Leaves Polymorphism and Fruit Shapes Variation of Sorbus Torminalis (L.) Crantz in Hyrcanian Forest

Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz as a rare native species in Iran which grows between 70 to 2400 meters high sea level in Guilan province. Sorbus torminalis with yellow autumn color and edible fruit make it as a multipurpose tree for future. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphology type of leaves and fruits shape. Four observation sites were selected in different elevation. The leaves samples were collected at 6 meters height of tree in north and south aspect. Leaves width, leaves length and petiole were measured. Due to scarce fruit, nearly 2 Kg fruit were collected from 6 trees in each site. Fruit shape was distinguished through visual examination of 600 fruits. Length and width of fruit was measured. Obtained results were showed that the Sorbus torminalis revealed high polymorphism in leaves shape. Two distinct Sorbus torminalis fruit type were observed spheroid (apple shape) and ellipsoid (pear shape) rounded. The highest mean value of fruit length was 12.47mm from Gardelehposht site was significantly different with the other studies sites. The highest mean value of fruit width was 9.97mm from Janbehsara site which was highly significant difference with other studies site. This study was the first step in fulfilling the criteria enabling characterization and assessment of variability which facilitate Sorbus torminalis germplasm recognition and exchange

An overview of the rotifers of the family Notommatidae (Rotifera: Monogononta: Ploima) from Iran

The diversity and distribution of the rotifers family Notommatidae was studied in the northwest, the south and the southwest of Iran. In total, 29 species were identified, of which, 25 are new records for the country. New records include the following species: Cephalodella forficata, C. cf. mus, C. vittata, C. ventripes, C. lepida, C. inquilina, C. gibboides, C. tincaformis , C. obvia, C. sterea, C. physalis, C. gracilis, Eosphora najas, E. Ehrenberg, E. therina, E. anthadis, Eothina elongate, Monommata actices, Notommata pygma, N. glyphura, N. diasema, N. brachyota, Resticula nyssa, R. melandocusa and Pleurotrocha atlantica. Spatial and temporal patterns of the species diversity were evaluated. Descriptions are provided for all the identified species in detail. Biogeography and environmental conditions favorable for identified species were referred. A great richness of rotifers in aquatic environments is generally found in regions where vegetation predominates, either in aquatic or in the ecotone zone between aquatic and terrestrial environments

Tallo: A global tree allometry and crown architecture database.

This is the final version. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record. Data capturing multiple axes of tree size and shape, such as a tree's stem diameter, height and crown size, underpin a wide range of ecological research-from developing and testing theory on forest structure and dynamics, to estimating forest carbon stocks and their uncertainties, and integrating remote sensing imagery into forest monitoring programmes. However, these data can be surprisingly hard to come by, particularly for certain regions of the world and for specific taxonomic groups, posing a real barrier to progress in these fields. To overcome this challenge, we developed the Tallo database, a collection of 498,838 georeferenced and taxonomically standardized records of individual trees for which stem diameter, height and/or crown radius have been measured. These data were collected at 61,856 globally distributed sites, spanning all major forested and non-forested biomes. The majority of trees in the database are identified to species (88%), and collectively Tallo includes data for 5163 species distributed across 1453 genera and 187 plant families. The database is publicly archived under a CC-BY 4.0 licence and can be access from: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6637599. To demonstrate its value, here we present three case studies that highlight how the Tallo database can be used to address a range of theoretical and applied questions in ecology-from testing the predictions of metabolic scaling theory, to exploring the limits of tree allometric plasticity along environmental gradients and modelling global variation in maximum attainable tree height. In doing so, we provide a key resource for field ecologists, remote sensing researchers and the modelling community working together to better understand the role that trees play in regulating the terrestrial carbon cycle.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech RepublicFAPEMIGUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoConsejo Nacional de Ciencia y TecnologíaSwedish Energy AgencyUKRIFederal Ministry of Education and ResearchNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Science FoundationNational Science FoundationInternational Foundation for ScienceP3FACDynAfForNanjing Forestry UniversityJiangsu Science and Technology Special ProjectHebei UniversityAgence Nationale de la RechercheAgence Nationale de la RechercheAgua Salud ProjectU.S. Department of EnergyCAPE

Plant ecological groups and soil properties of common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) stand in Safagashteh forest, north of Iran

