Quantitative comparison of microhabitats in deciduous forests with different management histories (Case study: Golband forest- Noshahr)

oleh: Javad Eshaghi Rad, Amene Khanalizadeh

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands of Iran 2014-02-01

Deskripsi

This study was performed in order to investigate microhabitats in compartments 317 (managed) and 318 (control) at Jamand district of Golband forest, located in Noshahr (Mazandaran province). Random systematic sampling method was selected with regular gird of 100 × 200 m and 1000 m² area sampling plots. Type and number of defined microhabitats were recorded in each sampling compartment. Species of host trees at each microhabitat were determined and its diameter at breast height (dbh) was measured as well. Results showed that average density of the host trees of different microhabitat types at managed and control compartments were 28.12 and 26.66 per hectare, respectively and the difference was not significant, based on t-student test. Average number per hectare of different microhabitat types at the managed and the control compartments were as follows, respectively: burst bark: 0.6 and 3, snag: 5.6 and 11.5, deadwood: 5.6 and 5.4, woodpecker: 4.4 and 5.4, broken tree top: 5 and 0.8, conks: 0.6 and 1.5, uprooted Stumps: 0.6 (only in the managed compartment), cavities or scars 10 and 3.8. Results of Mann-Whitney test showed that there was only significant difference between the compartments in respect to their average number of cavity or scar trees. Although there were not significant differences between the two compartments in respect to their host trees number at different diameter classes, but the number at the managed compartment at diameter classes of 30 and 60 cm was greater than that one at the control compartment, whereas the number at 90 cm. diameter class at the control compartment was greater than that one at the managed compartment. Furthermore, Carpinus betulus in the managed compartment and Fagus orientalis in the control compartment were host of more microhabitats. Fagus orientalis was host of more diverse microhabitats in both compartments.