Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8849978 | Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences | 2018 | 21 Pages |
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 (80Â spp., 31.74%) were dominant followed by Megaphanerophytes (51Â spp., 20.24%), Therophytes (49Â spp., 19.44%) and Nanophanerophytes (45Â 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 (88Â spp., 34.92%) species were dominant followed by Leptophyllous (74Â spp., 29.36%) and Nanophyllous (60Â spp., 23.80%). The Microphyllous plants again are the indicator of cold temperate zone as the area is situated at an elevation of 1191-2626Â 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.
Related Topics
Life Sciences
Environmental Science
Ecology
Authors
Waqas Khan, Shujaul Mulk Khan, Habib Ahmad, Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi, Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, Manzoor Hussain, E.F. Abd_Allah,