Understanding the relationships of plant species with ecological factors is required in rangelands restoration programs. This study aimed to identify the most important effective ecological factors on the distribution of Artemisia aucheri Boiss. Random systematic sampling method was used to collect vegetation data in 200 plots placed along 20 transects with 100 meters long. The data were collected from the presence and absence sites of the species and their species cover percentage, litter, stone, gravels and bare soil were recorded. Thirty six soil samples were collected from the depth of 0-15 cm soil surface and their selected parameters were measured in the laboratory. Independent t test, Principal Component Aanalysis (PCA) and Discriminate Analyses (DA) were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that A.aucheri prefer habitats with 2100 to 2300 m altitudes, 485 to 520 mm rainfall, 11.16 to 12.17 °C temperatures, soil pH 6.6 to 7.2 and moderate to heavy soil texture. Results indicated that soil condition of appropriate habitats for the species is characterized by soil organic materials contents of 3.4 to 3.6% and Phosphorus 12 to 12.3 ppm.  Results of PCA analysis showed that elevation, rainfall and temperature, pH, slope, clay content, mean weight diameter, aspect, electrical conductivity, water dispersion clay and percent of litter can explains 52.36% of the variations of this species. Gravel percentage, phosphorous, potassium, calcium carbonate, organic matter, particulate organic matter, clay and distribution of soil particles were identified as the most important factors affecting the species occurrence using discriminate analysis. The species were absent in the areas with gravel less than 10%, slope with 15.1 to 15.6%, acidity with 7.4 to 7.6 and phosphorus with 11 to 11.2 ppm.
 

Keywords: Plant ecology, Habitats factors, Ordination, Artemisia aucheri Boiss., Sabalan, Ardabil province.

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