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Pak. J. Bot., 44: 59-62, Special Issue May 2012.

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STATUS OF PLANT DIVERSITY IN THE SOONE VALLEY, SALT RANGE, PAKISTAN

IFTIKHAR AHMAD^1*, MUHAMMAD SAJID AQEEL AHMAD², MANSOOR HAMEED², MUMTAZ HUSSAIN², M. YASIN ASHRAF³, FAROOQ AHMAD² AND HUMERA MALIK¹

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to access the current status of biodiversity in Soone Valley of Salt Range, Pakistan. For this purpose, the Valley was divided into six main regions (Khabeki, Khoora, Dape Sharif, Anga, Knotti Garden and Jallar) depending of their geographic location, geophysical attributes and vegetation type. The total number of species existing in that area was recorded and data for their density, frequency and cover values were collected. The data were analyzed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Results showed a highly significant variation in these phyto-sociological attributes at various study sites. Among all study sites, Khoora had the highest vegetation diversity while the frequency values were almost equal at Khoora and Khabeki sites. Surprisingly, Khabeki, Khoora and Anga sites had the highest effect on vegetation cover while all other sites (Dape Sharif, Knotti Gardena and Jallar) had a little effect on vegetation cover. Among all species recorded in this study, Prosopis juliflora, Nerium oleander, Diclyptera bupleuroides, Buxus papillosa and some others did not showed any significant effect of sites. It was concluded that Khoora, Khabeki and Anga sites were the richest in biodiversity while Dape Sharif, Knotti Gardena and Jallar having the lowest density, frequency and cover values were at the high risk of biodiversity loss.

¹Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan

²Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

³ NIAB, Faisalabad, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author’s e-mail: iak8767@yahoo.com