Since the evaluation of the diversity indicators in consumption of medicinal species by the beneficiary’s households and its driving factors is of utmost importance in marketing, multi-purpose planning of rangelands and sustainable development, a questionary-based study was carried out to determine the diversity indices of medicinal species consumption in settled nomadic communities living under different management and livelihood situations in the rangelands of Dyvaroeieh in Bardsir township, Kerman province, Iran. To this end, the medicinal species consumed by each household (as a study unit) in addition to the diversity indicators of consumption (i.e., dominance coefficient and Shannon-Weiner index) were evaluated under two management sites comprising Rangeland Management Plan (RMP) (i.e.,Dvyaroeieh 1) and the nearest adjacent rangeland without RMP (i.e., Dyvaroeieh 2, as control treatment ) and three livelihood levels (i.e., very poor (<50 million Rials monthly income), poor (50-100 million Rials monthly income) and moderate (100-150 million Rials monthly income)) under factorial test in SPSS software environment. The study's results revealed that both of management and livelihood factors can be applied by manager to increase diversity indices in medicinal plants consumed by beneficiaries. More specifically, management through RMP was more powerful and effective tool in this way. Therefore, it could conceivably be argued that RMP can be considered as a driving factor in increasing the diversity of medicinal plant consumption and also be a suitable platform to meet the needs and demands of rangelands’ beneficiaries in this field.

One of the most important ideas in forest management is maintaining and developing of biodiversity. In order to assess plant diversity, quantitative indices of biodiversity were used in Marivan, Chenareh, Iran. At first, the study area was classified to 6 ecological grouping by combination method of CA-TWINS PAN and then diversity indices were measured for each class. Eight richness and evenness indices were calculated for each group. Duncan's multiple range comparison tests and correlation analysis were used for investigation of significant difference between groups and importance determination of indices in separation of ecological grouping. The results showed that richness and evenness indices correlation with each other significantly. Significant difference was considered between groups in above indices. Pielu J' index, Q statistics and Shanon- Wiener index were distinguished in separation of groups.

Background and objectives: Rangeland condition assessment is crucial for effective management. While qualitative methods like Landscape Function Analysis (LFA) provide valuable information on ecosystem functions, their application can be time-consuming and require expertise. This study aimed to identify relationships between quantitative plant diversity and functional diversity indices with the qualitative functional characteristics assessed by LFA in Tang e Sayad protected area, Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari Province, Iran. Methodology: Three rangeland sites experiencing different long-term grazing pressures were selected along a grazing intensity gradient. Within each site, two representative areas were chosen, and three 30 x 30 m macroplots were established. Plant canopy cover and functional characteristics were sampled in May 2021, corresponding to peak plant growth. Functional diversity was assessed using plant performance characteristics like specific leaf area index, leaf length, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, and growth form. Species diversity indices (species richness, Shannon-Evenness, and Shannon diversity) and functional diversity indices (Quadratic Entropy Rao, Functional Richness, Functional Evenness, and Functional Dispersion) were calculated using vegan and FD packages in R software (version 4.3.0). LFA software was used to analyze data from 162 patches and the space between patches (interpatch) to obtain three functional characteristics: stability, infiltration, and nutrient cycling. Correlations and univariate regressions were performed using ggcorrplot, ggpubr, and ggpmisc packages in R to establish relationships between diversity indices, functional diversity indices, and LFA functionalities. Results: A positive and significant relationship was found between the nutrients index, Functional Evenness, and community-weighted mean leaf length (R² = 0.3). Landscape infiltration showed a stronger positive and significant association (P < 0.05) with Functional Evenness, Functional Dispersion, Quadratic Entropy Rao, and community-weighted mean leaf nitrogen (R² = 0.4) compared to Shannon diversity, Functional Richness, and community-weighted mean leaf length (R² = 0.3). The landscape stability index exhibited a positive and significant relationship (P < 0.05) with biodiversity indices (species richness and Shannon diversity), functional diversity indices based on multiple characteristics (Functional Richness, Functional Evenness, Functional Dispersion, and Quadratic Entropy Rao), and functional diversity indices based on single characteristics (community-weighted mean of leaf phosphorus, specific leaf area, and perennial grass), while displaying a negative and significant relationship (R² = 0.5) with the community-weighted mean of perennial forbs. Conclusion: The positive correlations observed between plant diversity and functional diversity metrics with LFA functional characteristics suggest their potential application in rangeland condition assessment. The complex interactions between these indices highlight the need for further research on integrating them into a robust assessment protocol applicable across different climatic regions. This study opens doors for developing a practical method for evaluating rangeland health using quantitative biodiversity and functional diversity indicators.

In order to investigate the effect of additive series intercropping of legume and cereal (the line of 2561 of broad leaf vetch and Abidar cultivar of barley) on species diversity ecological indices and weeds dominance, a field experiment was conducted in 4 × 5 factorial with three replications in the dry land conditions in the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lorestan in the cropping years of 2015-17. The intercropping treatments reduced numbers and total dry weight of weeds ratio in sole cropping. The best treatments in first and second year for weeds control were once-weeding and seed ratios 70: 100 and 100: 100 (vetch: barley) and double-weeding×70: 100. The three factor interactions (year, weed and intercropping) represent the contribution of 40: 100 and 70: 100 with once-weeding in weed dry weight losses (17. 98 and 17. 16 in the first and second years, respectively). In the second year, this interaction also resulted to the lowest weed dry weights (20. 82 and 20 g/m-2). The lowest species richness was belonged to once and double weeding and non-weeding treatments with 100: 100 seed ratio, respectively. Also, mentioned treatments indicated the weeds were more dominance in the first year compared to the second year.

