Лесные исследования: открытый доступ
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Assessing Impact of Physiographic Factors on Spatial Distribution Patterns of Oak Trees in Iran

Mehrdad Mirzaei, Amir Eslam Bonyad and Jalal Aziz

Spatial pattern is a key attribute of forest ecosystems. Spatial distribution pattern of woody plants, especially trees, has gained many interest by plant ecologists which leads to introducing a large number of different methods for quantifying spatial patterns. The purpose of the present study was the investigation of effects physiographic factors on spatial distribution patterns of oak trees (Quercus brantii var. persica) in western forests of Iran. So, based on systematic-random sampling methods with 400 m × 700 m dimensions, 82 plots (1000 m2) were selected and measured. In each plot, distance of two nearest neighbors to central of plot and physiographic factors including of altitude, slope gradient and aspect were measured. Hopkins, Hinez, Eberhart and C indexes were used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern. All indexes showed a clumped pattern for oak trees in study area without considering effects of physiographic factors. The results of this study showed that in different physiographic condition changes spatial distribution pattern of oak trees. So, physiographic factors have a key role in the determination of spatial distribution pattern.