Abstract

A practical sampling strategy for assessing woody debris in Fandoghlou forest, Iran

Author(s): Farshad Keivan Behjou, Omid Ghafarzade Mollabashi

Information on the amount, distribution, and characteristics of woody debris in forest ecosystems is in high demand by wildlife biologists, fire specialists, and ecologists. In recent years, a number of newmethods have been proposed to sample woody debris in terrestrial ecosystems. In present study, three approacheswithin line intersect sampling including probability, Huber and Smalian approaches were compared for accuracy and efficiency in measuring of woody debris. The data were selected from recreational forests of Fandoughlou including hazel stands located in northwestern Iran. The results indicated that line-intersect sampling based on probability theory consistently provided estimates similar to the results of a 100% survey (high accuracy). This method also took the least amount of time and effort formap lay-out and field line location (high efficiency); therefore, line intersect sampling as an easy and quick survey method is proposed to monitor woody debris in the region.