ordination of ecological species given environmental variables in northern and eastern slopes of sabalan mountain

the current study aims to ordinate ecological groups in the wetlands of northern and eastern slopes of the sabalan mountain and investigate their relationship with environmental variables. the location of wetlands was found using field surveys and satellite images. in total, 32 wetland sites were identified for the sampling purpose. 320 sample plots (relevé) were selected using the systematic-rondom method and their plants were classified using the twinspan method. the study of vegetation cover was undertaken using the braun-blanquet method. the results showed that five main groups of vegetation could be distinguished, which include (i) halophyte ecological groups, (ii) mire ecological groups, (iii) wet meadows ecological groups, (iv) grass- legume ecological groups and (v) aquatic and heliophyte ecological groups. the statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences between plant groups and altitude, canopy cover percentage, ph, oc% and geophytes plant percentage at 1 and 5 percent significance level. the results of ordination (dca) also showed that main environmental factors affecting plant groups were soil characteristics (ec, ph, dependent cations), land form, humidity and altitude.