Plant species have important role in other organisms life circle. High diversity of plant species cause equilibrium and stability of this circle, so conservation of plant species is essential for continuity and survival of ecosystems. In this study vegetation species diversity and flora in four sub watersheds of Armoot, Kash, Zidasht and kalanak in Taleghan region with 16320 hectares area were studied. Thirteen vegetation types were recognized in the study area. One key area was selected in each vegetation types (in some of the vegetation types because of vast area and non -homogeneity vegetation, two key areas were selected). Two 100 meter transects were located in each key area, along each transect, 10, one meter square quadrates were located. List of species and number of species were recorded for each quadrates. Then diversity indices, species richness and evenness indices were calculated. Simpson diversity index and Shanon-Wiener diversity index were obtained 0.114 and 2.81 respectively which indicate relatively high species diversity in the study area. Species evenness based on studied indices was estimated. Richness of species was 116 with 18 families and 63 genus in rangelands of the study area.

Crown gall caused by Agrobacterium spp. has been observed in various crop species and in several provinces of Iran in recent years. In an attempt to identify the Agrobacterium species causing the disease in different areas of the country, strains were isolated from various infected crop species and characterized by phenotypic features, electrophoretic profile of cell proteins and BOX IR fingerprinting.On the basis of their phenotypic features, the strains were differentiated into three separate groups. The phenotypic characteristics of the first group of strains were closely similar to those of A. tumefaciens (Rhizobium tumefaciens). Members of the second group, isolated from infected grapevines were also identified as A. tumefaciens. Strains of the third group were phenotypically different from all described species, but appeared to be more similar to A. tumefaciens. These strains were not able to grow on any of the selective media tested and displayed a limited host range, infecting mainly sweet cherry All strains had a similar plasmid profile. The electrophoretic profile of cell proteins of the strains was different, although some similarity of the pattern was noted in the high-molecular weight region. In fingerprinting using BOX IR primer, a high level of heterogeneity was observed, nonetheless two major groups were differentiated. Phenotypic features appeared to be reliable criteria in identification of Agrobacterium species encountered in this study.

Ticks are important ectoparasites in equids which causes economic losses in animal husbandry of Iran and worldwide. This study was aimed to determine frequency and species diversity of hard ticks in equids in Turkman sahra, Iran. 240 equids were randomly selected and examined from 2018-2019. Ixodid ticks were collected from body surface of examined animals and identified. Of all examined equids, 37.91% horses, and 4.16% donkeys were infested with a total number of 357 ixodid ticks. Tick indices (tick number per animal) were 3.53.  The highest prevalence of hard ticks was found in ≥3 years-old equids in the region. There was significant difference between prevalence and different age groups of infested animals. Of all examined ticks (357), three genera including Hyalomma spp., Rhipicephalus spp. and Dermacentor spp. with four species. i.e. Hyalomma anatolicum (65.26%), H. marginatum (10.64%), Rhipicephalus bursa (22.12%) and Dermacentor marginatus (1.96%) were identified. Ixodid ticks’ infestations occured throughout the year with the highest prevalence in spring. There was significant difference between prevalence of hard ticks and seasons in this study. The results revealed that species diversity and ixodid ticks’ infestations were prevalent in the equids of Turkman sahra, Iran.

The present study has been carried out in order to determine the entomofauna of four different agroecosystems from the study area, northwestern Algeria. Regular sampling was done using the Barber pitfall trap and the sweep net in addition to visual observations in the field. Nine (09) taxonomic orders of insects was identified from the four studied environments. It varies from one agroecosystem to another. Coleoptera and Orthoptera were the most represented in terms of both species and numbers. Entomofaunal diversity was more important in un-cultivated fields (diversity index = 4. 15 bits, equitability = 0. 89) than in arable fields (index ranging from 1. 68 to 2. 87 and a equitability between 0. 41 and 0. 72). Limited biodiversity in cultivated areas was the consequence of insect communities’ interactions disturbances caused by agricultural practices in these environments. Therefore, it is important to reduce these disturbances in order to enhance food resources, habitats and overwintering sites for insects. This will ensures sustainable entomological diversity, thereby increasing the role of biological control in pest management systems.

This study was carried out in Bolban Abad, Kurdistan province, Iran, in order to investigate the changes in species diversity and functional diversity of vegetation under different grazing intensities. In this study, the data of three sites with different grazing intensity (low, moderate and heavy) were collected. Indices of species diversity including: richness (S), Shannon (H), evenness (E) and Simpson (D) and the functional diversity index (convex hull hyper-volume (CHull), Functional Richness (FRic), Functional Evenness (FEve), Functional divergence (FDive) and index Rao (Rao) were calculated for all sites. FD package and generalized canonical discriminant analysis (gCCA) were used in R 3. 1. 1to calculate these indices and determine the effect of grazing intensity on diversity indices. In addition, Duncan's test was used to compare the means of grazing intensities. Results showed that the species diversity indices, species richness index (S) and Shannon (H) were reduced by increasing grazing intensity. According to the results of generalized canonical discriminant analysis, species richness showed little change in response to grazing and CHull index showed an increase under grazing. Also, species functional traits were decreased with increasing of grazing intensity.