Abstract In Safragashteh forest of Fuman in north of Iran, there is a hazel stand, which has grown naturally. The aim of this research was to evaluate the plant communities and soil characteristics in the area. This study included 50 ha of hazel protected area. A selective sampling method was utilized to record 30 400 m2 for tree and shrub layers, and sub-plots of 100 m2 for herbaceous species. Soil samples were collected at the 30 plots. We found three ecological species groups in the study area. Corylus avellana and Epimedium pinnatum in first group, Fagus orientalis, Asperula odorata, Euphorbia amygdaloides, Carex sp., Fragaria vesca and Viola sylvestris in second group, and Crataegus microphylla, Ilex spinigera, Primula heterochroma, Sedum stoloniferum and Vicia crocea in thirth group were the indicator species. Sand percent was significantly highest in Corylus avellana group, while clay, nutrients elements, pH and SP were significantly highest in the other groups. Biodiversity indices in Corylus avellana group were significantly less than other stands. We recommend to provide comprehensive conservation and management programs in order to protect of common hazel, associated plant species, and to prevent of human activities such as recreational use and livestock.</jats:p

Effect of Environmental Factors on Rangeland Vegetation Distribution in Divan-Darre Area, Kurdistan

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical and chemical properties of soils with vegetation distribution in Divan-Darre rangeland as one of the most important rangelands in Kurdistan province. For this purpose, a random systematic 150 m &times; 200 m gird sampling plan was used to establish 90 sampling plots. In each plot, soil factors and percent cover of each plant species were recorded. The minimal area method was utilized to determine the sample size in the herbaceous layer in this study that it was obtained 4m2. Percent cover of each species was estimated base on the Braun-Blanquet criterion. Vegetation classification was done to determine ecological species group using Cluster method. Ward&rsquo;s method used to calculate the distance amongst clusters, and Euclidean method for distance index was used. The result of clustering analysis was indicated that four ecological species groups were found. Multivariate analysis was performed to detect the relationship between the physiographic, soil factors and the ecological groups. The most important physiographic and soil factors in these communities were belonged to N, K, OC, OM, pH, SP%, soil texture (clay, sand, and silt), EC, elevation, aspect and slope. Since each plant species has the specific ecological requirements to soil properties and physiographic factors, study of them can be used to improve vegetation restoration

Leaves polymorphism and fruit shapes variation of Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz in Hyrcanian forest

Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz as a rare native species in Iran which grows between 70 to 2400 meters high sea level in Guilan province. Sorbus torminalis with yellow autumn color and edible fruit make it as a multipurpose tree for future. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphology type of leaves and fruits shape. Four observation sites were selected in different elevation. The leaves samples were collected at 6 meters height of tree in north and south aspect. Leaves width, leaves length and petiole were measured. Due to scarce fruit, nearly 2 Kg fruit were collected from 6 trees in each site. Fruit shape was distinguished through visual examination of 600 fruits. Length and width of fruit was measured. Obtained results were showed that the Sorbus torminalis revealed high polymorphism in leaves shape. Two distinct Sorbus torminalis fruit type were observed spheroid (apple shape) and ellipsoid (pear shape) rounded. The highest mean value of fruit length was 12.47mm from Gardelehposht site was significantly different with the other studies sites. The highest mean value of fruit width was 9.97mm from Janbehsara site which was highly significant difference with other studies site. This study was the first step in fulfilling the criteria enabling characterization and assessment of variability which facilitate Sorbus torminalis germplasm recognition and exchange

Investigating the Effect of Biological Crusts on Some Biological Properties of Soil (Case Study: Qare Qir Rangelands of Golestan Province)

