Environmental variables drive plant species composition and distribution in the moist temperate forests of Northwestern Himalaya, Pakistan

Rahman, Inayat Ur; Hart, Robbie; Ijaz, Farhana; Afzal, Aftab; Iqbal, Zafar; Calixto, Eduardo Soares; Abd_Allah, Elsayed Fathi; Alqarawi, Abdulaziz A.; Hashem, Abeer; Al-Arjani, Al-Bandari Fahad; Kausar, Rukhsana; Haq, Shiekh Marifatul

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260687

Cited by 34 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…variable similar to [79]. Our results support the argument that mountain tree communities are sensitive to climate and, thus, able to reveal its effects sooner than others [56]. Variation of species is also explained by interaction of factors, including: Climate, topography and soil (6.5%), as well as climate and topography (6.3%) (Fig 6).…”

Section: Plos Onesupporting

confidence: 86%

“…Divergent distribution patterns of species and community composition of mountain ecosystems are influenced by dramatic changes in environmental conditions over short altitudinal distance [33,49,55,56]. Nevertheless, human exploitation may be imposing constraints that result in environmental modification [57] causing a shift in species range [58] and thus influencing species composition [59].…”

Section: Tree Species Community Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Climatic conditions can thus exert selective pressure on composition species [8], given that some tree species may not prefer areas of high elevation because of low temperatures [55,69]. Thus, elevation can be used as a proxy for understanding tree species adaptation to climate change [56].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree species composition along environmental and disturbance gradients in tropical sub-montane forests, Tanzania

2023

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Understanding the environmental and disturbance determinants of tree species dominance and community composition in an ecosystem, is important for informing management and conservation decisions, through maintaining or improving the existing forest composition and structure. This study was carried out to quantify the relationship between forest tree composition structure and environmental and disturbance gradients, in a tropical sub-montane forest of Eastern Usambara. Vegetation, environmental, and anthropogenic disturbance data for 58 plots across Amani and Nilo nature forest reserves were obtained. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to identify plant communities and analyze the influence of environmental variables and anthropogenic disturbances on tree species and community composition respectively. Four communities were identified and CCA results showed that the variation was significantly related to elevation, pH, Annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality, phosphorus nutrients and pressures from adjacent villages and roads. Likewise, environmental factors (climate, soil and topography) explained the most variation (14.5%) of tree and community composition in relation to disturbance pressure (2.5%). The large and significant variation in tree species and community patterns explained by environmental factors suggests a need for site-specific assessment of environmental properties for biodiversity conservation plans. Similarly, the intensification of human activities and associated impacts on natural environment should be minimized to maintain forest species composition patterns and communities. The findings are useful in guiding in policy interventions that focus on minimizing human disturbances in the forests and could aid in preserving and restoring the functional organization and tree species composition of the sub-tropical montane forests.

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Section: Plos Onesupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Tree Species Community Structurementioning

confidence: 99%

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Tree species composition along environmental and disturbance gradients in tropical sub-montane forests, Tanzania

2023

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“…It is commonly found that invasive plant species can drive plant community composition subcategories such as plant species diversity and abundance [ 26 , 29 , 30 ]. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling ordination results are often used to show patterns or relationships among plant communities but can be used to determine drivers of plant community composition [ 61 , 62 ]. Rahman et al [ 62 ] determined various environmental variables as composition drivers, while Kahmen et al [ 61 ] showed species with specific traits such high productivity, competitive ability, and nutrient use efficiency to be potentially significant drivers of community composition and productivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive Species Change Plant Community Composition of Preserved Prairie Pothole Wetlands

Jones

DeKeyser

Dixon

et al. 2023

Plants

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Plant communities in North American prairie pothole wetlands vary depending on hydrology, salinity, and anthropogenic disturbance in and around the wetland. We assessed prairie pothole conditions on United States Fish and Wildlife Service fee-title lands in North Dakota and South Dakota to improve our understanding of current conditions and plant community composition. Species-level data were collected at 200 randomly chosen temporary and seasonal wetland sites located on native prairie remnants (n = 48) and previously cultivated lands that were reseeded into perennial grassland (n = 152). The majority of species surveyed appeared infrequently and were low in relative cover. The four most frequently observed species were introduced invasive species common to the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. Our results suggested relative cover of a few invasive species (i.e., Bromus inermis Leyss., Phalaris arundinacea L., and Typha ×glauca Godr. (pro sp.) [angustifolia or domingensis × latifolia]) affect patterns of plant community composition. Wetlands in native and reseeded grasslands possessed distinct plant community composition related to invasive species’ relative cover. Invasive species continue to be prevalent throughout the region and pose a major threat to biological diversity, even in protected native prairie remnants. Despite efforts to convert past agricultural land into biologically diverse, productive ecosystems, invasive species continue to dominate these landscapes and are becoming prominent in prairie potholes located in native areas.

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“…Plant species composition and distribution is influenced by the soil characteristics (Yang et al, 2018). Across different sites soil properties such as, Ph, OC, OM among others show significant differences, that eventually impact the plant species composition (Rahman et al, 2022). The community composition and species distribution pattern is also regulated by the soil organic matter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phyto-ecological analysis of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. assemblages in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Magray¹,

Wani²,

Islam³

et al. 2022

Front. For. Glob. Change

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Phyto-ecological studies are essential in understanding community structure, organization and their response to changes in other environmental factors. In this study we analyzed the phytosociological and soil characteristics of Phytolacca acinosa communities and their correlation. 110 quadrats were laid across ten randomly selected sites in Kashmir Himalaya, India. Soil analysis was done using standard protocols. Overall, 161 species were recorded, belonging to 128 genera and 49 families. The species richness (SR) ranges from 27 to 83. Highest IVI was recorded for Poa angustifolia (60.06) and least for Berberis lycium, Abies pindrow, Plectranthus ragosus, and Ailanthus altissima (0.37 each). P. acinosa showed 100% random associations with other plant species. Soil properties varied significantly across the selected sites. Significant positive correlation was found between species richness (SR), Organic matter (OM) (r = 0.79), Organic carbon (OC) (r = 0.79) and Shannon–Wiener index (H) (r = 0.92). Nitrogen content also showed positive correlation with SR and H. Floristic composition of P. acinosa assemblages was governed by soil properties and habitat characteristics of sampling sites. Areas with highest floral diversity had high soil fertility while areas with low soil fertility possess lower diversity and need restoration. The knowledge may prove helpful in management of these habitats, boost conservation and mitigate the effects of changing climate.

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Environmental variables drive plant species composition and distribution in the moist temperate forests of Northwestern Himalaya, Pakistan

Cited by 34 publications

References 94 publications

Tree species composition along environmental and disturbance gradients in tropical sub-montane forests, Tanzania

Tree species composition along environmental and disturbance gradients in tropical sub-montane forests, Tanzania

Invasive Species Change Plant Community Composition of Preserved Prairie Pothole Wetlands

Phyto-ecological analysis of Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. assemblages in Kashmir Himalaya, India

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