Volume 20, Issue 2 (3-2027)
مرتع 2027, 20(2): 0-0 |
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Hematizad Z, Erfanzadeh R, Omidipour R. Investigating the Relationships between Aboveground Biomass and Species-Functional Diversity Indices in Arid Rangelands of Ilam Province. مرتع 2027; 20 (2)
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1305-en.html
URL: http://rangelandsrm.ir/article-1-1305-en.html
Tarbiat Modares University
Abstract: (35 Views)
Background and Objectives: Rangelands Biodiversity is particularly importance and plays a key role in the maintaining and sustaining rangeland ecosystems and their services. Studying the relationship between plant diversity and productivity, especially through biodiversity indices and aboveground biomass, is crucial for assessing ecosystem functions and services, as well as understanding their sustainability. New approaches in this field are essential for measuring the relationship between plant biomass and plant species diversity. One of the key effective factors in examining the relationship between biodiversity and aboveground biomass, as one of the most important functions of rangeland ecosystem, is the level of livestock grazing in rangelands. Therefore, investigating the effect of grazing intensity on biomass and species diversity holds particular significance in ecological studies.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between biodiversity indices and ecosystem function in rangelands around Ban Rahman village, located in Mehran County, Ilam Province. We examined the relationship between species diversity indices, single-trait-based functional indices (CWM) and multi-trait-based indices (functional richness, functional evenness, functional dispersion and functional Rao index) with aboveground biomass as the key ecosystem function. To calculate biodiversity indices (including species and functional diversity), we recorded the abundance of plant species in the field and measured functional traits (plant height, leaf dry matter content, and specific leaf area) using 90 randomly placed 1m *1m sampling units in spring 2023. The relationship between biodiversity indices and aboveground biomass was analyzed using single and multiple linear regression models.
Results: The results of this study showed that all species diversity indices including: richness (R2=0.591), evenness (R2=0.189), Shannon (R2=0.585), and Simpson (R2=0.537) had a significant and positive relationship with aboveground biomass. Among the single-trait-based functional indices, the community weighted mean of average height (CWM.H) (R2=0.155) and leaf dry matter content (CWM.LDMC) (R2=0.389) had a negative relationship, while the specific leaf area index (CWM.SLA) (R2=0.237) had a positive relationship with biomass. additionally, among the multi-trait-based functional indices, only the functional richness index (R2=0.333) had a positive and significant relationship with aboveground biomass.
Conclusion: Biodiversity and varied species characteristics not only contribute to ecosystem productivity but also enhance its long-term sustainability. The results demonstrate that greater species diversity leads to increased biomass production and improved ecosystem productivity. The negative relationship between height and leaf dry matter content with aboveground biomass indicates that species with higher biomass ratios utilize resources more efficiently. Functional richness is also linked with high ecosystem productivity. Therefore, effective management and conservation of biodiversity, along with emphasis on different functional traits in rangeland ecosystems, can enhance productivity and sustainability in these ecosystems.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between biodiversity indices and ecosystem function in rangelands around Ban Rahman village, located in Mehran County, Ilam Province. We examined the relationship between species diversity indices, single-trait-based functional indices (CWM) and multi-trait-based indices (functional richness, functional evenness, functional dispersion and functional Rao index) with aboveground biomass as the key ecosystem function. To calculate biodiversity indices (including species and functional diversity), we recorded the abundance of plant species in the field and measured functional traits (plant height, leaf dry matter content, and specific leaf area) using 90 randomly placed 1m *1m sampling units in spring 2023. The relationship between biodiversity indices and aboveground biomass was analyzed using single and multiple linear regression models.
Results: The results of this study showed that all species diversity indices including: richness (R2=0.591), evenness (R2=0.189), Shannon (R2=0.585), and Simpson (R2=0.537) had a significant and positive relationship with aboveground biomass. Among the single-trait-based functional indices, the community weighted mean of average height (CWM.H) (R2=0.155) and leaf dry matter content (CWM.LDMC) (R2=0.389) had a negative relationship, while the specific leaf area index (CWM.SLA) (R2=0.237) had a positive relationship with biomass. additionally, among the multi-trait-based functional indices, only the functional richness index (R2=0.333) had a positive and significant relationship with aboveground biomass.
Conclusion: Biodiversity and varied species characteristics not only contribute to ecosystem productivity but also enhance its long-term sustainability. The results demonstrate that greater species diversity leads to increased biomass production and improved ecosystem productivity. The negative relationship between height and leaf dry matter content with aboveground biomass indicates that species with higher biomass ratios utilize resources more efficiently. Functional richness is also linked with high ecosystem productivity. Therefore, effective management and conservation of biodiversity, along with emphasis on different functional traits in rangeland ecosystems, can enhance productivity and sustainability in these ecosystems.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2025/01/26 | Accepted: 2026/02/27 | Published: 2027/03/1
Received: 2025/01/26 | Accepted: 2026/02/27 | Published: 2027/03/1
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