INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, Copyright 2010 All rights reserved Integrated Publishing Association

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1 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 1, No 7, 211 Copyright 21 All rights reserved Integrted Pulishing Assocition Reserch rticle ISSN Influence of physiogrphic fctors on vegettive nd morphologicl chrcters of Beech plus trees - A cse study in Hyrcnin forest Zoghi.Z 1, Azdfr. D 1, Kooch.Y 2 1- Forestry nd Wood Technology Fculty, Gorgn University of Agriculture Sciences nd Nturl Resources. 2- Deprtment of Forestry, Trit Modres University. yhy.kooch@yhoo.com ABSTRACT This study ws done to improve our understnding on the influence some physiogrphic fctors including spect nd ltitude on quntittive chrcters of eech (Fgus orientlis Lipsky) plus trees. This reserch ws conducted in Experimentl Forest Sttion of Gorgn University tht is locted in temperte forest of Golestn province in the north of Irn. In this reserch, two prcels t high ltitudes ( ) nd two prcels t lower ltitudes ( ) with est nd west spects were selected s well. After selecting of plus trees in every prcels, the chrcteristics including tree totl height, stem height without rnch, crown length nd rdius, trees dimeter, nnul men growth of dimeter nd rk thickness were mesured. Greter mounts of nnul dimeter growth were detected in est direction which hd significnt difference (P<.5) with west direction. Results re indicting tht the tree totl height, stem height without rnch, crown length to totl height rtio nd nnul growth of dimeter hd significnt differences (P<.1) etween two ltitude clsses nd the most totl height nd stem height without rnch were oserved in high ltitude clss. Crown length to totl height rtio nd lso nnul growth of dimeter were decresed with incresing of ltitude. Anlysis of vrince showed tht interction effects hd no significnt differences for ll of studied chrcteristics. In totl, our study supports tht west slopes nd upper ltitudes hve more pproprite conditions for growth of eech plus trees. Keywords: Fgus orientlis Lipsky, ltitude, spect, quntittive chrcteristics. 1. Introduction Nturl regenertion of tree species cn provide the economy nd environmentl ims in future. Usully, few trees of the sme species hve high qulity with considering to economy condition. To elevting economic potentil of trees species in fforesttion progrms, we need to do some ctivities such s simple selection of seed origin for control of pollintion complicted process nd lso due to evlution of genetic vrince. Mss selection of superior phenotypes in the most widely used method of otining mteril for the initil stges of tree reeding progrms (Zoel nd Tlert, 1984). According to IUFRO definition, plus trees re phenotype judged ut not proved y test to e usully superior in some qulity nd quntity, e.g. exceptionl growth rte desirle growth hit, high wood density, exceptionl pprent resistnce to disese nd insect ttck or to other dverse environmentl fctors (Nieuwenhuis, 2). Irnin Cspin forests cover out 1.9 million h. These forests re lso clled Hyrcnin or Northern forests. They re locted on the cost of the Cspin Se nd the northern slopes of the Alorz Mountin rnge from se level to 28 m ltitude. These forests grow like thin strip (8 km long nd 2-7 km wide). These re the most vlule forests in Irn. Industril hrvesting occurs only in the Cspin forest. Received on Decemer, 21 Pulished on August

