Life forms, leaf size spectra, regeneration capacity and diversity of plant species grown in the Thandiani forests, district Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The life form and leaf size spectra of plant species of the Thandiani forests, district Abbottabad, were studied during the summer of 2013. These forests host 252 plant species of 97 families. Biological spectra showed that Hemicryptophytes (80 spp., 31.74%) were dominant followed by Megaphanerophytes (51 spp., 20.24%), Therophytes (49 spp., 19.44%) and Nanophanerophytes (45 spp., 17.86). Hemicryptophytes are the indicators of cold temperate vegetation. At the lower elevations, Megaphanerophytes and Nanophanerophytes were dominant which confirm trees as dominant habit form due to high soil depth, moisture and temperature factors. Data on Leaf spectra in the area showed that Microphyllous (88 spp., 34.92%) species were dominant followed by Leptophyllous (74 spp., 29.36%) and Nanophyllous (60 spp., 23.80%). The Microphyllous plants again are the indicator of cold temperate zone as the area is situated at an elevation of 1191-2626 m. Similarly, Nanophylls were dominant at lower elevations. Data on family importance values and diversity among various communities were also recorded. Life form and Leaf spectra studies could be used to understand the micro climatic variation of the region.

Quantification and characterization of vegetation and functional trait diversity of the riparian zones in protected forest of Kashmir Himalaya, India

“…Ali et al (2016) also reported mesophylls as the dominant leaf type in the Chail valley, Pakistan. The observed relationship between small leaves and cold or hot desert climates is explainable as an adaptive strategy for retaining soil moisture (Khan et al 2018). Our findings are comparable with those of Qadir and Tareen (1987), Greller (1988), Malik et al (2007), Asim et al (2016) and Haq et al (2018) who reported the dominance of similar leaf size spectra in their study areas.…”

“…Our floristic analysis showed that species with mesophylls dominated, followed by microphyll and nanophyll in the studied area. A high percentage of microphylls is typical for temperate climatic conditions (Khan et al 2018). Ali et al (2016) also reported mesophylls as the dominant leaf type in the Chail valley, Pakistan.…”

“…The relative proportions of various life forms in an existing flora in a specific region or spot referred to as its biospectrum. This biological spectrum reflects the adaptation of plants to their micro and macro climate and reflects vital physiognomic attributes, which are widely used for vegetation analysis (Khan et al 2018 (Cain et al 1959, Rooyen et al 1990). The predominance of magaphanerophytes along the riparian corridors reflects the climax vegetation (Qureshi and Bhatti 2010).…”

Response of different plant species to pollution emitted from oil and gas plant with special reference to heavy metals accumulation

“…Plant species distribution pattern and composition changes along various environmental factors in a gradual manner as a function of continuity in environmental gradient. Three major habitat types of the study area, were demarcated which could be compared with other studies where same techniques were used (Khan et al, 2016a;Khan et al, 2016b;Pruchniewicz, 2017). These studies assessed the influence of various environmental variables on plant species distribution and composition.…”

“…These studies assessed the influence of various environmental variables on plant species distribution and composition. To measure the effect of heavy metals and pollution on abundance and distribution of plants use of CANOCO Software could be compared with studies conducted by (Khan et al, 2012;Khan et al, 2013;Khan et al, 2016b;Bano et al, 2018) where they assessed the impact of topographic and edaphic factors on plant composition and distribution pattern.…”