Investigating the effects of recreation on plant species diversity indices and characteristics ‎physical and chemical soil of Gamboueh forest park in Ahvaz

To investigate the effect of recreation on plant species diversity and edaphic characteristics, this study was done in Gamboueh Forest Park of Ahvaz with an area of 60 hectares in 1398. For this study, sampling method was used using a linear transect with a length of 300 meters and sampling parts were randomly used at 50-meter intervals. In order to study the tree and shrub cover in two recreational and non-recreational areas, 24 sample plots of 20×20 m (400 m2) were placed and in the center of each plot, in order to study the grass cover, the sample plots of 8×8 m (64 m2) were implemented. In this study, 28 plant species were identified. Conventional comparative analysis (CCA) showed that the control area and the recreation area each formed a separate ecological group in the area. In terms of plant species composition, the highest values of Simpson species diversity indices (0.33±0.023), Shannon-Wiener (0.44 ±0.012) and Shannon-Wiener uniformity index (0.6±0.003) And plant species richness (2.9±0.61) was estimated in the control area. Examination of edaphic conditions showed that recreation could not have an effect on soil texture, but characteristics such as porosity, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and organic matter decreased under the influence of recreation and characteristics of bulk density, saturated moisture, electrical conductivity and lime increased significantly. The results of this study indicate that recreation without observing technical and scientific criteria can reduce the density and diversity of grassland vegetation in the region, which can have destructive effects on habitat.