Florestic, vegetation form and chorotypes study of Gunbruf Region, Sahand Mountains, Tabriz

The study of plant vegetations plays essential role in monitoring of vegetation dynamics, and consequently in management of environment and conservation of plant biodiversity in a given region. In the current study, floristic, vegetation form and chorotypes of mountainous region of Gunbruf in Sahand Mountains situated in Tabriz-East Azerbaijan Province- Iran, was investigated during 2008-2012. Identification of plant scientific names was carried out based on APG, and vegetation form of plant species was determined based on Raunkier vegetation classification. The numbers of 403 plant species belonging to 242 genera from 50 families were identified. The majority of the species were from Asteraceae and Poaceae. The highest and lowest vegetation forms were hemichryptophytes (44%) and Phanerophytes (6%) respectively. Throphytes with 33% of total species had the second largest species richness. Over 60% of species in the studied area were prenniels while the rest 39% were annuals. The greatest vegetation elements (68%) in the region belong to Irano-Turani while the smallest precent allocated to Sahara-Sendi vegetation with 1% of species. The highest value of hemichryptophytes was expected in the region due to having cold climate, but therophytes with 33% was found to be unuseal for the mountainous region, may indicate the appearance of drynees in the region. The results of the current study strongly suggest the application of conservation programmes in the study area in order to prevent the vegetation distruciton in the region.