Iranian Journal of Forest

Iranian Journal of Forest

Monitoring of forest floor vegetation in juniper (Juniperus polycarpos K. Koch) stands in Parvar Protected Area, Central Alborz

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
P. Panahi 1
H Ravanbakhsh 2
M Hasaninejad 3
B Hamze`ee 1
M Pourhashemi 4
M Fadaei Khojasteh 3
Y Ajani 5
M Moridi 6
1 Associate Prof., Botany Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, I. R. Iran
2 Associate Prof., Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, I. R. Iran
3 Researcher, Botany Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, I. R. Iran
4 Prof., Forest Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, I. R. Iran
5 Assistant Prof., Botany Research Division, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, AREEO, Tehran, I. R. Iran
6 Ph.D. in Silviculture, Dept. of Forestry and Forest Economics, Faculty of Natural Resources, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, I. R. Iran
10.22034/ijf.2026.549985.2075
Abstract
Introduction: Vegetation, as one of the main components of ecosystems, plays an important role in explaining other ecosystem functions and is always dynamic. Understanding vegetation and monitoring it are important key to understand the relationships between ecosystem components. Given the limited studies conducted on vegetation monitoring in Irano-Turanian forests, the present study investigates this issue in Juniperus polycarpos K. Koch forests in Parvar Protected Area, Semnan Province.
Materials and Methods: To carry out the present study, two permanent one-hectare square-shaped sites in this area were considered. In each of the sites, vegetation study and monitoring were conducted using 16 micro-plots (with dimensions of 2×2 m) within 4 sample plots (with dimension of 10×10 m). Vegetation data were collected in mid-May and in 2022 and 2024. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of vegetation including area, species composition, life form, density, frequency and biodiversity indices were calculated and analyzed. Comparisons of the studied variables were performed using the Friedman and Wilcoxon non-parametric tests.
Results: According to the results, the vegetation cover at both sites in 2024 was significantly higher than in 2022. In the first site, 68 plant species were identified, belonging to 53 genera and 21 plant families. The Poaceae family was the largest plant family with 9 species. Thirty-eight percent of the species had a hemicryptophyte life form, 32 percent were annual plants (therophyte) and 18 percent were chamaephyte (shrubs). At the second site, 76 plant species were identified, belonging to 58 genera and 19 families. The families Caryophyllaceae, Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the largest plant families with 9 species each. Thirty-nine percent of the plants were therophyte, 35% were hemicryptophyte, 14% were chamaephyte and 10% were cryptophyte. At both sites, species density in 2024 was higher than in 2022, but the difference was significant only at the first site. At both sites, more than half of the species present were present in less than 20% of the micro-plots. Also, at both sites, the ground vegetation cover in 2024 was more diverse and richer than in 2022, with significant differences observed for most biodiversity indices.
Conclusion: The results of the present study confirmed both spatial and temporal changes in vegetation characteristics in the study area. In general, the vegetation cover condition in 2024 was better than in 2022. Repeating the sampling in future years can lead to more accurate and complementary results.
Keywords
Biodiversity index
Floristic composition
Irano-Turanian forests
Permanent monitoring plot
Plant elements.
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Forest
Volume 18, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
Autumn 2026
Pages 235-249

  • Receive Date 29 September 2025
  • Revise Date 08 January 2026
  • Accept Date 31 January 2026