This study was conducted by the aim of study the species composition and diversity in the north faced slopes of Sabalan (altitude profiles of Lahrood-Shabil) along 7 transects in three elevation classes of 1500 to 2000m, 2000 to 2500m and 2500 to 2700m in the grass-shrubland dominated habitats. Plant specimens were collected in the fieldworks, and then species were identified using the checklists and reliable literature. Overall, 64 identified species were belonged to 48 genera and 22 families. Poaceae family with 9 genera and 16 species, Fabaceae family with 4 genera and 8 species and Asteraceae family with 6 genera and 6 species are the dominant family and genera. According to the Rankaier's system hemicryptophytes with 50%, therophytes with 31%, geophytes with 16% and chamaephytes with 3% are the growing life forms at the study area. In terms of geographical distribution, 42% of the species are belong to Iran-Turonian region, 22% of those to Iran-Turonian and Euro-Siberian, 12% are cosmopolitan, 3% to Euro-Siberian and other 21% is belong to other regions. From the identified species 6 of them are in threatened status based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) criteria. Diversity and evenness of species were calculated using numerical indices. Results of numerical diversity indices (Simpson and Shannon-Weiner) showed significant change according to elevation. However, the evenness indices (Simpson and Smith and Wilson) show no significant change by elevation.

Selection of a suitable seed source is one of the most important factors affecting production of seedlings in nursery and greenhouse. The aim of presented study is to investigate seed morphology of Alnus subcordata. L (Caucasian Alder) in an altitudinal gradient and inquiry of germination and growth characteristics of obtained seedlings. Caucasian Alder seeds were collected in an altitudinal gradient including six altitudes at Golband forestry plan of Noshahr. Morphological properties including seed length, seed width, length/width ratio and weight of 1000 seeds were measured. Also germination characteristics including period of germination, germination rate, average daily germination and speed of germination were examined in three 25 replicates in a germinator. 30 healthy seeds from each altitude were sown in completely randomized design with three replicates in a greenhouse. Then at the end of the growing season growth attributes including total height, collar diameter and survival rate of all of seedlings were measured. Results showed that there were significant differences in morphological properties of seeds from different altitudes. Also there were significant statistical differences in average daily germination and germination rate. Growth attributes were significantly different in seedlings of different altitudes. Based on results of this study altitudes of 800 and 1400 m are the best source for Caucasian Alder seed collecting in order to be sown and bred in the same conditions as this study. Based On these results, further studies on pPossible genetic differences between studied populations at the molecular level seems necessary.

Background and objectives: One of the oldest methods of classification and identification of different plant species is the use of morphological traits. Among the morphological characteristics, leaves are very important due to photosynthesis and carbon capture. Morphometric analysis is usually done by two traditional and geometric methods. The studies of the morphological changes of plants in Iran are based on the traditional method and geometric morphometry has been used for animal species. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in the geometrical morphology of Fagus orientalis leaf at different altitudes and to compare its results with the traditional morphological changes.Materials and methods: In this research, the natural population of Fagus orientalis was sampled in four altitudinal stations. In traditional morphological method, 40 trees were selected and in geometric morphology, 10 trees were selected at each height, and 1 leaf was selected from each direction of the tree crown. In the traditional study, morphological traits including lamina length, lamina width, lamina area, lamina perimeter, Shape factor and Length to width ratio measured with a Leaf Area Meter device. In the geometrical study, the sample of collected leaves was dried and then stored digitally with a scanner in the form of an image and the 8 morphological traits that are scanned as landmarks on the images are supposed to be used to investigate the morphological changes of eastern beech leaves at different altitudes. Data analysis was done with multiway analysis of variance and Duncan's test.Results: The results showed that altitude is one of the important factors in the formation of leaf morphology in eastern beech. Trees that grow at high altitudes generally have smaller leaves which showes the adaptability of the eastern beech to the environmental conditions at each height level. The characteristics of the beginning of the petiole, the end of the petiole, the last vein on the left side, the widest leaf width from the left side, the widest leaf width from the right side in geometric morphology and the characteristics of the perimeter and area in traditional morphology were introduced as the most effective traits in the separation of populations. Conclusion: In this study, it was found that the populations of different altitudes were separated in both traditional and geometric morphological methods, and it was shown that the two traditional and geometric methods do not work in the same way between samples, the grouping of most populations in morphological Geometrical analysis shows the efficiency and accuracy of this method in the separation of populations. Using this modern method, geometric information about morphological differences can be displayed in images and using different images. As a result, the differences in the populations are highlighted and the interpretability of the results increase. Detetmining the most effective traits in the separation of populations also indicats that the capability of the geometric method is more different and more detailed in defining traits.

