PJB-2024-1518
Re-colonization potential of native vegetation in habitats fragmented for construction of motorways
Tahira Nawaz, Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad, Mansoor Hameed and Muhammad Ashfaq Wahid
Abstract
Habitat fragmentation imparts several environmental stresses on habitats by changing ecosystem structural and function. Accordingly, changed abiotic attributes in isolated areas adversely affect the plant growth performance and distribution. The potential of three native species i.e., Cynodon dactylon, Cenchrus ciliaris and Calotropis procera for recolonizing the areas cleared for construction of motorways was evaluated. Plant species composition and diversity was also assessed to conclude how environmental and soil factors drive the plant communities reestablishment in fenced and unfenced areas of selected Motorways. The ecological attributes were sampled from fenced and unfenced areas of different habitats using quadrat method. The changes in ecological attributes were plotted against soil physicochemical attributes and time elapsed to fragmentation caused by disturbance. Additionally, soil samples were also collected for physicochemical analysis. There was a significant variation in plant species composition in old and recent constructed Motorways. The fragmented areas of old constructed Motorways had stable environmental and soil conditions which supported the distribution of selected species as compared to recently fragmented Motorways. The unfenced areas showed less infestation of selected grass species due to high grazing pressure as compared to fenced areas. Concluding the study, each plant community along the time elapsed to fragmentation was differently influenced by environmental and soil physicochemical attributes.
To Cite this article:
Nawaz, T., M.S.A. Ahmad, M. Hameed and M.A. Wahid. 2024. Re-colonization potential of native vegetation in habitats fragmented for construction of motorways. Pak. J. Bot., 56(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2024-3(4)
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