Application of discriminate analysis for determination relationship between distribution of plant species with environmental factors and satellite data at Rineh rangeland in province of Mazandaran

Close relationship is found between vegetation and environmental factors in rangeland ecosystems. Determination of these relationships using canonical discriminate analysis is aim of this research. This study was carried out in Rineh rangelands with equal random classification sampling method and was considered to presence and absence of dominant species in the study area. Study area was classified using elevation، slop and aspect and was partitioned 37 homogeneous units. 1m2 plots 750 and 25 m2 plots 75 were established in total of study area. Soil samples 150 form 0-30 cm depth were gathered. Some of environmental factors including 16 soil characteristics، 3 topographic factors and 16 climatic factors were selected. IRS satellite imageries included Red، NIR and PAN bands with compound bands produced from RVI، NDVI، PCA and fusion were used in process of modeling as supporting data. Canonical discriminate analysis was used for determination of effective environmental factors on each species and among of investigative factors، some were discriminated important factors of effective on species. Results of this study can use in management purposes of constant development in rangeland ecosystems، reclamation، protection، supervision and assessment.