This study was carried out to evaluate distribution and abundance of Syrphid flies population in Sari-Kiasar forest Region. Data collection was done in five stations including Alikola (1640 metres above sea level, m.a.s.l.), Haftkhal (855 m.a.s.l.), Alamdardeh (396 m.a.s.l.), Pahnekola (175 m.a.s.l.) and one station in Dasht-e-naz region (20 m.a.s.l.). The samples of syrphid flies were collected by set of Malaise trap, window trap, yellow pan trap and white pan trap in each station. The data collection was done every two weeks during spring and summer. Seven species were identified in the study site. The most abundant species was Melanostoma mellinum (L.) followed by Sphaerophoriascripta (L.) which was 43.54% and 33.39%, respectively. Results showed that altitudinal gradient affected the species abundance. For example M. mellinum was the most abundant in habitat with altitude 1640 m and 855m, S. scripta was the most abundant species in habitat with altitude of 855 m, Sphaerophoria rueppellii (Wiedemann) was the most abundant in habitat with altitude 20 m, Eupeodes corollae (Fabricius) was the most abundant species in habitat with altitude of 855 m and Merodonavidus (Rossi) was the most abundant species in habitat with altitude of 1640 m. Also results showed that peak of maximum abundance in studied sites occurred in May.

Vegetation study is one of the pillars of land planning in any region, and the identification of plants is the basis of these studies. The purpose of the present study is to introduce the flora, life form, and chorotype of plants, and to investigate the effect of altitudinal gradient on the species diversity of the Dalfard region in the north of Jiroft city, Kerman. According to the altitude range of Dalfard, the flora of the region was collected and identified in three altitudinal zones during the spring and summer seasons of 2021 and 2022. A total of 303 plant species belonging to 217 genera and 71 families were identified. The most important plant families in the region in terms of species richness were Asteraceae (36), Fabaceae (25), Poaceae (25), Lamiaceae (20), and Apiaceae (16). Hemicryptophytes (30.7%) and therophytes (25.1%) were the dominant life forms in the region, respectively. A considerable number of species (40.9%) belonged to the Irano-Turanian region and other species to two, three, or more regions. The highest number of species (221) was observed in the altitudinal zone Z3 (2300-3100 m) and the lowest number of species (41) in the altitudinal zone Z1 (850-1400 m). The highest species similarity was determined between altitudinal zones Z2 and Z3 (37%) and the lowest similarity between three altitudinal zones (2.6%) based on the Jaccard index.

The aim of this study was to investigate the structure of flora composition in the elevation profile of 937-2162m a. s. l. over 29 Km in the QezelOzan to the altitudes of Kosar county rangelands. Eight habitats and in each three 100 to 500m transects with 10 plots varied from 1 to 25 m2 were selected. Species were collected from the plots, and life forms, growth types and their geographical distribution and conservation were determined. Results show that 32 families, 101 genera and 146 species are distrbuted at the selected areas. Asteraceae families with 39 species (27%), Poaceae with 18 species (13%), Fabaceae with 13 species (9%), Astragalus with 8 species (48. 5%) and Centaurea with 5 species (42. 3%) are the most important elements of the flora. Spermatophyta with 1 species, angiospermae dicotyledoneae with 27 families, 82 genera and 124 species, and angiospermae monocotyledoneae have 4 families, 18 genera and 21 species. Respectively, the highest and lowest ratio of the family to the genera is at 1583-1683m 1: 3. 27 and 2139-2162m 1: 1. 92; the ratio of the family to the species is at 1583-1683m 1: 3. 91 and 1635-1677m 1: 2. 11; and ratio of the genera to the species is at 1568-1609m 1: 1. 30 and 937-965m 1: 1. 03. For bs with 105 species (72%) is the dominant growth type and trophytes with 62 species (43%) is the most abundant life form. Sixty nine species (47%) belong to the Iranian-Turanian region. Also, 14 native species of Iran, 8 low risk species and 2 vulnerable species are distributed at the study area.