2 These forests hve een divided into 98 wtersheds nd ech wtershed hs een divided into severl districts (Lohmnder nd Mohmmdi Limei, 28). The Hyrcnin forests re one of the lst remnnts of nturl deciduous forests in the world (Sghei Tlei, 2). Beech (Fgus orientlis Lipsky) is one of the most importnt elements of forests in the temperte rod - lef forest iome nd represents n outstnding exmple of the re - coloniztion nd development of terrestril ecosystems nd communities fter the lst ice ge, process which is still ongoing (Mosdegh, 2; Mrvie Mohdjer, 27). In Irn, pure nd mixed eech forests re one of the most importnt, richest nd most eutiful forests often lying on the northern slopes of Alorz mountin rnges djcent to the Cspin Se costs. Nturl dense sites re found t the ltitudes of 1m to 21m. However some communities could e oserved down to 6m ltitude depending on the locl nd microclimtic conditions. The eech trees re found in smll groups up to 5m.s.l. while individuls hve een reported from 11m up to 2. At low ltitudes, they occur mixed with hornem (Crpinus etulus L.) (Mrvie Mohdjer, 27). Mny fctors re effective on ecologicl sites of eech stnds. The roles of physiogrphic fctors re more importnt thn others ecuse plnt cover is result of interction etween increment nd environmentl fctors (Loffer, 27). According to geology lw, ltitude nd slop direction cuse to limittion of plnt distriution (Gnri, 28). Seyyed (1997) in study of eech stnds locted in Gorgn city (north of Irn) forests t 3-14 m.. s. l. found tht ecologicl chrcteristics re effective on dimeter t rest height, length of stem without rnch, sl re, tree volume nd qulity. He pointed tht the chrcters of totl height rnch numer of trunk nd tree vlue were improved with incresing of ltitude. But, the other chrcters such s crown form, crown symmetry, trunk twisting were heritge nd geneticlly nd independent of site condition. Hsnzd Nvroodi et l., (2) elieve tht ltitude nd slope direction re effective on volume of eech stnds in Aslem region (north of Irn). Also, Hsnzd Nvroodi et l., (24) found negtive reltion etween stnding volume of eech stnds nd ltitude in Aslem region. The role of physiogrphicl fctors on increment chrcters of eech forests in Middle deciduous temperte zone such s Hyrcnin forests is not fully understood. So, finding of plus tree nd their reltions to physiogrphic fctors re essentil for genetic preserve nd extending of these stnds t future. The min ojective of this study is to quntify the effects of slope nd spect prmeters on vegettive nd morphologicl chrcters of eech plus trees in n old - growth hrdwood forest of Irn tht is the first survey in these forests. 2. Mterils nd Method 2.1 Site chrcteristics The study re is locted t the Experimentl Forest Sttion of Gorgn University (Shstkolte forest) in the North - of the Hyrcnin forest, Irn (36 45 N nd E). Loction of study re presented in Figure 1. Ner the study stnd (t Gorgn city) men nnul precipittion is out 65 ± 144 mm nd the men monthly temperture is highest in My (27.9 C) nd lowest in Novemer (8.71 C). This forest site is covered y different forest community such s Zelkov - Quercetum, Prrotio - Crpinetum, Fgeto - Crpinetum nd Fgetum (Hshi et l., 27). For present reserch, four different prcels (numers 21, 24, 27 nd 32) covered y eech (Fgus orientlis Lipsky) type were selected tht those re locted in district one of Shstkolte forest. Two prcels (numers 27 nd 32) re locted t 9 m.. s. l. with west spect direction nd two prcel (numers 21 nd 24) t 84

3 65 m.. s. l. with est spect direction. It is mentionle tht selected res hd sme slope percent. There were no signs of humn or mjor nturl disturnce. Cnopy height ws typiclly out 3 m nd Cnopy cover is out 55-1%. Figure 1: Loction of the study re in northern Irn 2.2 Selection of plus trees nd chrcters record After field trip on locted prcels, eech cndidte plus trees were selected y comprison tree method nd then grded on sis of morphologicl chrcteristics such s cylindricl trunk, trunk strightness, lck of pest nd disese ffects, twisting ole, undulting ole nd crown symmetry (Zoghi, 21). In every prcel the cndidte tree with higher point selected s eech plus tree. Thirteen, ten, thirteen nd ten plus trees mrked in prcels 21, 24, 32 nd 27, respectively. In the step level, some of quntittive nd qulittive chrcters (including totl height, stem height without rnch, crown length, crown rdius in four min directions to ccess crown symmetry nd tree dimeter in four min direction to ccess dimeter symmetry) for mrked plus tree in every prcel were mesured nd recorded. For considering of dimeter growth nd rk thickness, n increment core of ten lst yers ws tken y increment orer to northern spect nd in dimeter t rest height. 