Examining relationship between environmental gradients and Lesser Himalyan forest vegetation of Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir using ordination analysis

Muhammad Shoaib Amjad; Muhammad Arshad; Audil Rashid; Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari; Nafeesa Zahid Malik; Sammer Fatima; Faraz Akrim

doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60297-2

Examining relationship between environmental gradients and Lesser Himalyan forest vegetation of Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir using ordination analysis

Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2014 Sep:7S1:S610-6. doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60297-2.

Authors

Muhammad Shoaib Amjad¹, Muhammad Arshad², Audil Rashid³, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari², Nafeesa Zahid Malik⁴, Sammer Fatima², Faraz Akrim⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Electronic address: malikshoaib1165@yahoo.com.
² Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
³ Department of Environmental Sciences, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
⁴ Department of Botany, Mirpur University of Science and Technology AJK, Pakistan.
⁵ Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

PMID: 25312193
DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60297-2

Abstract

Objective: To report the relationship of vegetation structure and environmental gradient and physiochemical properties of soil at Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir .

Methods: A survey of natural vegetation and soil of Nikyal valley was undertaken. Phytosociological survey was conducted by using Braun-Blanquet's approach. The study also investigated the vegetation structure and its relationship with altitude and edaphic factors. The floristic data was analyzed by cluster anlaysis, detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis using CANACOO 5.0.

Results: A total of 110 plant species and 13 stands were merged into five major associations as dema rcated by cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis. The associations were Olea-Pinus-Themeda association, Myrsine-Rhus-Quercus association, Quercus-Rubus-Pinus association and Quercus association. Soil organic matter, saturation, pH and altitude play the major role in distribution of species.

Conclusions: The variation in vegetation structure is controlled by the altitudinal gradient and physiochemical properties of soil. These results indicate a deteriorated forest structure and reduced regeneration pattern, demanding immediate attention of forest management authorities.

Keywords: Canonical correspondence analysis; Cluster anlaysis; Detrended correspondence analysis; Nikyal valley; Plant association.