Changes in the diversity and richness indices with distance from main and secondary forest roads

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ms. Forest engineering, Department of Forestry, Natural Recourses Faculty, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Forestry, Natural Recourses Faculty, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran

3 Professor, Department of Forestry, Natural Recourses Faculty, University of Tehran, Karaj, I.R. Iran

Abstract

Forest roads are directions in natural habitats that used to transport wood products, secondary forest products and recreation. Constructing forest roads causes trees clearing with specified width thus lead to direct or indirect changes in forest ecosystems and forest environment. This study aims to assess the changes of diversity and richness indices in main and secondary forest roads in a part of Hyrcanian Forest. Sixteen 100-meters transects along main and secondary roads toward cut and fill slopes, were established perpendicular to the road in 0 (road edge), 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 100 m distances. Within each, nine 1×2 m plots were sampled to record the herbaceous species. All transects were in Hornbeam-Beech forest type. Abundance of herbaceous species was recorded in each of the plots and was used to calculate Shannon-Wiener diversity index and richness index. Soil samples were taken from a depth of 0-10 cm above the center of each plot at 0, 5, 60 and 100 m to determine the physico-chemical properties of soil, and then transported to the laboratory. The results of this study showed that the diversity of herbaceous species in the main and secondary forest roads was not significantly different but in different distances from road edge, cut and fill slopes differences were significant. The results indicate that effect of forest roads is limited to the 60 meters of forest interior.

Keywords

References

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Forest and Wood Products
Volume 68, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
January 2016
Pages 829-842

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