Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on flora, vegetation composition and floristic quality of middle Zagros Forest using conservatism coefficient (Shine Qelaii Forest, Lorestan province)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on flora, vegetation composition, and floristic quality of Gall oak community in middle Zagros forests. Two sites with the same ecological condition and different land uses were selected. In order to determine the tree canopy cover, ground flora cover and herbaceous biomass, eight 2500 m2 plots, 48 micro plots with 1 m2 area, and 24, 0.25 m2 quadrats were used, respectively. The coefficient of conservatism of each species were determined based on the resistance to disturbances and their fidelity to region. The result showed that Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Fabaceae were the most dominant families and Therophytes and Hemicryptophytes were the most common life forms. The Irano-Touranian species were the most important chorotypes in this area. The most species fall in the first order of conservatism coefficient classes in unprotected area and no species were seen in the 4th class. The results showed no difference in species richness in the two land uses so in order to investigate the vegetation, the floristic quality index (FQI) was used. The value of (FQI) in protected area was more than unprotected. The results also showed that protected land use with the least human intervention has the most native species, tree crown canopy, biomass, the number of trees per hectare and herbaceous canopy cover.