Edge influence on herbaceous plant species, diversity and soil properties in sparse oak forest fragments in Iran

Abstract Forest edges have been well studied in temperate and tropical forests, but less so open canopy forests. We investigated edge influence on plant species diversity soil properties sparse oak forest fragments. Data were collected along three transects from the to interior of small (under 10 ha) large (over fragments Kermanshah Province, Iran. measured herbaceous plants (<0.5 m height) attributes at 0 (forest edge), 25, 50, 100 150 m. quantified using Shannon index, used rarefaction compare richness between two different sizes applied non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination investigate variation composition. estimated distance randomization tests. Generalized linear mixed models with post-hoc Tukey’s HSD tests assess effects fragment size properties. found greater richness, evenness both lower nitrogen organic carbon compared fragments, most changes within 50 edge. Species composition, total significantly Our findings significant these forests provide a contribution literature edges, especially relation plants.