Introduction: Physical and biological soil crusts are the principal types of soil crusts. Physical and biological soil crusts are distributed in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid regions which constitute over 40% of the earth terrestrial surface. Biological soil crusts (BSCs) result from an intimate association between soil particles and cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens and mosses in different proportions which live on the surface, or in the immediately uppermost millimeters of soil. Some of the functions that BSCs influences include: water absorption and retention, nutrient retention, Carbon and nitrogen fixation, biological activate and hydrologic Status. BSCs are important from the ecological view point and their effects on the environment, especially in rangeland, and desert ecosystems and this caused which researchers have a special attention to this component of the ecosystems more than before. Materials and Methods: This study carried out in the Qara Qir rangelands of Golestan province, northeast of Iran (37º15′ - 37º23′ N &54º33′ -54º39′ E), to investigate the effects of BSCs on some of soil biological properties. Four sites including with and without BSCs cover were selected. Soil biological properties such as microbial populations, soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, as well as, other effective properties such asorganic carbon percent, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, and available water content were measured in depths of 0-5 and 5-15 cm of soil with four replications. The gathered data were analyzed by nested plot, and the mean values were compared by Duncan test. Results and Discussion: The results showed that organic carbon and water content were higher at the surface under BSCs, followed by 5-15 cm soils under BSCs. Both soil depths of uncrusted soils showed substantially lower organic carbon and water content than the BSC-covered soils. Total nitrogen was far higher in BSC-encrusted surface soils than uncrusted surface soils or BSC sub-surface soils. All Electrical conductivities were lower in surface soils covered with BSCs than sub-surface soils. The values for non-BSC covered soils were far higher than values for soils covered with BSCs. The values of soil biological properties such as microbial populations, soil respiration, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were higher at the surface under BSCs, followed by 5-15 cm soils under BSCs. The values for non-BSC covered soils were far lower than values for soils covered with BSCs at 0-5 cm depth but these properties in the uncrusted soils did not differ with BSCs covered surface at 5-15 cm depth. The amount of organic carbon was higher in BSC-covered surface soils at both measured depths, likely due to the ability of BSCs to fix atmospheric carbon. This leads to enhanced BSCs biomass and thus organic carbon especially in the soil surface layer (0-5 cm). An extensive cover of even a thin layer of photosynthetically active organisms can be an important basis for carbon input into the soil. BSCs also produce and secrete extracellular polysaccharides into surrounding soils, increasing the soil carbon and nitrogen pool. In general, there is a positive correlation between C and N fixation by BSCs. Also distribution of soil microbial population is positively correlated with the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen. Microbial population is reduced following increase at depth, which is proportional to reduce of the concentration of nutrient and suitable conditions such as water content for growing them. Therefore proportionate to Microbial population, the properties such as soil respiration and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were reduced following increase at depth, because it did not provide the conditions for living organisms. These conditions were more inappropriate for non-BSC covered soils due to lower water content, organic carbon, total nitrogen and much higher electrical conductivity at both depths especially at 5-15 cm depth. Conclusion: Biological soil crusts can play a key role in the biological properties of soil. Our data showed that organic carbon percent, total nitrogen, and available water content and biological properties such as microbial populations, soil respiration and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were increased significantly in two mentioned depths especially in 0-5 cm depth on sites covered with BSCs, relative to without BSCs. Electrical Conductivity had a reverse trend. In general, it can be concluded that BSCs improve soil conditions and provide suitable habitats for heterotrophic microorganisms and increase soil microbial activity. As the presence of BSCs generally increased the positive qualities of the soil, it is suggested that they can be used as a qualitative indicator of soil quality in rangelands

A study on the variations of temperature, moisture, pH and carbon to nitrogen ratio in producing compost by stack method

Background: Considering the importance of chemical and physical parameters such as temperature, moisture, pH and carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio in producing compost, the purpose of this study was aimed to evaluate these parameters in producing compost by stack method. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on municipal solid waste generated in Kashan during a 63-day period from Oct 3 to Dec 4, 2010. Compost samples were taken from the top one-third, the center and also the bottom of the compost pile and mixed the compost pile was aerated (if necessary). Thereafter, samples were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen content using Fourti method.Results: The initial temperature of the compost pile was 38°C and then increased to 65°C at the 9th day, and reached to 26°C at the last day of composting. The moisture at the beginning of the process was 67.5, increased to 73 at the 5th day and decreased to 38 at the last day. The initial pH of the compost was 5.5, increased during the compost process, and reached an optimal value of 7.7 at the end of the process. The C:N ratio at the beginning of the process was 35:1 and in mature compost decreased to 12.5:1. Conclusion: Presence of actinomycetes and the dark-brown color of the prepared compost on the 63rd day of composting indicate that the compost meets the required standards. Consequently, the implementation of this method is suitable for tropical cities like Kashan