The Study of some habitat characteristics and quality of cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) trees in the forests of south Sari, Mazandaran province

The cappadocian maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) is one the important maple species and native to the northern forests of Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate some habitat characteristics and quality of A. cappadocicum in the forests of south Sari in Mazandaran province. To this aim, parts of forests with high a presence of this species were selected and 93 sample plots of 0.1 ha each were established with selective sampling method in different physiographic conditions (elevation, slope gradient and aspect). Geographical conditions of each plot as well as the quantitative and qualitative traits of maple trees were recorded. To survey soil properties, 20 soil samples were also randomly collected. The results showed that the number of maple trees varied between 1 to 29 in each sample plot. Moreover, the Physiographic factors significantly affected the distribution of maple trees, and the highest abundance was observed between 21% to 40% slopes, Eastern aspect and altitudes ranging between 1501 to 1700 meters above sea level. On the contrary, the lowest number of erect maple trees was observed on 1 to 20% slope, East aspect and between 1701 to 1900 meters altitude, whereas vertical maple trees were mostly observed in 81 to 150% slopes, western aspect as well as 1901 to 2100 m above sea level. The maple trees were mostly abundant in loamy soils, but the thickest and highest individuals occurred on clay soils.