Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Studying the diversity and abundance of microhabitats in old growth trees in pure beech type in the northern forests of Iran (case study: Baharbon district of Nowshahr Kheyrud Forest)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Z Veysi 1
M Javanmiri Pour 2
V Etemad 3
Sh Ghalandar Ayeshi 4
1 M.Sc. Student of Biology Forest Sciences, Dept. of Forestry and Forest Economics Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
2 Assistance Prof., Kermanshah Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran.
3 Associate Prof., Dept. of Forestry and Forest Economics Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
4 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Statistics, Faculty of Engineering and Technical Sciences, Gonbad-Kavoos University, Gonbad-Kavoos, Iran.
10.22034/ijf.2025.500986.2032
Abstract
Introduction: The study of the habitat value of old trees is crucial, as they are key factors in the structural heterogeneity of natural forest stands and play significant ecological and habitat roles. This research aims to investigate the microhabitat value of thick, old trees within the pure oriental beech type in the Baharbon district of the Kheyrud Forest.
Material and methods: Using forest cruising in a pure beech stand, 30 veteran trees were randomly identified and examined. Variables such as tree species with microhabitats and the types of observed microhabitats-including Wood pecker cavity, trunk base rot hole, buttress root concavity, canker, micro soil, trunk cavity, branch hole, crack in the bark, nest, stem fungi, crack in the stem and dead wood-were recorded. The frequency and microhabitat value of the veteran trees were then analyzed.
Results: The results of the study indicated that the stem gall microhabitat had the highest frequency among the observed microhabitat types, accounting for 22.16% of the total 1,530 recorded instances. In contrast, the branch cavity with 0.65% had the lowest frequency. The distribution of microhabitats among the three tree species -Acer velutinum Boiss., Fagus orientalis Lipsky., and Alnus subcoradata C.A.Mey - was 53.79%, 27.12%, and 19.08%, respectively. The highest frequency of microhabitats for Acer velutinum and Alnus subcoradata was associated with the stem gall, at 22.16% and 21.91%, respectively. In contrast, for Fagus orientalis, the highest frequency was observed for the large trunk cavity, at 17.83%. The lowest frequency of microhabitats for all three species- Acer velutinum, Alnus subcoradata , and Fagus orientalis -was associated with nesting sites, at 0.60%, 1.02%, and 0.72%, respectively. The branch cavity was entirely absent in beech. The highest frequency of various microhabitat elements was observed in - Acer velutinum within the macro class, with nine recorded instances. In contrast, the lowest frequency was observed in alder within the mega class, with only two instances. Additionally, the highest frequency of microhabitat elements in the mega class was recorded in Acer velutinum, with 11 instances. Conversely, the lowest frequency within the mega class was again observed in alder, with only two instances. Analysis of the frequency of habitat tree types using ANOVA at a 99% confidence level (p < 0.01) in pure beech stands revealed a statistically significant difference among the 12 studied groups.
Conclusion: The present study highlights the unique role of veteran trees-particularly Carpinus betulus and Alnus subcordata species-in the formation and diversity of forest microhabitats. These trees, due to their specific physiological, structural, and genetic characteristics-such as thick bark, wide crowns, heartwood decay, and gall formation-host a variety of habitat components critical for numerous organisms, including saproxylic species, birds, and epiphytes. The findings also suggest that focusing specifically on veteran trees, rather than conducting a general assessment of trees with microhabitats, may yield different results compared to some previous studies. In this study, the maple species was identified as the most prominent macrohabitat tree and, due to its high diversity of habitat features, has the potential to be considered a "macrohabitat tree." Therefore, in management programs-such as logging and exploitation operations-special attention should be paid to the habitat value of veteran trees and their role in the sustainability of forest stands.
Keywords
Cankers
Cavity
Crack
Decay
Nest

