Inventorying and Monitoring of Alpine Specific Genera and Species of Haramosh and Bagraote Valleys., (Karakoram Range) Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Abstract

Inventorying and monitoring work on alpine specific flora of Haramosh and Bagrote valleys (Gilgit-Baltistan) was done for fourteen years from 2001-2014. The fourteen years inventorying revealed a rich alpine exclusive species consisting of 105 species in 52 genera and 21 families of Angiosperms. The Alpine zone had 13 genera with 3 or more alpine exclusive species; Potentilla and Carex with 9 species each were the largest genera of this zone, followed by and Draba (8 species) Rhodiola 5 species etc. Genera containing 9 or 10 species occurred only in Alpine zone which are specific to extreme alpine habitat. The exclusive Alpine flora of both valleys formed 45.25% of the total alpine flora. Although the total number of species was the highest in the Sub-alpine zone, but in the species specific to any one zone, the Alpine zone had the highest number, that is, 105 of the total 232 species were exclusively found in this zone only. Like species, 22 genera out of 52 were exclusively found in alpine zone only. The Alpine zone was characterized by herbs and low shrubs, with Potentilla species as the dominants. A clear trend of migration of certain species both from lower to higher latitudes and altitudes was observed. Bistorta affinis and Potentilla species were observed that are grazing resistant and drought resistant species of the alpine zone were upward shifted from subalpine zone in both valleys during the last fourteen years. Beside these dominant and grazing resistant species some other species like Saussurea simpsoniana, Corydalis spp., Pulsatilla wallichiana, Anemone rupicola, Allium spp., Silene gonosperma, Aconogonon spp., Primula spp., were upward shifted within the alpine zone and some are completely shifted from subalpine zone. Anemone rupicola, Pulsatilla wallichina and Aconogonon spp. were completely shifted from lower zone to alpine zone of both valleys. The species richness index of Alpine zone however showed increasing trend probably due to species migrations towards the alpine zone.

Medicinal plants used by inhabitants of the Shigar Valley, Baltistan region of Karakorum range-Pakistan

“…Likewise, same family been reported as a leading family in the previous studies conducted in surrounding areas of Shigar Valley [ 1 , 12 , 21 ]. However, Khan (2007) reported Rosaceae as the most prevailing family from various valleys of Himalaya and Karakorum ranges of mountains [ 29 , 31 ]. These findings indicate the ample indigenous knowledge, varied selection and rich diversity of medicinal flora of the region.…”

“…Only few workers [ 11 , 12 , 21 ], have conducted ethnobotanical survey in some parts of Northern Pakistan. Therefore, very limited ethno-botanical literature is available in the region [ 20 , 31 ]. Shigar valley is located in the Karakorum Ranges, and is the home of various peaks (including K2), glaciers and hot springs, which have always been the most preferred tracking places for visitors across the country and abroad.…”

Regional trade of medicinal plants has facilitated the retention of traditional knowledge: case study in Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

“…Besides, the region is one of the important plant areas in the Himalaya, Karakoram, and Hindukush (HKH) landscape [6–12]. In the epoch of Anthropocene, as for other parts of the world, this region also experienced problems due to human population growth and associated land use transformation that severely affected both important species and the wider ecosystem [13–15]. Still natural resources, especially plant diversity, are very significant for ethnic communities in this mountainous landscape [10, 14, 16, 17].…”

“…With seven districts and an ideal mountainous landscape, this region is naturally suitable for high-value medicinal plants. The local communities have been utilizing this resource for many generations [9, 12, 15, 33, 36, 42–45]. Several researchers have previously documented traditionally used medicinal plant from different districts in this region.…”

Taxonomic and typological structure of the flora of Eastern Podilia (Ukraine)

“…Investigation of flora, its ecological and cenotic analysis, protection and balanced use are one of the high-priority tasks in the research, conservation and reproduction of biodiversity, monitoring of the rates of adventisation of local flora and invasive processes (Litvinskaia, 2012;Kumar, 2014;Khan et al, 2016). (Baranovski et al, 2016;Lykholat et al, 2017), which provides a variety of landscapes and functions as structural elements in the formation of a regional ecological network.…”