In order to determine the seeding cycle of beech tree in Kelardasht, Sangdeh and Gorgan FOREST of CASPIAN region 96 dominant tree were selected. Quality and quantity measurement on these trees was conducted and then all of these trees were felled down. From each tree one disc was cut above of the ground. These discs were analyzed and measurement such as annual diameter growth rate done on these disc. The results of this study are follow.1-two type of seeding cycle (heavy and light) was detected in beech trees.2- The minimum age of seeding is about 30 years and at this age light seeding usually starts.3- The heavy seeding begins at the age of about 60 to 75 years.4-in single site different seeding cycles observed during the living of trees.5-The light seeding accrues in 1 to 3 years periods but heavy seeding accrues in 3 to 9 years intervals.6-Regeneration of natural FOREST depends on light seeding cycles.7-This study revealed that natural regeneration must be based on light seeding, therefore FORESTry practices increases the harvesting cycles from 5 years to 10 or more years in implementation of FORESTry Project especially in seeding felling in shelter wood cutting systems.

At the time being, in the CASPIAN FORESTs two functions of wood production and FOREST conservation are of the great significance, but in course of time passage, it is needed to express processes concepts of planning, implementation and control of FOREST management plan in a innovative expression. This study tries to make an object-oriented planning and logical framework approach as performance tool on FOREST management plans (case study: Kheyrud) from stand point of wood production and FOREST conservation, design target system in a log frame and control of FOREST activities step by step. The results of the study express two aspects of control concept to achieve objectives (control of success) and activities (control of activities). This expression means a new concept of control in the CASPIAN FOREST management plans.

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal cutting cycle in an uneven-aged beech FOREST in the North of Iran. First of all, a logistic growth model was determined for an uneven aged FOREST. Then, the stumpage price was predicted via an autoregressive model. The average stumpage price of beech was derived from actual timber, round wood, fire and pulpwood prices at road side minus the variable harvesting costs. Price and growth models were used in order to determine the optimal cutting cycle under different rates of interest and setup costs. The Faustmann’s model was used for optimal cutting cycle. The results indicated that the optimal cutting cycle will decrease if the rate of interest increased. The results also indicated that if the setup costs increase, the optimal cutting cycle will also increase.

Gross rainfall (GR) partitioning into throughfall (TF), stemflow (SF) and interception loss (I) was studied in a pure oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) FOREST located in the central CASPIAN region of northern Iran. Measurements were performed on a rainfall event basis in a 5625 m2 plot of the Kheyrud FOREST Research Station of Tehran University during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. GR was measured with three rain gauges located on the ground in an open area approximately 160 m apart from the study plot. Thirty-six manual gauges were used to collect the TF and were placed randomly underneath the canopy. SF was collected with spiral type SF collection collars from six selected beech trees. Interception losses were calculated as the difference between GR and the sum of TF and SF. Over the measurement period, 53 GR events were recorded. Cumulative GR depth was 1, 001.5 mm; TF amount was 728 mm; SF was 32.3 mm, and I was 241.2 mm. The average of TF/GR, SF/GR, and I/GR ratios for each rainfall events were 69.4%, 2.5% and 28.1%, respectively. TF, SF, and I were found to be closely related to GR amounts. A strong positive correlation was found between SF/GR and GR (R2= 0.9). Significant correlations were also observed between I/GR and GR (R2=0.581) as well as between TF/GR and GR (R2=0.414). It was observed that for small GR events a large portion of the incident GR wetted the canopy and, subsequently, contributed to the evaporation losses of the intercepted rain. Results of the study demonstrate how I represents a remarkable percentage of the incident GR and how TF and SF are both strongly affected by GR itself.

Estimation and mapping of FOREST resources are preconditions for management, planning and research. In this study, we applied kriging interpolation of geostatistics for estimation and mapping of FOREST stock at-tributes in a natural, uneven-aged, unmanaged FOREST in the CASPIAN region of northern Iran. The site of the study has an area of 516 ha and an elevation that ranges from 1100 to 1450 m a.s.l. Field sampling was performed on a 75m × 200m systematic grid using 309 geo-referenced circular sample plots of 1000 m2 area. Experimental variograms were calculated and plotted for basal area (BA), volume (V) and stem density (N). Whereas the calculated vari-ograms of BA and V exhibited spatial auto-correlation only after data stratification based on diameter size clas-ses and tree species, the variogram of stem density displayed a moderate spatial structure that was fitted by a spherical model. Stem density was estimated by ordinary block kriging and the accuracy of estimation was validated by cross-validation result. We conclude that geostatistical approaches have the potential to more ac-curately capture and describe the spatial variability of FOREST stock, and thus reduce the uncertainty in estimates of stem density as well as produce more accurate stem density maps of FORESTs in comparison with the spatially uninformed classic method. Geostatistical methods provide a very suitable tool to derive more accurate esti-mates of growing stock, particularly in structurally complex, unmanaged, uneven-aged FOREST such as this one from the CASPIAN region of northern Iran.

