PJB-2017-629
SPECIES DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND COMPOSITION OF PLANT COMMUNITIES ALONG ENVIRONMENTAL GRADIENTS OF SATHAN GALI (RESERVED FOREST), MANSEHRA, KPK, PAKISTAN
KHALID RASHEED KHAN
Abstract
This study communicates the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of floristic diversity at species level along environmental gradients using a randomly stratified design for recognizing major plant communities of Sathan Gali, Mansehra, KPK, Pakistan. The study area was divided into 13 stands on the basis of physiognomy of vegetation. Four plant communities were recognized through TWINSPAN classification. A total of 136 plant species belonging to 58 families were known. The dominant family was found to be Asteraceae with 13 species. Among biological spectrum Therophytes were dominated with 27.34% species and leaf size spectra was dominated by Mesophytes contributing 25.83% species. Pinus wallichiana was the dominant species with an importance value index of 351.69 followed by Fragaria nubicola (62.88). Maximum species diversity was noticed of Pinus-Pteris-Sarcococca community (0.102) while species richness found in Pinus-Digitaria-Sarcococca community (1.87) whereas maximum species maturity was found in Pinus-Cedrus-Vibernum community (65.74). In constrained DCA ordination of reserved forest indicated that the maximum gradient length was 3.32 for axis 1 and 2.57 for axis II. The maximum eigenvalue was 0.49 for axis 1 and 0.34cfor axis II. While CCA ordination revealed that the maximum eigenvalue was 0.49 for axis 1 and 0.40 for axis II. Among environmental variables the maximum positive strength was recorded for altitude and phosphorous (P) while maximum negative strength was recorded for barometric pressure and temperature.
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