DYNAMICS OF SEXUAL REGENERATION IN THREE NATIVE OAK SPECIES (QUERCUS BRANTII LINDL., Q. INFECTORIA OLIV., AND Q. LIBANI OLIV.) OF ZAGROS FORESTS, IRAN

Zagros forests of Iran have been historically degraded by anthropogenic and other biotic and abiotic factors. As a result of multiple factors, seedlings and saplings establishment of Zagros oaks rarely happens and their dynamic is still unknown. Because of many difficulties to study the dynamics of oak sexual regeneration in Zagros forests, we focused on all of three Zagros oaks (Quercus brantii Lindl., Q. infectoria Oliv., and Q. libani Oliv.) planted in National Botanical Garden of Iran. We conducted 8 full-census inventories from the early September 2013 to the late September 2016 to monitor the trend of regeneration loss. The results showed that the 77.7%, 87%, and 89.8% of the total produced acorns in Q. brantii, Q. infectoria and Q. libani are demolished prior to germination and establishment in forest floor, respectively. Besides, only 4.4%, 3.2%, and 2.1% of produced acorns have the chance to become three-year saplings in the studied species. The results confirm the important role of wildlife in consumption of acorns and the variety in survival trends of saplings among the studied oak species. Study of sapling establishment in longer period and to conduct similar researches on other native oak species of Iran could be suggested for future studies.