The Role of Dominant Ecological Features on the Morphological Alterations of Reproductive Organs of Gundelia Tournefortii L. in Central Zagros, Iran

Recognition of the influential environmental factors in natural ecosystems plays a significant role in the success of the life cycle of existing plant species. This study was conducted to investigate some of the dominant ecological features affecting the morphological alterationsof the reproductive organs of Gundelia tournefortii L. in 11 major habitats of this species in the central Zagros region, Iran. Two influential features of vegetation (canopy cover percentage and density per unit area), 14 environmental factors in three groups of physiography, soil and climate along with nine morphological features related to reproductive organs of G. tournefortii L. (inflorescence and seed) were assessed in its major habitats, following the relevant assessment methods. Results were analyzed using Pearson's correlation test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis. The environmental factors, including absorbable potassium, soil shear strength, electrical conductivity, length of dry period, average annual temperature, average number of frost days and average altitude were the most important dominant ecological features in the morphological variations of plant reproductive organs.  Identifying the relationship between vegetation and the affecting ecological features plays  a very efficient role in achieving accurate information sources in the management of natural habitats.