Introducing plant associations of Qalajeh protected area and their relation with environmental factors

In this study, the Qalajeh protected area in the Kermanshah Province (Iran) was investigated for its plant associations. Based on the map of the region, areas of natural and semi-natural habitats were initially separated from inhabited, farms and disturbed areas, in which 98 releves were stablished. Vegetation data were collected using the Braun-Blanquet method and soil samples were collected to analyze soil characteristics. The vegetation analysis was carried out by the Braun Blanquet tabular synthesis using the JUICE software, while classification of releves was carried out using TWINSPAN. Results showed that  19 associations including Aveno barbatae-Trifolietum scabri, Aegilopetum triuncialis-umbellulatae, Sanguisorbetum minoris, Astragalo flexilipedis-Acanthophylletum caespitosi, Trifolio echinati-Anemonetum coronariae, Scirpoidetum holoschoeni, Daphno mucronatae-Quercetum brantii, Pistacio eurycarpae-Quercetum brantii, Pruno orientalis-Quercetum brantii, Fico caricae-Quercetum brantii, Pistacio khinjuk-Quercetum brantii, Crataego ponticae-Quercetum brantii, Festuco ovinae-Astragaletum veri, Pruno microcarpae-Quercetum brantii, Ferulago carduchori-Quercetum brantii, Pyro oxyprii-Quercetum brantii, Aceri cinerascentis-Quercetum brantii, Juncetum inflexi and Typhetum grossheimii in the area. Furthermore, their distribution was found to be mainly due to climatic factors of temperature and precipitation, which are resulted from difference in elevation levels, aspect and soil factors including texture, lime, available potassium (K), available phosphorus (P), organic carbon and electrical conductivity.