2381/45409
W Khan
W
Khan
SM Khan
SM
Khan
H Ahmad
H
Ahmad
A Shakeel
A
Shakeel
S Page
S
Page
Ecological gradient analyses of plant associations in the Thandiani forests of the Western Himalayas, Pakistan
University of Leicester
2019
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Plant Sciences
Plant associations
Ecological gradient
deterended correspondence analysis
canonical corresponding analysis
electrical conductivity
organic matter
species richness
ecological gradient
geographic information system
Thandiani forests of Himalayas
Pakistan
MULTIVARIATE APPROACH
ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT
NORTHERN PAKISTAN
SPECIES-DIVERSITY
VEGETATION
VALLEY
PHYTOSOCIOLOGY
ABBOTTABAD
PATTERNS
DIVISION
2019-08-29 15:54:54
Journal contribution
https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Ecological_gradient_analyses_of_plant_associations_in_the_Thandiani_forests_of_the_Western_Himalayas_Pakistan/10236026
In the summers of 2012 and 2013, vegetation of Thandiani in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan was surveyed and quantified.
We took evidence from relationships between 252 species and 11 measured environmental factors as well as changes in the associations’
structure among 50 analysed stations with 1500 m2
plots. We analysed how the plant associations differ and develop under the influence
of their respective ecological gradients. Preliminary results showed that the family Pinaceae was the most abundant family with a
family importance value (FIV) of 1892.4, followed by Rosaceae with FIV = 1478.2. Rosaceae, represented by 20 species, was the most
dominant family, followed by Asteraceae and Ranunculaceae with 14 and 12 species each, respectively. Analyses via CANOCO software
version 4.5 and GEO database demonstrated strong correlations among species distributions and environmental variables, i.e. elevation,
topography, and edaphic factors. Our findings show an increase in species diversity and richness from lower elevation (1290 m at sea
level (m asl) to higher elevation (2626 m asl). It is evident that aspect, elevation, and soil factors were the decisive variables affecting
qualitative and quantitative attributes of vegetation in the study area. The P value ≤ 0.002 confirms a significant impact of abiotic factors
that bring variation in vegetation. A 3D view of the study area was generated in ArcScene showing all the five plant associations. Graphs
of scatter plot, point profile, and 3D line profile were added to the layout of plant association maps. The habitats of the five association
types overlapped broadly but still retained their specific individuality. The execution of GIS framework gave spatial modelling, which
ultimately helped in the recognition of indicator species of specific habitat or association type. These findings could further be utilised
in devising the forest policy and conservation management. This study also opens new doors of research in the field of biogeography,
systematics, and wildlife.