Biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Amygdalus scoparia Spach plantations and a natural stand

The biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) was surveyed in the Kolm region of Iran in three adjacent sites, a natural stand, a 10-year-old and a 15-yearold plantation of Amygdalus scoparia. To date, there have been few studies of AMF biodiversity in Iran, especially in the western forests of the country. For this study, soil and root samples were taken from A. scoparia rhizosphere soil in spring and autumn. Almost half of the root length was colonized by AMF. We identified 13 AMF species belonging to Glomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae or Diversisporaceae. The three plantations differed in terms of soil electrical conductivity, organic C and P. Spore density was significant correlated with P concentration. Root length colonization was correlated only with soil Ca.Species diversity and richness were significantly correlated with soil N, P, organic C and spore density. AMF diversity in 15-year-old plantations was more similar to that in the natural stand than in the 10-year-old plantation. We confirmed that a 15-year-old plantation is not similar in terms of AMF colonization to natural stands. We conclude that more than 15 years are required for AMF colonization of plantations to resemble that of natural stands.

Interval sampling methods in Zagros forests using GIS

In this study, for accuracy and cost an optimal inventory method was examined and introduced to obtain information about Zagros forests, Iran. For this purpose,three distance sampling methods(compound, order distance and random-pairs) in 5 inventory networks(100 m × 100 m, 100 m × 150 m, 100 m × 200 m,150 m × 150 m, 200 m × 200 m) were implemented in GIS environment, and the related statistical analyses were carried out. Average tree density and canopy cover in hectare with 100% inventory were compared to each other.All the studied methods were implemented in 30 inventory points, and the implementation time of each was recorded.According to the results, the best inventory methods for estimating density and canopy cover were compound150 m × 150 m and 100 m × 100 m methods, respectively. The minimum amount of product inventory time per second(T), and(E%)2 square percent of inventory error of sampling for the compound 150 m × 150 m method regarding density in hectare was 691.8, and for the compound 100 m × 100 m method regarding canopy of 12,089 ha. It can be concluded that compound method is the best for estimating density and canopy features of the forests area.

Sand mining disturbances and their effects on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a riparian forest of Iran

The major objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sand mining disturbances on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF）. In addition, the proportional changes in the diversity of AMF to the distances from riverbanks were assessed. For this purpose, the riparian forest of the Maroon River, Iran was divided into three locations with a 200-meter wide zone in between. Thus, the locations studied were named Distance I（riverbank）, Distance II（intermediate）, and Distance III（farthest from riverbank）. In each of these distances, 10 Tamarix arceuthoides and Populus euphratica of each species were randomly selected. At the same time, soil and root samples were collected from the rhizosphere of the tree species studied. Results indicated that totally 13 AMF species were observed in T. arceuthoides and 19 AMF species were recorded in P. euphratica rhizosphere belonging to 6 genera and 6 families. In these AMF species, Glomus segmentatum, G. geosporum, G. rubiforme, G. nanolumen, G. spinuliferum, Claroideoglomus drummondii, Gigaspora gigantea and Acaulospora paulinae appeared only in P. euphratica rhizosphere, while G. multiforum and Claroideoglomus claroideum were observed only in T. arceuthoides rhizosphere. Moreover, Distance II had the least AMF species both in T. arceuthoides and in P. euphratica rhizospheres, and also the least spore density and root colonization rate. Our results are important in that they provide a list of resistant AMF species that could be used in the conservation of biodiversity.