The Impact of Environmental Factors on Distribution of Ferula Ovina (Boiss.) Boiss. In Northwest Iran

Abstract

Abstract. Ferula ovina is a forage species, and of the species that is very important in soil conservation and water protection in the rangelands. It has become an endangered species in Iran due to regular cutting and overgrazing. The focus of this study is to investigate the effect of ecological factors on distribution of F. ovina in the study area. Samples were collected from three habitats (sites) where F. ovina was present along with three sites which did not have it. Three 150 m transects were established based on randomsystematically method on each site. On each transect, 10 square plots (2×2 m) were set up, and soil surface features were measured. Climatologic factors were assessed and physiographic factors were extracted for each site. Soil samples were collected from a 0-30 cm depth for each transect, and the values of soil were determined through laboratory analysis. According to the results, a significant difference was found for the parameters of elevation, slope, aspect, temperature, EC, pH, OC, phosphorus, clay, silt and sand (P≤0.01) between habitats where F. ovina were present and absent. Results of discriminant analysis suggested that the amount of sand and gravel on soil surface, phosphorous, clay, and EC were effective factors in the distribution of target species.

Seed Germination Plasticity of Two Endangered Species of Ferula in the Context of Climate Change

“…Dormancy intensity depends on age, nutritive conditions and water supply of the plant, as well as the weather conditions during seed ripening (Andersson and Milberg 1998). Ecological factors, such as temperature, humidity, oxygen and light, greatly influence the seed's dormancy period interruption, and there is a significant distinction of causes of dormancy discontinuance among species (Podrug et al 2014;Mahmoudi et al 2015;Mazangi et al 2016;Mirzaei Mossivand et al 2018;Aghajanlou et al 2018). In concordance with the researches significant correlation were found between germination characteristics (including dormancy termination) and precipitation.…”