2.3 Sttisticl nlyses Normlity of the vriles ws checked y Kolmogrov - Smirnov test nd Levene test ws used to exmine the equlity of the vrinces. Differences etween spects nd ltitudes in studied chrcters were tested with two - wy nlysis (ANOVA) using GLM procedure, with spects (est nd west) nd ltitudes ( nd ) s independent fctor. Interctions etween independent fctors were tested lso. Significnt differences mong tretment verges for different prmeters were tested t P.5. SPSS v softwre ws used for ll the sttisticl nlysis. 3. Results 3.1 Aspect effect 841

4 Considering of dt nlysis indicted tht spect effect is not significnt on studied chrcteristics except dimeter growth. Men of dimeter growth ws significntly (P<.5) higher t est direction in comprison to west direction (Tle 1 nd Figure 2). Tle 1: Two - wy ANOVA for increment chrcteristics in reltion to physiogrphic prmeters Sttisticl / increment chrcteristics Aspect Altitude Aspect Altitude Men F Men F Men F squres squres squres Totl height (m) ns ** ns Stem height without rnch(m) ns ** ns Crown length (m) ns ns ns Crown length to totl height rtio ns **.7.92 ns Crown symmetry.1.3 ns ns.67.2 ns Dimeter symmetry..13 ns.1.47 ns..18 ns Annul men growth of dimeter (mm) * ** ns Brk thickness (mm) ns ns ns **Different is significnt t the.1 level. *Different is significnt t the.5 level. (ns): Non significnt differences (P >.5). Totl height (m) Stem height without rnch (m) Crown length (m) Crown length to totl height rtio Crown symmetry Dimeter symmetry Annul men growth of dimeter (mm) Brk thickness (mm) Figure 2: Men of increment chrcteristics in reltion to spect 842

5 3. 2 Altitude effect Dt nlyses indicted tht increment chrcteristics including totl height, stem height without rnch, crown length; crown length to totl height rtio nd men of nnul dimeter growth hd significnt differences etween two ltitude clsses. Totl height nd stem height without rnch significntly (P<.1) incresed with incresing ltitude from clss to rnge (Tle 1 nd Figure 3). Greter mounts of crown length to totl height rtio nd nnul men growth of dimeter chrcters were found in ltitude rnge, significntly (P<.1) (Tle 1 nd Figure 3). Furthermore, interctions etween independent fctors were not significnt on none of studied increment chrcteristics (Tle 1). Totl height (m) Stem height without rnch (m) Crown length (m) Crown length to totl height rtio Crown symmetry Dimeter symmetry Annul men growth of dimeter (mm) Brk thickness (mm) Figure 3: Men of increment chrcteristics in reltion to ltitude 4. Discussion Considering of effective fctors on distriution of species nd lso quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics is wy for right recognition nd etter mngement of forest ecosystems. Sttisticl nlysis showed tht the effect of slop direction on men of dimeter growth hd significnt differences nd greter mount of growth ws found t west direction. Topogrphy direction is introduced s n index for mesuring irrdince ecuse of the effect on evportion, trnspirtion nd environment temperture (Pierce et l., 25). Slop direction hs lot of effect on wter ville for plnt growth nd fllowing site 843

6 fertilizing. This physiogrphic fctor lso is very effective on ecosystem receivle light. This effect is more ovious on middle nd high ltitudes ecuse light ngle re reduced in winter. The slops in front of sunlight hve more het nd the potentil of iomss production re more in this position lso (Amnd et l., 25; Ajilou et l., 26). With considering to, est directions receive more light thus the dimeter increment is more occurred in this direction (Ghznfri et l., 23) tht is oserved in current reserch lso. Amnd et l., (25) findings showed tht the effects of est nd west slop direction on morphologicl chrcteristics re the sme. In our reserch est nd west slop direction only were effective on dimeter growth nd hve no significnt effect on the other studied chrcteristics. Any wy, site spect nlysis is using s common for determine