The efficiency of different sampling methods in studies of vegetation in Central Zagros forests

There are various vegetation sampling methods regarding objectives of Management at forests. To aim of this study, we undertook a comparative study at Shineh Ghelaee protected forest at middle Zagros using single-scale sampling, single-scale sampling based on transects, and multi-scale sampling methods to investigate the herbaceous layer diversity. In order to know the situation of the region and compare the performance of different sampling methods, richness and diversity indices, the mean of conservatism coefficient and floristic quality index, and the conservation status of plant species in the region were calculated and compared with three sampling methods. The results indicated that Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Fabaceae were the most important families based on the number of species and chorological studies revealed that the most species belonged to the Irano-Turanian zone, The results also showed the life-form of plants dominated by therophytes in this region. Also, the results revealed that the greatest abundance of conservative species (Coefficient of conservatism:1-3 and belonging to the first category of coefficients conservatism), observed by three sampling methods, whereas the total number of plant species,  endemic vascular plant species, diversity indices, evenness index, mean CC and FQI were higher at single -scale sampling method results. In the percent study, it seems that different sampling methods can influence the identification of endemic species, mean CC and FQI, and diversity indices, As a result to study vegetation in areas we suggest that single-scale sampling, single-scale sampling based on transect, and multi-scale sampling methods have the same efficiency in small and homogenous areas with floristic surveying goals, whereas single-scale sampling methods are more appropriate to measure mean CC, diversity indices and FQI.