Altitudinal gradient is effective on biodiversity indices. Tiremrud Basin (Watershed 32) were investigated to find the relationship of plant biodiversity indices. Data were collected by transect method with at least one sample plot per align lines with 50 m interval and 44 plots in total. In each sample plot the total number of tree species was recorded. Micro plots (5*2 m2) in four corners and center of each plot were determined and recorded based on the Brown-Blanket cover percentage and frequency of vegetative elements for sampling of herbs. Bilateral index species analysis was used to introduce the communities of the region. The results showed that the four ecological groups of the region had an average altitude of 2070, 1236, 924 and 375 meters above sea level and an average slope of 43, 50, 40 and 59 percent (no significant difference). Comparison of ecological groups showed that these groups have significant differences in terms of plant biodiversity indicators. Examination of Shannon-Wiener and Simpson-Pilo species diversity index values ​​showed that the first, fourth and two second and third ecological groups have maximum, minimum and average values ​​of species diversity indices, respectively. Meanwhile, in terms of Pilo uniformity index, the first and third groups, along with the second and fourth groups, have the maximum, minimum and average uniformity index values, respectively. In terms of species richness index, the first, third, second and fourth groups are ranked respectively.

Functional traits of plant species are displayed ecological properties, life strategy, and species ability for an encounter with a special environment. In this study, seven elevation points with 50 m interval with 1500 to 2002 m distance on the ground were selected and each point, 10 plots were established along a transect perpendicular on slope. To investigate the function of plant species groups, six functional traits including plant height, growth form, life form, reproduction type, life span, and type of nitrogen fixation were measured or collected. Functional plant species groups and five functional diversity indices were extracted using FDivesity software. The ANOVA test was done to investigate the effect of elevation on functional traits. Results show that elevation had significant effect on Rao index and functional divergence and there was no significant effect on other indices. Compare of means frequency and plant height was shown that there is significant difference between two functional groups. Results indicate that functional traits provide a suitable tool for studying and understanding environmental changes.

The Mazibon and Sibon forests with the area of approximately 15000 hectars are located in 60 kilometers south of Ramsar and between 300-2300 m a.s.l. The occurrence of a variety of riverine, forest, rangeland and ecotone ecosystems within the area provide well stablished habitats for different plants and animals. In orther to preserve biodiversity, this area was designated as no-hunting area since 2002. The current study was conducted during 2009 and 2010. Flora of Mazibon and Sibon was studied along a transect from lowland to upper mountain. Three plots were made in each 100 m elevation band thus the floristic data were collected 63 plots. Totally 339 plant taxa belonging to 235 genera and 80 families were identified in the area. The Dicots with 268 taxa were the richest group of flora followed by monocots with 58 taxa, Pteridophytes with 11 taxa and Gymnosperms with 2 taxa. The variation of proportion of different life forms across the four defined altitudinal belts was surveyd. Hemicryptophytes were the dominant life form and comprised 40% of the flora.Endemism rate among 339 taxa was 4.4% (n=15 taxa). The largest proportion of the flora is related to Euro-Sibirian region (23.8%) followed by Pluriregional elements (19.9%), Euro-Sibirian /Irano-Turanian (19.3%), Euro-Sibirian/Irano-Turanian/Mediterranean (16.6%).