The diversity of microhabitats and the ecological value of habitat trees in oriental beech stands

Evaluating the diversity and ecological value of habitat trees is an indicator for assessing biodiversity in forest ecosystems. This research was carried out to assess the ecological diversity and ecological value of microhabitats in the beech forests in the parcel 405 of Shir-Ghala, east of Guilan province. Three plots with an area 1-ha were selected, and in each plot, all live trees and standing deadwood to explore each microhabitat, and their characteristics included the diameter at breast height, tree height as well as the number and type of microhabitat trees were recorded. To analyze the status of microhabitat diversity, alpha, beta and gamma diversity indices, Margalef richness index, Shannon-Wiener, and Simpson diversity indices, and Pielou's evenness index was calculated. In total, microhabitats were identified on 87 habitat trees (equivalent to 24.2 microhabitats per 100 trees). The most and rarest form of microhabitat was woodpecker cavities and miocrosil, respectively. Trees with the holes comprised of woodpecker cavities, trunk cavities, main branch cavities, and buttress holes account for more than half of the total microhabitat (53%), and often located on live trees (68.6%) of oriental beech (77.3%). s found in the DBH class of 10-20 cm. In conclusion, it can be explained that the conservation and maintenance of habitat trees more than one meter in diameter is recommended to provide the microhabitat and preserve biodiversity in the forests.