Effects of elevetation and soil variables on vegetation diversity in some of main range habitat, Yazd province

In this research, the effect of elevation and soil variable on vegetation diversity was determined in some of main range habitat. For this purpose, fifteen various habitats were studied. In each habitate Canopy cover and density, over line transects were measured in random plots, according to vegetation type. The number of plot after the primary sampling was determined by statistical method. In each sampled habitat, elevation was recorded and one composite soil sample was collected from the determined various depth profiles. Measured soil properties were included: gravel, texture, organic matter, saturation percentage, calcium carbonate (T.N.V), gypsum, pH, EC, soluble ions (Na, Mg2, Ca2, Cl- and Hco3-) and SAR. The study of biodiversity indices was performed based on species canopy cover, presence-absence data and use of five biodiversity indices. Then the relationship between environmental variable and biodiversity indices was investigated using redudancy analysis (RDA). The result showed that there are meaningfull correlations among vegetation diversity with elevetion variable. The plant biodiversity indices were also significantly correlated with some of the soil variables, as OC, EC and soil texture.