of quntittive nd qulittive indices (Bdno, 25; Ajilou et l., 26; Corney et l., 26). Sttisticl nlysis of ltitude fctor indicted tht higher vlues of totl height, stem height without rnch nd minimum of crown length to totl height rtio were oserved t ltitude clss ut the est of dimeter growth ws found t ltitude rnge. Site topogrphy, especilly ltitude rnges hve importnt influence on quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics of trees (Shnin, 1996; Fllh Chy nd Mrvie Mohdjer, 25). With incresing of ltitude rnge, the men of temperture, evportion nd trnspirtion re reduced, wheres the humidity will e incresed (Mgurrn, 24). Mrvie Mohdjer (1984) pointed tht ltitude is influenced on ecologicl potentil of forest ecosystems in north of Irn regrding to mountinous condition of these forests. The results of Seyyed (1997) reserch showed tht dimeter rest height, length of stem without rnch nd tree qulity is incresed with incresing of ltitude clss tht is confirming of our study results. Hsnzd Nvroodi et l., (24) lso concluded tht ltitude fctor is effective on quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics of forest stnds. Results of present reserch indicting tht eech trees hve more pproprite condition in higher ltitudes thn in lower py ttention to studied increment chrcters. But, we find greter mounts of dimeter increment in lower ltitude which it cn e relted to strt of wether heting from lowlnd to uplnds (Mirdin nd Dstmlchi, 21). Moshtgh Khnmoie et l., (24) studied the reltion etween nnul dimeter increment of eech trees nd environment fctors in Hyrcnin forests of Irn. Their reserch elieved tht ltitude fctor is effective on nnul dimeter increment nd this chrcter ws decresed with incresing of ltitude rnge tht cn e similr to our finding lso. In totl, our results clim tht regrding to studied increment chrcters of eech plus trees in different prcels of study re, the prcel 32 hve etter position for eech trees. So, this prcel with west spect nd ltitude rnge provide more suitle condition thn other prcels. Mrvie Mohdjer (24) expressed tht north nd west spects provide suitle condition for eech trees ecuse of more wter reserves. He sid Fgus oreintlis Lipsky grows etween 5-22 m.. s. l. nd the est of sites for eech hve locted t 1-15 m.. s. l. Also, Seyyed (1997) resulted tht the est sites of Irnin eech locted t 9 m.. s. l. py ttention to quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics. Importnce of quntittive trits like totl height nd dimeter t rest height in wood production is well understood. However, the vlue of improving wood through improvement of tree form is very often overlooked though chrcteristics like stem form, rnching hit, wood structure nd tolernce to disese re usully highly inherited (Longmn, 1993). Totl height, stem height without rnch nd dimeter growth of eech trees re very importnt trits for determintion of economy vlue for eech tree which plus trees hve it more thn none plus trees (Zoghi, 21). The plus trees re due to increse of production with desirle qulity. Regrding to prcel 32 hs n ltitude rnge out, we cn sy this ltitude limittion is 844

7 suitle for eech plus trees nd it could cuse to influence on increment chrcteristics specilly length stem without rnch which it is one importnt fctor on produce desirle wood. 5. Conclusion Our study supports tht west slopes nd upper ltitudes hve more pproprite conditions for growth of eech plus trees. Becuse of the desirle reduction of Fgus orientlis Lipsky trees y hrvesting, presenttion of plces s genetic reserves, finding eech plus trees in other site of Irn to help to nturl regenertion re recommended. It is necessry to do progeny test to introduce of eech elite trees, lso. 6. References 1. Ajilou, R., Mrnon, T. nd Arroyyo, J. (26). Ecologicl nd iogeogrphicl nlyses of Mediterrnen forests of northern Morocco. Act Ecologicl, 29: pp Amnd, L., Binkley, D. nd Crol, A. E. (25). Plnt diversity in riprin forests in northwest Colordo: Effects of time nd river regultion. Forest Ecology nd Mngement, 2: pp Bdno, E. I. (25). Slope spect influences plnt ssocition pttern in the Mediterrnen nturl of centrl Chile. Journl of Arid Environments, 62: pp Corney, M. G., Smrt, S. M., Kiy, K. J., Buche, R. G. H. nd Mrrs, R. H. (26). Reltionships etween the species composition of forest field-lyer vegettion nd environmentl drivers ssessed using ntionl scle survey. Journl of Ecology, 94: pp Fllh Chy, M. M. nd Mrvie Mohdjer, M. R. (25). Ecologicl role of ltitude in diversity of tree species in Sihkl forests, north of Irn. Irnin journl of Nturl resources, 58: pp 89-1 (In Persin). 