Hanieh Khodad Saryazdi; Samira Hosseinjafari; Mohammadreza Elmi
Abstract
Introduction: Railway construction is one of the important activities in the development of any country. Railway construction operations can have an impact on the environment around the railway. This study investigated the effects of Yazd-Eghlid railway construction on some vegetation and soil characteristics ...
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Introduction: Railway construction is one of the important activities in the development of any country. Railway construction operations can have an impact on the environment around the railway. This study investigated the effects of Yazd-Eghlid railway construction on some vegetation and soil characteristics of artemisia and camel grass species located in Kalmand-Bahadoran Protected Area.Material and methods: In order to evaluate the vegetation and soil variables in the studied types, random-systematic sampling method was used. Random-systematic sampling method is used; Thus, within each brigade, three areas with different distances by rail include the first area (distance 0 to 250 meters), the second area (distance 250 to 500 meters) and the third area (distance 500 to 1000 meters) from Railway was considered and vegetation and soil samples were taken. Within each area, 4 100-meter transects were randomly placed and 2 plots at the beginning and end of each transect were systematically placed. The reason for comparison of more than two groups was analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Duncan test using SPSS software.Results and discussion: The results of this study showed that the construction of a railway in the Kalmand-Bahadoran Protected Area and the measures taken during the construction process may affect the physical and chemical properties of soil and vegetation, which in the Artemisia type causes a significant decrease in the production of plant vegetative form srub (0.81 g) (P <0.05). Also, a significant decrease in electrical conductivity (0.78 ds/m), potassium (0.64), acidity (7.7),lime percentage (26.25) (P <0.05), and percentage of clay (4%) (P <0.01) was observed. In the Cornulaca type, construction of railways significantly increased production (6.13 g), density (1.42), and percentage of cover form shrub (6.01) (P <0.05). It also significantly reduced the production of shrub vegetative form (0), the percentage of shrub vegetative form cover (0.17) (P <0.05) and the density of shrub vegetative form (0) (0.01), (P <0.01). Regarding the effect of railway construction on soil parameters of this type, it can be said that railway construction causes a significant increase in the percentage of rock (93%) and a significant decrease in the percentage of silt (2%), electrical conductivity (ds / m66 (P <0.05) and also significantly reduced organic matter (0.18), phosphorus (5.25 ppm) and potassium (0.63 ppm) (P <0.01).Conclusion:The construction of the railway and activities that take place during the processes for the construction of the railway units can cause the movement of soil around the railway, whichcauses soil and water erosion in the region that may lead toa decrease in soil quality in the areas near the railway and consequently, the decrease of vegetation production in the area.
Ali Akbar Karimian; Samira Hossein Jafari
Volume 13, Issue 3 , October 2015, , Pages 125-132
Abstract
Habitat is one of the important factors in species protection. Determining the pattern of wildlife species distribution and their habitat selection is so important to manage wildlife and its habitat. So the purpose of this study is to investigate the habitat selection of Gazella subgutrrosa in Kalmand ...
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Habitat is one of the important factors in species protection. Determining the pattern of wildlife species distribution and their habitat selection is so important to manage wildlife and its habitat. So the purpose of this study is to investigate the habitat selection of Gazella subgutrrosa in Kalmand conserved area. Sampling was done using random steady transects with 200 meters long and 2 meters wide and with 2 replications during five field investigation. When dung groups were observed, a 10*10 plot was putted with the center of dung masses and environmental variables were measured. Then, dungs were removed for another monitoring. Transects were investigated every 45 days. The results showed that there is a significant difference among three plant communities in terms of dung groups' density. The most and the least deer utilization were related to Artemisia-lactuca and Artemisia communities, respectively, but there is no significant difference between Artemisia and Artemisia-Salsola communities in terms of habitat use. Artemisia-lactuca community had the least distance to the nearest post and Artemisia-Salsola community had the least distance to the nearest water resources and road. Artemisia community had also the least distance to the nearest farm. There is no significant difference between the two seasons in terms of dung groups' density in plant communities. It seems that Artemisia-lactuca community prepared refuge (because of Astragalus species as a participant in this community), safety (because of being near to the post), and more food and water resources (because of Artemisia and Astragalus species presence) for Gazella subgutrrosa compared to the other communities.
Samira Hossein Jafari,; Mohammad Reza Tatian; Reza Tamartash; Ali Akbar Karimian
Volume 11, Issue 4 , January 2014
Abstract
To assess the impact of grazing on the diversity, richness and evenness of vegetation, several indices and information on plant composition are necessary because of their different sensitivity to grazing gradients and kinds of herbivores.Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare these indices between ...
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To assess the impact of grazing on the diversity, richness and evenness of vegetation, several indices and information on plant composition are necessary because of their different sensitivity to grazing gradients and kinds of herbivores.Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare these indices between two wildlife and livestock grazing sites in steppe rangelands of Mehriz. Sampling was performed using a random systematic method in April 2012 (10 transects of 100m and three plots of 2m2 were placed on each transect on each site). The species name, plant families, longevity and canopy cover percentage were determined in each plot and along each transect. Finally, the data were analysed using an independent sample t-test. The results showed that the canopy cover percentage of Colchicum kotschyi, Iris songarica(p<0.05) and Stachys inflata(p<0.01) significantly increased while the percentage of Artemisia sieberi, Stipa barbata(p<0.01) and Scorzonera sp.(p<0.05) canopy cover was revealed to have significantly decreased in deer grazing areas. The results of a statistical analysis showed that deer grazing has caused plant diversity indices to increase such as Shannon, Simpson and evenness (p<0.01). However, the Margalef and Menhinick indices did not show any significant difference between the two sites.
