Study of species diversity of ferns and microrelief plants along altitudinal gradients in central Hyrcanian forests

In this investigation, ferns and plants growing on microrelief were studied along a different altitudinal gradient in the forests of Noor and Nowshahr, Mazandaran province. Up to now, no coherent study has been carried out on biodiversity changes of microrelief and ferns along the elevation gradients of the Hyrcanian forests. Therefore, this study will address the main distribution sites and species diversity of ferns and microrelief plants. In the first year of sampling, using the map, the study area was delimited, and the collection of plants and plots were carried out. Re-assembling and more complete identification of plants in the laboratory will continue with the use of available resources in the second year. The plot of 400 m2 size throughout the altitude gradient (200 meters) are allocated in two forest sites, Nour and Nowshahr, up to 2000 meters high. Sampling was conducted in the summer and autumn of 96 and spring 97. Finally, the impact of ecological factors (climate and canopy) on the composition of microrelief and ferns is estimated. Species richness has been largely dependent on climate variables, especially humidity and temperature. Species richness generally increases with altitude. Among the identified species growing on microrelief, the highest number of species belonged to the Rosaceae and Violaceae (12%) and Rubus hirtus and Viola alba were the most frequent species. Geophytes with 31% was the most important life form according to Raunkiaer classification. Microrelief plants, according to phytogeographical distribution, mainly belong to the European-Siberian elements with 78%. Of the identified ferns, the most species belonged to families Aspleniaceae and Dryopteridaceae (14%), and the most important species are Asplenium Scolopendrium and Polystichum aculeatum.Hemicryptophytes with 70% were the most important structure groups of the local biological spectrum according to Raunkiaer Method. The phytogeographical distribution of ferns is predominantly multi-zonal (PL) with 50%.

کلیدواژه ها:

Mazandaran ، Ferns ، Microrelief