The Study of Diversity Indices of Plants Species Using SHE Method (Case Study: Javaherdeh Rangelands, Ramsar, Iran)

Abstract

Recent attitude of vegetation assessors is using of new ecologic approaches to evaluate and analyse the complex rangeland ecosystems. Plant diversity is the most important indices to assess the ecological changes of rangelands. In order to survey of plant indices of rangelands, two exclosure areas (long-term and mid-term) and a grazing area in rangelands of Javaherdeh (Ramsar, Iran) were selected. Quadrate size and number were respectively obtained by minimal area and statistical formula methods. The diversity, richness, and evenness indices in each quadrate were calculated. For comparing of these indices, one way ANOVA and Duncan test method were used. Results showed that the higher values of diversity and richness indices were obtained in the long term exclosure and the lower values of evenness index were obtained in the grazed area. The SHE analysis clarifies that the highest species richness and diversity was obtained in lower plots number in the long-term exclosure areas and reversely it needs more plots for assessment of grazed area. Along with time elapsing, the long-term exclosure and grazing area had higher and lower evenness, respectively. The mid-term exclosure, however, needs also long time to reach the maximum species richness and diversity. Hence, in order to achieve the ecologic management of the rangeland ecosystems, knowing of bio-indicators and their components analysis (SHE) can draw future trend of the ecosystem and bring out data to program it.