-1600 m. Understories of oak forest and alpine communities had almost the same indices and were in the second rank compared to woods communities. Based on the β diversity index, the wood understory had the highest indices followed by Quercus and alpine communities. By increasing the elevations, the diversity of understory communities also decreased.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Plant Diversity Patterns Along Altitudinal Gradient in Understory Communities of Darkesh Region, Bojnord, Iran
The ecotone region of Darkesh with an area of 22,500 hectares is located in the Irano-Turanian xeric-continental bioclimatic zone of Khorassan-Kopet Dagh. To investigate the plant diversity patterns of understory communities along three elevation classes of 1100-1600, 1600-2100, and 2100-2600 m, 187 plots were sampled randomly and abundance and cover of species were recorded using 4-m2 plots. Beta diversity and Hill indices were calculated by using R and PAST software. A total of 252 species were recorded including 31 perennial grasses. The most abundant grasses were Poa nemoralis, Poa bulbosa, Bromus sterilis, Brachypodium sylvaticum, and Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata. Poa nemoralis was an important dominant grass under Quercus community. From the standpoint of species richness, Hill indices were highest under woods stories along the elevation of 1100-1600 m. Understories of oak forest and alpine communities had almost the same indices and were in the second rank compared to woods communities. Based on the β diversity index, the wood understory had the highest indices followed by Quercus and alpine communities. By increasing the elevations, the diversity of understory communities also decreased.
