Investigating the Impact of Climate Changes on Qualitative and Quantitative Growth of Oak Trees (Case Study: Central Zagros)

Morteza Habibi

doi:10.4236/oje.2016.66034

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to investigate the impact of climate changes on quantitative and qualitative growth of oak trees in central Zagros region. After we selected the study region, 35 discs were taken from trees felled in each height class (e.g. 1400 - 1600, 1600 - 1800, 1800 - 2000 m above the sea level). We used climate index spi. For the data analysis, we employed SPSS software and inferential statistics tests of Kolmogroff Smirnov and the one-way ANOVA. During the recent 15 years, rainfall has shown a decreasing trend and amount of haze and frequency of occurring haze has been increased. The ANOVA results indicated that diameter growth of trees in three height classes revealed a significant difference. The average annual diameter growth in the first, second and third classes were 1.8 mm, 2.5 mm, and 2.2 mm, respectively. Additionally, the results indicated that hillsides and slope aspect has a statistically meaningful effect on the size of canopy area, basal area and number per hectare. Several different studies have reported that during the recent 15 years, qualitative and quantitative growth of central Zagros oak trees strongly correlate with climate parameters in the three habitats.

Highlights

Different species of oak trees have occupied a wide range of Hyrcanian, Arasbaran and Zagros forests
The results showed that number of sprout in sprout-clumps, canopy area, tree height, and cross-section are differently influenced by slope, aspect, elevation and foothills shape
Temperature, Haze Considering the present study, the findings showed that annual rainfall has decreased in the central Zagros within the last 15 years

Summary

Introduction

Different species of oak trees have occupied a wide range of Hyrcanian, Arasbaran and Zagros forests. The maximum species diversity of oak tree is identified in the northern Zagros forests [1]-[3]. (2016) Investigating the Impact of Climate Changes on Qualitative and Quantitative Growth of Oak Trees (Case Study: Central Zagros). An extensive range of local land use has been observed since the ancient times This has influenced structure and composition of forest as well as characteristics of the trees. Physiographic factors play a considerable role in quality and nature of habitat and on the other had they determine accessibility feature This latter effect remarkably relates to how to treat lands. Oliv. infectoria and Q. libani are prevailing species over northern and eastern foothills [8] [14] [15]

Methods

Results

Conclusion