Determining the Plant Functional Communities and Diversity Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Bandguder Arid Rangeland, Kerman Province

Abstract

Functional traits of plant species are displayed ecological properties, life strategy, and species ability for an encounter with a special environment. In this study, seven elevation points with 50 m interval with 1500 to 2002 m distance on the ground were selected and each point, 10 plots were established along a transect perpendicular on slope. To investigate the function of plant species groups, six functional traits including plant height, growth form, life form, reproduction type, life span, and type of nitrogen fixation were measured or collected. Functional plant species groups and five functional diversity indices were extracted using FDivesity software. The ANOVA test was done to investigate the effect of elevation on functional traits. Results show that elevation had significant effect on Rao index and functional divergence and there was no significant effect on other indices. Compare of means frequency and plant height was shown that there is significant difference between two functional groups. Results indicate that functional traits provide a suitable tool for studying and understanding environmental changes.

Keywords

• functional trait
• functional divergence
• vegetation
• rao index