Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.
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 D...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257493 |
| _version_ | 1818723317503229952 |
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| author | Mevish Mumshad Israr Ahmad Shujaul Mulk Khan Abdullah Khadija Rehman Mohammad Islam Shazia Sakhi Sami Ullah Khan Sahib Gul Afridi Sulaiman Shams Samana Azam Ishtiaq Ahmad Rabia Afza Zeeshan Ahmad |
| author_facet | Mevish Mumshad Israr Ahmad Shujaul Mulk Khan Abdullah Khadija Rehman Mohammad Islam Shazia Sakhi Sami Ullah Khan Sahib Gul Afridi Sulaiman Shams Samana Azam Ishtiaq Ahmad Rabia Afza Zeeshan Ahmad |
| author_sort | Mevish Mumshad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:08:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-932555f7a4a3457699a14a75e61df919 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T21:08:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-932555f7a4a3457699a14a75e61df9192022-12-21T21:32:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-011610e025749310.1371/journal.pone.0257493Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.Mevish MumshadIsrar AhmadShujaul Mulk KhanAbdullahKhadija RehmanMohammad IslamShazia SakhiSami Ullah KhanSahib Gul AfridiSulaiman ShamsSamana AzamIshtiaq AhmadRabia AfzaZeeshan AhmadPlant 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.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257493 |
| spellingShingle | Mevish Mumshad Israr Ahmad Shujaul Mulk Khan Abdullah Khadija Rehman Mohammad Islam Shazia Sakhi Sami Ullah Khan Sahib Gul Afridi Sulaiman Shams Samana Azam Ishtiaq Ahmad Rabia Afza Zeeshan Ahmad Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. PLoS ONE |
| title | Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. |
| title_full | Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. |
| title_fullStr | Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. |
| title_short | Phyto-ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of Dhirkot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. |
| title_sort | phyto ecological studies and distribution pattern of plant species and communities of dhirkot azad jammu and kashmir pakistan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257493 |
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