Ecology and regeneration of forest communities on the alluvial fan ...

-Introduction-
1 Introduction
Alluvial <strong>forest</strong>s are considered to be the <strong>communities</strong> with the highest diversity in
species <strong>and</strong> with the highest degree <strong>of</strong> organisation (Schnitzler 1994). The nature
conservation value <strong>of</strong> riparian zones <strong>and</strong> alluvial <strong>forest</strong>s has been emphasized during the
past by several authors (Peterken & Hughes 1995; Gilvear et al. 2000; Hughes & Rood
2003; Peper 2007). Alluvial <strong>forest</strong>s serve as an interface between two very distinctive
ecosystems, terrestrial <strong>and</strong> aquatic, across which energy <strong>and</strong> matter (in the form <strong>of</strong>
nutrients, sediment <strong>and</strong> water) regularly move in both directions. Fluvial
geomorphological processes are responsible for the development <strong>of</strong> a highly dynamic
<strong>and</strong> rapidly changing l<strong>and</strong>form surface. This results in a complex mosaic <strong>of</strong> different
vegetation types with species distributed in response to their tolerances to soil moisture
<strong>and</strong> nutrient conditions dictated by flood regime <strong>and</strong> sedimentation patterns (Kupfer &
Malanson 1993). However, the development <strong>of</strong> alluvial <strong>forest</strong>s has been affected by
human activities for a long time. Throughout the temperate zone alluvial <strong>forest</strong>
biodiversity has been lost due to damaging activities which include canalization,
construction <strong>of</strong> flood embankments, agriculture, <strong>and</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> woodl<strong>and</strong> (Petts &
Moller 1989). In the northwestern part <strong>of</strong> Azerbaijan numerous rivers transport material
from the adjacent mountain zones <strong>of</strong> the Greater Caucasus <strong>and</strong> build up extensive foot
slopes along its southern mountain fronts. These foot slopes composed <strong>of</strong> fluvial
sediments are known as alluvial fans. The natural vegetation <strong>of</strong> these alluvial fans has
been significantly altered by l<strong>and</strong> management. With the development <strong>of</strong> settlements,
grassl<strong>and</strong>s, agricultural fields, plantations <strong>and</strong> flood control measures the major part <strong>of</strong>
woodl<strong>and</strong> areas has been lost or severely altered. Compared to other fans <strong>of</strong> this region
the quite large alluvial fan near Qakh still provides a relatively high amount <strong>of</strong> alluvial
<strong>forest</strong>. Due to the fact that the alluvial <strong>forest</strong> <strong>communities</strong> <strong>of</strong> this region are not
described in detail, yet <strong>and</strong> due to the persistent loss <strong>of</strong> natural woodl<strong>and</strong> as a result <strong>of</strong>
the above described reasons, the aim <strong>of</strong> this study was to analyse the <strong>forest</strong> <strong>communities</strong>
on the alluvial fan near Qakh, which are representative for this region. Based on the
above mentioned facts the following questions were adressed:
-<strong>Ecology</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>regeneration</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>forest</strong> <strong>communities</strong> on the alluvial fan near Qakh (Northwestern Azerbaijan)-
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