Subjects

Amin Amlashi, M., & Salehi, M. (2020). Investigation on the appearance of host trees in woodpecker hunting activity Dendrocopos syriacus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg) on poplar clear wing moth Paranthrene tabaniformis (Rott.). Biological Control of Pests and Plant Disease, 8(2), 51-57. (In persian)
Annalliasa, S., Maari, S., Miko, M., & Jukka, J. (2004). Pivestrr of polyporus fungi (polyporaceae) in northern Borel forestry: effects site type and logging intensity, Sundinavian. Journal of forest research, 19, 152-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/02827580410026294.
Asbeck, T., Grobmann, J., Paillet, Y., Winiger, N., & Bauhus, J. (2021). He Use of Tree-Related Microhabitats as Forest Biodiversity Indicators and to Guide Integrated Forest Management.  Current Forestry Reports 7, 59–68. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40725-020-00132-5.
Azaryan, M., Marvie Mohadjer, M.R., Etemaad, V., Shirvany, A., & Sadeghi, S.M.M. (2015). Morphological characteristics of old trees in hyrcanian forest (Case study: Pattom and Namkhaneh districts, Kheyrud). Forest and Wood Products, 68(1), 47-59. (In persian)
Baker, M., Roviello, V., Kroeger, D., & Roviello, G. (2022). Old growth forests and large old trees as critical organisms connecting ecosystems and human health. A review. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 20, 1529–1538.
Butler, R., Lachat, T., Krumm, F., Kraus, D., & Larrieu, L., (2021). Know, protect and promote habitat trees. WSL Fact Sheet, Swiss Federal Institute, Birmensdorf, Switzerland,12p.
Etemad, V., Javanmiri Pour, M., & Asgari, M. (2024). Ecological silviculture, concepts and applications. Tehran University Press, 648 pp. (In persian)
Finsinger, W., Cagliero, E., Morresi, D., Paradis, L., Curovic, M., Garbarino, M., Marchi, N., Meloni, F., Spalevic, V., Lingua, E., & Motta, R. (2022). the value of long-term history of small and fragmented old-growth forests for restoration ecology. Page magazine, 30, 8-9.
Fröhlich, A., Hawryło, P., & Ciach, M. (2022). Urbanization filters woodpecker assemblages: Habitat specialization limits population abundance of dead wood dependent organisms in the urban landscape. Global Ecology and Conservation, 38, 02220.
Haghighatdoust, A., & Waez-Mousavi, S.M. (2021). Frequency of tree micro-habitats in Persian ironwood- hornbeam forest at Bahramnia forestry plan (Gorgan). Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 27(4), 113-129. (In persian)
Hosseini, A., Jafari, M., & Asgari, S. (2020). Investigation and recognition of ecological characteristics of sites of Persian Oak and Pistachio old trees in forests of Ilam province. Journal of Wood and Forest Science and Technology, 26(4), 113-128. (In persian)
Jashni, J., Marvi Mohadjer, M.R., Zahedi Amiri, G., Etemad, V., & Hamzehee, B. (2012). Plant associations in Baharbon district of Kheyroud Forest and its relationship to land forms. Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 20(3), 419-402. (In persian)
Javanmiri Pour, M. (2024). A Study on the Structure Complexity Index and Stand Quality in Managed Mixed Habitats in Kheyrud Forest. Ecology of Iranian Forest, 12(1), 99-112. (In persian)
Javanmiri Pour, M., & Etemad, V. (2024). Habitat trees in mixed stands and mid-altitude elevation in Hyrcanian forests (Case study: Kheyrud forest, Nowshahr). Iranian Journal of Forest and Poplar Research, 32(1), 29-45. (In persian)
Karami, M., Badehyan, Sh., Abrari, Z., Ahmadi, K., & Moosazadeh, S. (2017). Identifying Fungus (Phellinus allardii (Bres)) and Investigating the distribution and decay relationship with some of the habitat factors (Case Study: Parak Forest, Lorestan province, Iran). Journal of Plant Research (Iranian Journal of Biology), 30(2), 465-476. (In persian)
Kirk, P.M., Cannon, P.F., Minter, D.W., & Stalpers, J.A. (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi, 10th edition. CABI Publishing, UK.
Kraus, D., Bütler, R., Krumm, F., Lachat, T., Larrieu, L., Mergner, U., Paillet, Y., Rydkvist, T., Schuck, A., & Winter, S. (2016). Catalogue of tree microhabitats: Reference field list (Integrate+ Technical Paper). European Forest Institute. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.1.1500.6483
Larrieu, L., Paillet, Y., Winter, S., Bütler, R., Krausf, D., Krummg, F., Lachat, T., Michel, I., M., Regnery, B., & Vandekerkhove, K. (2018). Tree related microhabitats in temperate and Mediterranean European forests: A hierarchical typology for inventory standardization. Ecological Indicators, 84, 194–207.
Larrieu, L., Cabanettes, A., Courbaud, B., Goulard, M., Heintz, W., Koz´ak, D., Kraus, D., Lachat, F., Ladet, S., Müller, G.,Paillet, Y., Schuck , A., Stillhard, J., & Svoboda, M. (2021). Co-occurrence patterns of tree-related microhabitats: A method to simplify routine monitoring. Ecological Indicators, 127, 107757.
Palik, B.J., D'Amato, A.W., Slesak, R.A., Kastendick, D., Looney, CH., & Kragthorpe, J. (2021) Eighth-year survival and growth of planted replacement tree species in black ash (Fraxinus nigra) wetlands threatened by emerald ash borer in Minnesota, USA, Forest Ecology and Management, 484, 118958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.118958.
Regnery, B., Paillet, Y., Couvet, D., & Kerbiriou, CH. (2013). Which factors influence the occurrence and density of tree microhabitats in Mediterranean oak forests?. Forest Ecology and Management, 295, 118–125.
Sefidi, K., & Sadeghi, S. (2020). The diversity of microhabitats and the ecological value of habitat trees in oriental beech stands. Iranian Journal of Forest, 12(2), 147-160. (In persian)
Sefidi, K., Sagheb Talebi, K., & Nobahar, S. (2019). Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of habitat and dead trees in the developmental old-growth phase in the oriental beech forests. Forest and Wood Products, 72(3), 215-226. (In persian)
Spinu, A., Nicolaie, M., Asbeck, T., Kozak, D., Paillet, Y., Cateau, E., Mikola, M., Svoboda, M., & Bauhus, J. (2024) Temporal Development of Microhabitats on Living Habitat Trees in Temperate European Forests. Ecosystems, 27, 690- 709. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-024-00915-y.
Stokland, N., Siitonen, J., & Gonsson., B.G. (2012). Biodiversity in dead wood, cambridge.
Tavankar, F., & Nikooy, M., (2017). The Effect of Selection Cutting on Frequency and Characteristics of Thick Trees (Normal, Rotten, Dead Trees) in Asalem-Nav Forest. Iranian Journal of Applied Ecology, 5(18), 85-100. (In persian)
Yamashita, S., Hattori, T., Ohkubo, T., & Nakashizuka, T. (2009). Spatial distribution of the basidiocarps of aphyllophoraceous fungi in a tropical rainforest on Borneo Island, Malaysia. Mycological Research, 113(10), 1200-1207. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco. 2021.118958.
Iranian Journal of Forest
Volume 17, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 365-379

  • Receive Date 04 February 2025
  • Revise Date 23 March 2025
  • Accept Date 16 May 2025