Typhoid disease or salmonellosis is a common disease in horses. The disease is characterized by fever, anorexia, septic shock with or without dysentery. Transportation, colic, change in dietary regims, dehydration, surgery, antibiotic therapy is the risk factors which favor for salmonellosis. In the present study, the occurrence of typhoid due to Salmonella group B were considered in a flock of CASPIAN ponies kept in Khojir center of ministry of Jahad - e- Keshavarsi, Tehran,Iran. In a addaption study, 19 horses had been transported to Kerman province (a city located in south -east of Iran). With the termination of the study, the animals had been returned to the original location. During the transportation from Kerman to Tehran, some of the ponies showed acute diarrhea and symptoms of typhoid disease from which four cases died with acute septicemia. In one case, the disease was accompanied by abortion. Pathological and bacteriological studies confirmed salmonellosis. From bone marrow, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and intestinal contents Salmonella typhimurium were isolated. All affected animals showed dysentry, fever, anorexia and rectal prolapse. Because of importance of the salmonellosis in ponies futher epidemiological studies is recommended.

The present study was carried out in order to complete taxonomic survey on Iranian freshwater amphipods in East Azarbaijan, West Azarbaijan and Ardebil provinces. The results revealed that amphipods of Azarbaijan of Iran belong to family Gammaridae with two genera namely, Obesogammarus and Gammarus. Obesogammarus turcarum is restricted to the CASPIAN Sea drainage basin and was found along Aras River. Three species including Gammarus komareki, G. lacustris, and G. paricrenatus belong to G. pulex species group. Based on results of the present study, G. komareki was the dominant species. From zoogeographical point of view, G. komareki was found in Asia minor. Compared to the other two species, G. lacustris is distributed in the northern parts of America, Europe and Asia. Gammarus paricrenatus is endemic to Iran and in one locality was sympatrically observed with Gammarus lacustris.

Because there is not enough information on the percentage of seed germination of native broad-leaved species of CASPIAN FORESTs of Iran, seed sowing is usually done with extra density. For this reason, most of the produced seedlings are thin and have low height and diameter growth rate. In case of sowing seeds with low density, the seedling production is not profitable due to few numbers of seedlings per area unit of nursery. The current trial was conducted, using Randomized Complete Blocks Design with three replicates for each species to obtain an ideal density of seed sowing and increase seedlings quality.Four species were tested including Quereus eastaneifolia, Tilia begonifolia, Aeer velutinum and Fraxinus excelsior. Four seed mass treatments per squar meter of nursery were applied for each species which differ for different species. The plot area was three squar meters. After measuring weight of 100 seeds of each species, the seed mass of each treatment was sawn inside of the plots along five rows. Only the seedlings grown on the three middle rows were considered and studied, leaving the first and the last rows as bufer lines. Space between the rows and between the plots was 20 and 30 cm, respectively. Two seed sowing seasons were planned: spring and autumn. According to the results achieved, autumn was the best, so all of the measurements and evaluations were made in that season. The differences between the seed density treatments were not significant, for all species. Best seed density for Q. eastaneifolia, T begonifolia, A. velutinum and F. excelsior was 500, 100,40 and 50 g/cm2, respectively.

Estimating the amount of variation due to spatial dependence at different scales provides a basis for designing effective experiments. Accurate knowledge of spatial structures is needed to inform silvicultural guidelines and management decisions for long term sustainability of FORESTs. Furthermore, geostatistics is a useful tool to describe and draw map the spatial variability and estimation of FOREST variables. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate on spatial variability and to estimate FOREST stock variables using geostatistical approach in a mixed hardwood FOREST, located in the CASPIAN region of Iran. Field sampling was performed based on a 150m by 200m systematic rectangular grid of 3 clustered plots (50m away). Each sample plot consisted of two concentric circles. Overall, 434 sample plots were measured in 502 hectares. Experimental variograms for FOREST basal area, volume and tree density were calculated and plotted using the geo-referenced inventory plots. All the variograms showed weak spatial auto- correlations between samples, even in short distances. Estimations were made using fitted variogram models and ordinary block kriging. Cross-validation results showed that all the estimations are biased, because of the large variability and weak spatial structure in the FOREST stock variables. Therefore, kriging could not make accurate estimations because of high spatial variability of FOREST growing stock related variables in this heterogeneous and uneven-aged FOREST.