Assessment of Plant Species Diversity in Ecological Groups of Aghuzchal Forest (Case study: parcel 7, series 3, watershed districts 46 kojour)

To investigate ecosystem variety and related physiographic factors (elevation, aspect and slope), 75 ha of Aghuzchal forest were studied. Vegetation data and information (trees, shrubs, and herbs) were collected from 40 sample plots through systematic random sampling method (20m×20m) which were then analyzed using TWINSPAN program. The data were classified into four ecological groups. The ecological groups consist of: first unit (Fagus orientalis L, and Epimedium pinnatum F.), second unit (Alnus subcordata L, Acer cappadocicum B. and Lamium albumL.), third unit (Acer cappadocicum B. and Tamus communis L.), and forth unit (Tilia begonifolia Stev. and Carex acuiformis L.). Using analysis of variance, statistical difference between diversity indices with respect to ecological groups was found. Results showed that the highest Simpson and Margalef are related to units B and C. The highest Camargo indices are related to units A and D.