6. Gnri, F. (28). Investigtion on prediction of sptil distriution of some forest llometric fctors using GIS nd geosttistic (distric 1, Shstklteh forest), M. Sc thesis, Agriculturl Sciences nd Nturl Resources University of Gorgn, 16p. (In Persin) 7. Ghznfri, H., Nmirnin, M., Sohni, H., Mrvie Mohdjer, M. R. nd Pourthmsi, K. (23). An estimtion of tree dimeter growth of Lenon ok (Quercus lini) in Northern Zgross forests (cse study Hvreh Khole). Irnin journl of Nturl resources, 57: pp (In Persin). 8. Hshi, H., Hosseini, S. M., Rhmni, R. nd Mohmmdi, J. (27). Stnd structure nd sptil ptterns of trees in mixed hyrcnin eech forest, Irn. Pkistn journl of iologicl sciences, 1 (8): pp Hsnzd Nvroodi, E., Nmirnin, M. nd Zhedi Amiri, Gh. (24). An evlution of reltionship etween quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics nd site forests in nturl eech (Fgus orientlis) stnd in Aslem. Irnin journl of Nturl resources, 57: pp 1-15 (In Persin). 1. Hsnzd Nvroodi, E., Nmirnin, M., Mrvie Mohdjer, M. R. nd Azizi, P. (2). An investigtion of the effect of slope nd ltitude on the extent of growing stock of nturl Beech (Fgus orientlis) in Aslem. Irnin journl of Nturl resources, 53: pp (In Persin). 11. Loffler, J. (27). The influence of micro - climte, snow cover, nd soil moisture on 845

8 ecosystem functioning in high mountins. Journl of Geogrphicl Sciences, 34: pp Lohmnder, P. nd Mohmmdi Limei, S. (28). Optiml continuous cover forest mngement in n uneven ged forest in the north of Irn. Journl of Applied Sciences, 8 (11): pp Longmn, K. A. (1993). Tropicl trees: Propgtion nd plnting mnuls. Vol. 1: Rooting cuttings of tropicl trees. London, Commonwelth Science Council, 137p. 14. Mgurrn, A. E. (24). Mesuring iologicl diversity. Blckwell Pulishing. UK. 256p. 15. Mrvie Mohdjer, M. R. (1984). The study on Ok forest in Gorgn (cse study; Loveh). Irnin journl of Nturl resources, 37: pp (In Persin). 16. Mrvie Mohdjer, M. R. (27). Silviculture. Tehrn University Pulictions, 387p (In Persin). 17. Mirdin, A. nd Dstmlchi, M. (21). Investigtion on phonologicl stges of some trees in the Cspin region. Irnin forest nd poplr reserch, 5: pp (In Persin). 18. Mosdegh, A. (2). Silviculture. Tehrn University Pulictions, 481p (In Persin). 19. Moshtgh Khnmoie, M. H., Bijker, W. nd Sghe Tlei, Kh. (24). The reltion etween nnul dimeter increment of Fgus orientlis nd environmentl fctors (Hyrcnin forest): pp (In Persin). 2. Nieuwenhuis, M. (2). Terminology of Forest Mngement. IUFRO, Vienn, Austri, 23p. 21. Pierce J. K. B., Lookingill, T. nd Urn, D. (25). A simple method for estimting potentil reltive rdition (PRR) for lndscpe-scle vegettion nlysis. Lndscpe Ecology, 2: pp Sghe Tlei, Kh. (2). Hyrcnin forests (North of Irn), the unique ecosystem in ner est region, in proceeding, XXI world congress - Forests nd Society: The role of reserch, Kul Lumpur, 8p. 23. Seyyed, M. (1997). Study on quntittive nd qulittive chrcteristics of Beech forest in Shstkolte, M. Sc thesis, Agriculturl Sciences nd Nturl Resources University of Gorgn, 141p (In Persin) 24. Shnin, T. (1996). Study the structure of Fgus orientlis in Eshketeh chl (Rmsr) in relted to ltitude rnge. M. Sc. Thesis. Trit Modres University, 9p. (In Persin) 25. Zoel, B. nd Tlert, J. (1984). Applied Forest Tree Improvement. John Wiley nd Sons Inc, New York. 55p. 26. Zoghi, Z. (21). Identifiction of Fgus orientlis plus trees in Shstkolte forest, M. Sc. thesis, Agriculturl Sciences nd Nturl Resources University of Gorgn, 111p (In Persin). 846