Effect of fire on structure and natural regeneration in Shanderman forest, Guilan province

The aim of this study was to study effect of fire on vegetation and natural regeneration in Shanderman forests, Guilan province 7 years after burning. For this purpose, two burned and unburned areas were selected. Within each of the study areas, we used a random systematic 150 m × 150 m sampling grid to locate 40 circular plots of 1000 m2 for tree and shrub species (20 plots in burned area and 20 plot in control area). In each plot, density and DBH of tree species and density of shrub species were measured. Regeneration density was studied by 100m2 plots. Regeneration was studied in three classes as height < 1.3 m, DBH < 2.5 cm, and 2.5 cm < DBH < 7.5 cm. The results showed that density, the DBH and basal area of tree species and density of shrub species significantly deceased after burning. Also, density of regeneration significantly increased after burning. In tree layer, density of Quercus castaneifolia, Carpinus betulus, Zelkova carpinifolia and Parrotia persica significantly increased after burning. In shrub layer, density of Prunus divaricate, Mespilus germanica, Crataegus microphylla and Ruscus hyrcanus significantly decreased after burning. Forest structure was uneven-aged with a reverse J distribution in each two areas. Composition and pattern of dominance didn’t changed in tree, shrub and regeneration layers.