Spatial Pattern of Three Oak Species in Chenare Forest of Marivan, Kordestan
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Abstract
Spatial pattern of trees is an important characteristic of plant communities. Generating hypotheses relating to the structure of ecological communities is the aim of spatial pattern recognition. Stands spatial patterns are measured and mapped by measuring tree locations in the stand and entering each coordinates into analytical frameworks. The spatial pattern of plant populations observed at any point in time is the product of many processes in the past such as seed dispersal, growth, mortality, soil topography, microclimate, or disturbances. The aim of this study is to investigate on spatial pattern of three species Oak (Quercus. libani, Q. brantii and Q. infectoria) in Chenare forest at Marivan city in Kurdistan province. For this purpose, T-square distance sampling method was used. A grid of 100 m×100 m was applied and then 30 sample plots were established. The grid intersections were applied as the center of sample plots and the beginning of distance sampling techniques. Hopkins, T-square and Johnson and Zimmer indices were used to analyze the spatial pattern. All of the indicators showed a random pattern for Oak species. Such spatial information allows to natural resource managers to make better-informed decisions and increase the potential for enhanced natural resource utilization.
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