Phytoscociology and Plant Ecology of the Southern Side of Misho Mountain (Urmia Lake Catchment Area) in East Azerbaijan1

The ecology and phytoscociology of the Southern side of Misho Mountain in East Azerbaijan province was studied following Braun-Blanquet method. The phytosociological data was analyzed using Analysis Factorial des Correspondence (AFC) method by means of Anaphyto software package. In this study, nine plant associations including: Acantholimetum hohenackeri, Onobrychietum cornutae, Thymetum pubescence, Rheetum ribis, Astragaletum aurei, Stachietum schetschegleevii, Astragaletum microcephali, Cerasetum microcarpae and Hedysaretum iberici were identified. In the distribution of the plant associations in the study area, in addition to climatic factors, soil physicochemical factors such as the percent of saturation paste, total calcium and magnesium ions, EC, pH, sodium ions, chalk, silt, phosphorus, potassium, sand, clay, lime and soil organic matter, and also physiographic features such as slope and its direction and altitude played a major role. The results of the CCA test showed that slope, direct slope, sand, phosphorus, total calcium and magnesium ions, pH, EC, lime, potassium, chalk and altitude factors are important and have a high correlation with the plant associations.