Diversity Indices Of the Floor Vegetation In Oak Stands ofPiranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Zagros region contains high plant diversity due to appropriate weather condition and itsforests are categorized as semi-dry forests. Zagros forests resources has suffered fromecosystem damage that resulted in dramatically reduced biodiversity in this region. This studywas performed in a ۱-ha plot established at the south of Piranshahr city was. Study performedto evaluate plant vegetation in the most northern oak habitats of West Azarbaijan province. At۱-ha plot four ۱۰۰ m۲ plots were determined which used to analyse trees and shrubs. Thenseveral ۱ m۲ plots were determined in the main plot to study vegetation. The plant families’distribution, biological forms and phenology of plant species were described. Biodiversityindex (Shannon-Weiner and Simpson), species richness (Mehinick & Margalef's index),Evenness (Pielou's index) were computed based on the plant species density. According to theresults, ۳۹ plant species from ۱۴ plant families were determined in Peredanan sampling plots.Apiaceae, Poaceae and Fabaceae were the largest plant families in the area, respectively.Results shwed that Therophytes (۳۷%) and hemicryptophytes (۳۵%) showed the highest shareof biological form in Paredanan. The results of the present study provided data needed formonitoring the Zagross forests plant vegetation. With an ordered monitoring program, the floorvegetation of forests in the area can be compared and analyzed in various time periods.

Keywords:

Biodiversity , Piranshahr , Zagros forest , Vegetation