The Surveying of Range Condition and Biodiversity in Four Sites of Northern Alborz Rangelands, Iran

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Evaluation of range conditions and plant diversity circumstances can help to rangeland managers who establish their managerial approaches on the basis of ecological capabilities of rangeland ecosystems. Hence, surveying of rangelands was done in four sites of northern Alborz Mt. including western Alborz (Masooleh site), west to middle Alborz (Javaherdeh site), central area (Polour site), and eastern region (Ramian site). A 64 grid (1 m2) was laid down in stand area of each site and range condition was assessed by Daubenmire Method. Alpha, Beta, and Gama diversities, and plant richness and evenness were calculated in each grid using PAST v.2.03 software. Relationships between range condition and biotic and abiotic factors were done using stepwise regression method. Results showed that Ramian site had the most Beta and Gama diversities and the Javaherdeh and Masooleh sites had the most Alpha diversity as well. The Polour site had the least diversities indices because of overgrazing and poor rangeland condition. It however had high level of the plant evenness. Range conditions, soil conservation, and litter rate were the highest grades in the Ramian site than the others. Regarding the results, therefore, the rangers can be capable to balance the rangeland ecological conditions using desirable grazing capacity and pressure.