Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Abstract

Plant species represent the hierarchical expression of vegetation as it is affected by various environmental gradients. We explored the plant species composition, distribution pattern, communities formation and their respective indicators under the influence of various environmental factors in the Dhirkot region, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It was hypothesized that different environmental factors were responsible for the formation of various plant communities each with a distinct indicator. Quantitative ecological techniques were used for the sampling of vegetation. A total of 114 quadrats were established in 13 selected sampling sites. Phytosociological attributes were calculated for each plant species at each quadrat. Soil samples were collected and analyzed using different standard protocols. All the collected data were analyzed using Cluster Analysis, Indicator Species Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis of PCORD and CANOCO software, respectively. A total of 145 plant species were recorded belong to 62 different families. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the dominant families, represented by 12 species each (8.27%). Cluster Analysis classify all the stations and plants into four major plant communities as 1) Olea-Desmodium-Prunilla community. 2) Abies-Zanthoxylum-Pteracanthus community 3) Cedrus-Elaeagnus-Hypericum community 4) Alnus-Myrsine–Ranunculus community. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, soil saturation, organic matter and altitude were the significant environmental factors that play its essential role in the plant species distribution, composition, formation of major plant communities and their respective indicators in the region. It is recommended that the identified indicator and rare plant species of the investigated area can further be grown for conservation and management purposes in in-situ environment.

Elevation, aspect, and habitat heterogeneity determine plant diversity and compositional patterns in the Kashmir Himalaya

“…Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Ranunculaceae were the most dominant families in the study area; these families have also been reported as being dominant in the Himalayan region (Dar and Khuroo, 2013;Altaf et al, 2021). These plant families have larger ecological amplitudes and wide distributions, increasing the possibility of encountering the members of these families (Mumshad et al, 2021). The dominance of herbaceous growth forms in the present study is in accordance with several other studies conducted in the Indian Himalayan region (Samant et al, 2007b;Malik et al, 2015;Sharma et al, 2019;Haq et al, 2021;.…”

Vegetation assessments under the influence of environmental variables from the Yakhtangay Hill of the Hindu-Himalayan range, North Western Pakistan

“…The limiting factors inside any biome, limit the total number and diversity of the species. While other environmental gradients, particularly topography, elevation, snow cover, soil moisture and pH, have been analyzed and concluded that these are correlated with plant species richness at both regional and local levels 17 – 19 .…”

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

“…The community composition and species distribution pattern is also regulated by the soil organic matter. Water holding capacity and colloidal nature of soil subsequently increased in plant communities with increase in OM content (Mumshad et al, 2021;Wani I. A. et al, 2022).…”

“…Phytosociological studies are important in understanding the population dynamics, habitat, species interaction and vegetation structure of an ecosystem (Collins et al, 2020). The vegetation of an area can be classified based on physiognomy and functional combination or on its component species that discriminate the physical appearance of vegetation (Mumshad et al, 2021). Plant communities are formed by those species which share the structural and floristic characteristics at certain level of environmental tolerance.…”