Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Someh Sara, Iran.
2
Department of Forestry, Natural resource college, University of Guilan, Some Sara, Iran.
3
Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, I.R. of Iran
4
Department of Forestry Engineering, Kastamonu University, Kastamonu, Turkey.
10.22034/jpr.2025.8595.3400
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between the soil seed bank and vegetation cover during secondary succession stages in the northern Zagros forests, Kamyaran, Kordestan Province, Iran. Sampling was conducted in four sites: a less disturbed forest, a forest reserve, a long-term abandoned site (30 years post-rainfed agriculture), and a short-term abandoned site (three-year fallow). Sampling plots were placed along three parallel transects (200 m apart). Results identified 64 plant species from 26 families in both the aboveground vegetation and the soil seed bank. The less disturbed forest, forest reserve, long-term abandoned, and short-term abandoned sites contained 44, 40, 37, and 18 species, respectively. Some species were exclusive to each site, while six species were common across all sites. Jaccard’s similarity index indicated the highest similarity between the aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank in the less disturbed forest (93%) and forest reserve (90%), while the long-term (58%) and short-term abandoned sites (68%) exhibited the lowest similarity. Findings suggest that the soil seed bank plays a crucial role in regenerating vegetation in the Zagros forests. However, deforestation, land-use changes, and ecosystem degradation reduce its restoration potential. Therefore, long-term conservation management and the establishment of forest reserves are essential for maintaining ecosystem resilience.
Keywords
Subjects
Journal of Plant Research
(Iranian Journal of Biology)