Comparison of Woody and Herbaceous Plant Diversity in Control and Managed Broadleaves Stands Managed Broadleaves Stands (A Case Study: Jamand District- Golband Forest of Noshahr)

Abstract

The aim of present study was comparison of plant diversity in managed and control compartments of Jamand district in Noshahr (Mazandaran province). Random-systematic sampling method with network dimension of 100×200 m was used to locate samples. Sampling plot area was 400 m2 to survey woody species and 100 m2 plots was set up to herbaceous species (in the center of main plots). At each sample plot, percent cover of each plant species were recorded by using of Braun-Blanquet scale and Shannon Wiener Evenness, Shannon Wiener and Simpson diversity indices were used to evaluate plant species diversity. The results showed that means of Shannon Wiener Evenness, Shannon Wiener and Simpson diversity indices for herbaceous species were 0.77, 2.1 and 0.8 in the managed compartment, and 0.68, 1.9 and 0.72 in control compartment, respectively, but there were no significant differences between two compartments based on herbaceous layer diversity indices (α= 5%). The means of diversity indices in tree layer based on cover percent, relative density, and importance value were obtained significantly higher in control compartment than managed compartment. Also the results illustrated that implication of single selection method caused increasing the percentage of beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) in the stands of managed compartment.

Keywords

• Simpson index
• Shannon Wiener index
• Single selection
• Jamand district
• Noshahr.