Effects of Drought on Plant Species Diversity and Productivity in the Oak Forests of Western Iran
Journal Title: Ecologia Balkanica - Year 2014, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
A severe drought in 2008 extensively damaged a variety of economic, social, agricultural and natural resources in Iran. This study investigated the effects of the 2008 drought on plant species composition, diversity and productivity in Western Iran. To this end, plant species diversity in the drought year (2008) was compared to pre-drought (2007) and post-drought (2009) diversity. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Margalef richness index had significant differencesbetween years, decreasing significantly during drought and significantly increasing post-drought. In contrast, the Smith-Wilson evenness index did not significantly differ between years. Plant dry weight was significantly reduced by drought and increased significantly post-drought. The percent cover of sixteen species was significantly reduced in the drought year. Furthermore, nine species disappeared during drought, but reappeared after precipitation. The most sensitive species to drought were P[i]sathyrostachys fragili[/i], [i]Carex [/i]sp., [i]Falcaria[/i][i] falcarioide[/i], [i]Festuca ovina[/i] and [i]Scariola orientalis[/i]. Five species ([i]Cardaria draba[/i], [i]Echium amoenum[/i], [i]Polygonatum orientale[/i], [i]Medicago noeana[/i] and [i]Cirsium vulgare[/i]) not present before and during drought appeared the year after drought ended. Some of the effects of drought may be reduced by improved land management planning and water conservation to better provide for the water needs of Iran and other drought-prone countries.
Authors and Affiliations
Hassan Pourbabaei, Verya Rahimi, Mohammad Naghi Adel
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP105428
- DOI -
- Views 146
- Downloads 0
Study of Plant Species Composition of Grasslands in Mugla Village Region (Western Rhodopes, South Bulgaria)
The study presents data on the diversity of grass species in the region of the village of Mugla (the Western Rhodopes). One hundred forty-one species of higher plants belonging to 40 families were registered. (Apiaceae,...
Determining the Heavy Metal Pollution in Mascara (Algeria) by Using Casuarina equisetifolia
In this study, Casuarina equisetifolia needles were evaluated as the possible biomonitors of heavy metal air pollution in Mascara (Algeria). The needles were sampled from seven locations with different degrees of metal p...
On the Population Dynamics of the Tomato Leaf Miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in Egypt
The susceptibility of different tomato cultivars during different rotations was determined during the years 2012-2013 under Egyptian field condition. Our evaluation showed that the cultivars coded with GS and 010 appeare...
Морфологични промени в еритроцити на каракуда Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) при дълговременна eкспозиция на мед (Cu)
Preliminary Data of the Shell Morphometry of Populations of Zebrina detrita (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata) from Bulgaria
Six populations of Zebrina detrita Müller, 1774 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Pulmonata) occuring in different habitats, regions and altitude were studied by shell morphology. The width and height of the shell and its aperture...