1 2476-3128 380 General Residents' Willingness-to-Pay (WTP) for Preservation of Valasht Lake of Chalous City by Using One-and-One-Half-Bound Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation Method Samdaliry A. b amirnejad H. c Mortazavi S. A. d b College of Agric., Tarbiat Modares Univ., Tehran, Iran. c College of Agric., Sari Agric. and Natur. Resour., Sari, Iran. d College of Agric., Tarbiat Modares Univ., Tehran, Iran. 1 3 2014 2 5 1 13 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 In this study, residents' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for preservation of Valasht lake of Chalous city is estimated by using one-and-one-half-bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. WTP was measured by using logit model and Maximum Likelihood (ML) parameters estimation method. The results show that 67 percent of the housholds willingness to pay for preservation of Valasht lake. The average monthly WTP of each household is 26175 Rials. Total annual preservation value of this lake is estimated close to 6994 million Rials. According to the result of regression model, the offer amounts, households' income, satisfaction of water quality and education level of household head are the most important factors affecting households' WTP.
381 General Application of Nearest Neighbor Indices in Persian Oak (Quercus brantii var. persica) Coppice Stands of Zagros Forests Erfanifard Y. e Zare1 L. f Feghhi J. g e College of Agric., Shiraz Univ., Shiraz, Iran. f College of Agric., Shiraz Univ., Shiraz, Iran. g College of Natur. Resour., Tehran Univ., Tehran, Iran. 1 3 2014 2 5 15 25 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 The ecological relationship between trees is important in the sustainable management of forests. Studying this relationship in spatial ecology, different indices are applied that are based on distance to nearest neighbor. The aim of this research was introduction of important indices based on nearest neighbor analysis and their application in the investigation of ecological relationship between Persian oak coppice trees in Zagros forests. A 9 ha plot of these forests in Kohgilouye - BoyerAhmad province was selected that was completely homogeneous. This plot was covered with Persian oak coppice trees that their point map was obtained after registering their spatial location. Five nearest neighbor indices of G(r), F(r), J(r), GF(r) and CE were then applied to study the spatial pattern and relationship of these trees. The results showed that Persian oak coppice trees were located regularly in the homogeneous plot and they were not dependent ecologically. These trees were independent and did not affect the establishment of each other. 382 General Quantifying Landscape Spatial Pattern Changes in the Caucasian Black Grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) Habitat in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve Darvishi A. h Fakheran S. i Soffianian A. j Ghorbani M. k h College of Natur. Resour., Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. i College of Natur. Resour., Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. j College of Natur. Resour., Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. k College of Natur. Resour., Univ. of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. 1 3 2014 2 5 27 38 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 Large scale land use/cover changes and habitat fragmentation have been associated with the decline of many wildlife populations in ecological sensitive regions. The main goal of this study was to quantify the spatial pattern changes in Caucasian Black Grouse habitat in Arasbaran Biosphere Reserve, Northwest of Iran in a period of 24 years (1987–2011). Caucasian black grouse (Tetrao mlokosiewiczi) in Iran is restricted to the Arasbaran area, and the populations and range of this specialist bird species have been declining over the last decades. This study focuses on the landscape structure changes of black grouse habitat in Arasbaran Biosphere reserve. We used Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) satellite images from 1987 and 2011, and ETM+ from 2001, for analysis of the spatial patterns of land use/cover patches. The satellite images were geometrically corrected and classified. For quantifying landscape pattern changes, various landscape metrics were derived from spatial analysis software FRAGSTATS, including NP (Number of Patches), LPI (Largest Patch Index) and TE (Total Edge). The results indicated that the proportion of forest was significantly decreased from 39.95% to 31.95%, and proportion of grassland was decreased from 44.45% to 38.44% during the last 24 years, while proportion of dominated by astragalus was increased from 3.30% to 15.65%. Total Edge (TE) was decreased 8000 meters at altitude over 1800 meters. Our result provided quantitative data on habitat loss and landscape fragmentation in Arasbaran Biosphere reserve and indicated negative impacts of the landscape structure changes on Black grouse habitat. 383 General Different Effects of Shrubs and Trees on Seed Bank Richness and Diversity in the Understory Soil (Case Study: Kerman Province, Sharbabak) 1 3 2014 2 5 39 50 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 This study aimed to investigate the effect of canopy trees and shrubs: Pistacia atlantica, Amygdalus scoparia, Amygdalus eburnean on the species diversity and richness of soil seed bank. Ten individuals of each species were selected and one quadrate was established in and outside of crown canopy of each species. In each plot, soil samples were collected from 0-5 and 5-10 cm depths. GLM was applied to assess the effect of woody species, canopy cover, and depth of sampling on the characteristics of soil seed bank. The paired t-test was used to compare the diversity and richness of soil seed banks beneath and outside the canopy. The results showed that the highest species richness of soil seed bank was related to Pistacia atlantica, 0.24, which was significantly higher than the average species richness of soil seed banks in other species Amygdalus scoparia, Amygdalus eburnea with 0.10 and 0.14, respectively. Pistacia atlantica had the highest species diversity with 0.65 compared to the two other species Amygdalus scoparia and Amygdalus eburnean with 0.48, 0.53, respectively. Paired t-test results showed that canopy of woody species significantly increased soil seed bank diversity and richness beneath their canopy. Our results indicated that canopy of tree and shrub species in arid region affected positively on soil seed bank preservation. 