Investigation of Possibility of Fern Application as a Bioindicator of Site Condition in North of Iran (Case study: Kheiroudkenar Noshahr)

The study was done in forest of Tehran University in Noshahr. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of fern application as bioindicator of site condition and to determine the effective physical and chemical factors of soil on distribution range of growing elements.
Material &

For this purpose, the selective sampling method was used to locate samples, and totally 55 samples were selected in the study area. For floristic studies on herb stratification, parts of an area of 100 m2 (plot size) were determined and the herb layer was recored using modified Braun Blanquet Tables.
Soil samples were taken from the center and four corner pieces of the samples, in the depth of 0-20 cm soil horizon, and the physical and chemical properties of soil (moisture saturated, pH, soil texture, lime, phosphorus, total nitrogen percentage, potassium exchange, organic matter percentage) and physiographic factors (height, slope and aspect) were examined. The environmental variables in the analysis (cluster analysis, DCA and CCA) were used to analyze the data in order to determine the relationship between vegetation and plant cover (grass).
Result and

The survey results showed that amon the various physiographic factors (slope, direction and altitude), slope is the most important factor in the establishment of species such as Phylitis scolopendrium and Polystichum aculeatum, and in the absence of two species named Peteridum aquilinum and Pteris cretica direction isthe most important factor in the establishment Asplenium adiantum.Athyrum filix-femina, Phylitis scolopendrium and Polystichum aculeatum are observed where the amounts of acidity, organic matter and slope percentage are high. In other words, establishment of Athyrum filix-femina, Phylitis scolopendrium, and Polystichum aculeatum is influenced by the environmental factors of pH, organic matter and slope percentage. Belechnum Spicant is abserved in the areas withlight soil (sand) and Asplenium adiantum-nigrum and Polystichum aculeatum are observed in the soils with heavy texture (clay).