Evaluation of ground vegetation, biodiversity and regeneration in the Vezg forest
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21933160Keywords:
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Zagros, Vegetation, Regeneration, Forest floor coverAbstract
This research evaluated the floristic composition, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of forest floor vegetation, plant species diversity, phenology, and regeneration status in the Vezg permanent monitoring region, a protected forest stand in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, western Iran. A one-hectare permanent plot was established for long-term monitoring. Four 100 m² sub-plots were designated for tree and shrub layer assessment, within which twenty 1 m² micro-plots were established for forest floor vegetation analysis (five micro-plots per 100 m² sub-plot). Results showed that mean forest floor cover at the time of sampling was 34%. A total of 19 plant species were identified. Poaceae (5 species) and Fabaceae (3 species) were the dominant families, while Astragalus (3 species) was the largest genus. Regarding Raunkiaer life forms, therophytes (annuals) accounted for 37%, phanerophytes for 21%, hemicryptophytes for 16%, chamaephytes for 16%, and cryptophytes for 11% of species. A total of 880 individual plants were counted across twenty 1 m² micro-plots, giving a mean density of 44 individuals per square meter. The most abundant species was Bromus tectorum (423 individuals), representing over 45% of total ground vegetation density. Four woody species were recorded in the tree/shrub layer: Quercus brantii (Persian oak), Crataegus azarolus, Cerasus microcarpa, and Daphne mucronata. Regeneration of woody species showed a numerical increasing trend from 2021 to 2022. The results provide essential baseline data for long-term monitoring of Zagros forest vegetation and enable future comparative analyses of vegetation dynamics.
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