University of Isfahan Journal of Plant Biological Sciences 3041-9603 3 7 2011 05 22 Classification system analysis in classification of forest plant communities (Case study: Darkola's beech forest) Classification system analysis in classification of forest plant communities (Case study: Darkola's beech forest) 11 28 18801 FA Omid Esmailzadeh Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran Seyed Mohsen Hosseini Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran Masoud Tabari Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran Hamed Asadi Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Tarbiat Modares University, Noor, Iran Journal Article 2016 06 14 The aim of this study was identification of ecosystem units of Darkola's beech (Fagus orientalis Lipskey) forest and determination of effective environmental factors on their distribution. 52 vegetation plots were allocated at maximum vegetation cover during last spring by systematic-selective method. The plots were located 100-200 meter from each other based upon indicator stands concept. Five ecosystem units were distinguished based on floristic cover data by using TWINSPAN method. With respect to the units, we used one way ANOVA and discriminant analysis based on topographic and soil factors and plant biodiversity indices. Results showed that the ecosystem units which were classified on the basis of vegetation data could also reflect underlying differences in environmental features. Elevation, slope and north gravitation as topographical factors, percentage of clay as the only soil factor with Shannon- Wiener and Simpson diversity and Pielou evenness as biodiversity indices were the most important gradients respectively which constructed four discriminant functions. These functions, which were significant (P The aim of this study was identification of ecosystem units of Darkola's beech (Fagus orientalis Lipskey) forest and determination of effective environmental factors on their distribution. 52 vegetation plots were allocated at maximum vegetation cover during last spring by systematic-selective method. The plots were located 100-200 meter from each other based upon indicator stands concept. Five ecosystem units were distinguished based on floristic cover data by using TWINSPAN method. With respect to the units, we used one way ANOVA and discriminant analysis based on topographic and soil factors and plant biodiversity indices. Results showed that the ecosystem units which were classified on the basis of vegetation data could also reflect underlying differences in environmental features. Elevation, slope and north gravitation as topographical factors, percentage of clay as the only soil factor with Shannon- Wiener and Simpson diversity and Pielou evenness as biodiversity indices were the most important gradients respectively which constructed four discriminant functions. These functions, which were significant (P https://ijpb.ui.ac.ir/article_18801_8e05118bb34cc44eb99a87f733f8786e.pdf