384 General Estimating Recreational Carrying Capacity of Gheisary Protected Area in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Province Sheikh A. o Jafari A. p Jafari A. Setoodeh A. o College of Natur. Resour, Shahrekord Univ., Shahrekord, Iran. p College of Natur. Resour, Shahrekord Univ., Shahrekord, Iran. College of Natur. Resour, Shahrekord Univ., Shahrekord, Iran. College of Natur. Resour., Yazd Univ., Yazd, Iran. 1 3 2014 2 5 51 64 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 It is now certain that to ensure a long term sustainable development, protected areas, the favored destinations for ecotourism, required a well written planning management. Each destination however has limited capability which is called “carrying capacity” to invite visitors. Physical, real (ecological) and effective (manageable) are different kinds of carrying capacity. The current study presented these varieties of carrying capacities for Gheisary protected area, stretched over 10,000 ha in Cheharmahal- & Bakhtiary province. The physical carrying capacity was measured using an ecotourism-based zoning followed by imposing periodic, pedologic, climatic and vegetative limitations, based on the minimum area needed for each person. Real carrying capacity was then calculated according to the physical carrying capacity. The results showed that the intensive recreation zone with surface of 1,292 ha had the annual physical carrying capacity of 2,079,227 and real carrying capacity of 18,465 people. The values for the extensive recreation zone with surface of 2,378 ha were 2,478,832 and 1,215 respectively. The study has also speculated the embedded management strength and recreation convenience of the area and concluded that effective carrying capacity can only enjoy 10% of the real carrying capacity, which were 1,968 people. 385 General Effect of Short-Term Exclusion on Forage Production of Mountainous Meadows in the Central Zagros Region Salehi Ardali S. Iravani M. Senn J. College of Natur. Resour., Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. College of Natur. Resour., Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. Swiss Federal Res. Instit. WSL, Switzerland. 1 3 2014 2 5 65 76 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 Major changes in the vegetation and consequently in the ecosystem functioning of mountainous meadows has been reported in response to herbivore grazing. Nevertheless, effects of protection from herbivores on the vegetation of High-elevation meadows in Iran have not been studied so far. To assess effects of experimentally short-term exclosure treatment on production of mountainous meadows, two meadow sites were selected in Sabzkouh Protected Area in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. In each site, three 16 m2 (2×8 m) fences were established and in each fence three 1 m2 plots were marked at the beginning of the growing season (April). Similarly, three 1 m2 plots were placed outside each fence (resulting in 18 grazed and 18 protected plots). In the second year at peak vegetation growth and shortly before grazing season (July), above-ground biomass was cut in all plots and then dry weights of vegetative and reproductive organs were determined separately. Grazing exclusion significantly increased total biomass, while it decreased the proportion of reproductive biomass in meadow vegetation community. Protection from grazing increased biomass production of dominant and tall plant species (e.g., Carex orbicularis), but had reverse effects on smaller and less frequent species. Nevertheless, grazing exclusion decreased the proportion of reproductive biomass in all meadow species (except for C. orbicularis) and various species groups (except for grass-like species). The results of the present study may thus be used for objective-oriented management and conservation of high-elevation and mountainous meadow ecosystems of the country 386 General Applying Circuitscape Theory to Identify Migration Corridors Between Mooteh and Ghamishloo Wildlife Refuges in Isfahan Province-Iran Malakoutikhah S. Fakheran S. Soffianian A. Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. Isf. Univ. Technol., Isfahan, Iran. 1 3 2014 2 5 77 89 18 03 2014 18 03 2014 Modeling of ecological connectivity across landscape is important for understanding a wide range of ecological processes. Modeling ecological connectivity between habitats and incorporating these models into conservation planning require quantifying the effect of spatial patterns of landscape on the degree of habitats connectivity. Recently, concepts from electrical circuit theory have been adapted to model habitats connectivity, predict patterns of movement and identifying corridors. Circuits are defined as network of nodes connected by resistors (electrical components that conduct current).the application of circuit theory to ecological problems is because of connections between ecological and electrical connectivity: as multiple or wider conductors connecting two electrical nodes (in parallel) allow greater current flow than would a single, narrow conductor, multiple or wider habitat swaths connecting populations or habitats also allow greater movement between them.. This theory treats landscape as a conductive surface and creates a network by converting pixels to nodes and connecting them to their immediate neighbors. Results of this theory are current and voltage maps, which can be related to ecological processes like individual movements. In this study circuit theory was applied to evaluate habitats connectivity for Persian gazella (Gazella subgutturosa) and Isfahan wild sheep (Ovis omon isfahanica) between Mooteh and Ghamishloo wildlife refuges in Isfahan province-Iran. Based on current maps, movement patterns and, functional connectivity for target species was evaluated .furthermore, area important for connectivity across the study area was identified.