biodiversity and phytosociological studies of upstream and downstream riparian areas of pakistan

18 Pages·2016·0.65 MB·English

Pakistan J. Agric. Res. Vol. 28 No.4, 2015
BIODIVERSITY AND PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF UPSTREAM
AND DOWNSTREAM RIPARIAN AREAS OF PAKISTAN: SPECIAL
REFERENCE TO TAUNSA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AND KETI SHAH
FORESTS
Raja Zoq-ul-Arfeen*, Aamir Saleem*, Sarwat Naz Mirza*, Muhammad
Akmal**, Hafiz Muhammad Tayyab* and Obaid Afzal***
ABSTRACT:- Pakistan riparian zone mostly belongs to Sindh and Punjab
provinces and prone to climatic problems and anthropogenic activities. The
research was conduct to estimate and compare the structure and composition of
riverine floral diversity in low riparian zone of River Indus. The data was collected
from Keti Shah forest and Taunsa wildlife sanctuary. Total 14259
plants/individuals were recorded, which belong to 54 plant species with 18
different families. In Taunsa pre-monsoon survey, total 30 plant species were
found with 4476 plants from 16 different families. In Taunsa post-monsoon
survey total 3348 individuals were recorded from 20 plant species and 9 families.
Similarly, in Keti Shah forest, total 3975 individual were recorded from 22
species and 11 families during the pre-monsoon season and 2460 plants were
recorded in post-monsoon season, belonging to 16 species and 10 families. These
species mostly belong to Fabaceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Asclepiadaceae.
Different phytosociological parameters indicate Tamarix dioca, Cynodon
dactylon, Desmostachya bipinnata, Imperata cylindrica, Fimbristylis
hispidula, Acacia nilotica, Phragmites karka, Tamarix sp. and Saccharum
bengalense as dominant species. The biodiversity in upstream and downstream
areas were rich in pre-monsoon season in comparison to post-monsoon season in
surveyed areas. This study is useful for management of the area in the future as
conservation strategies can be made through considering the adaptive tree
species in future plantation and endangered species can be conserved.
Key Words: Keti Shah Forest; Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary; Biodiversity;
Phytosociology; Life Forms; Riparian Forest; River Indus; Pakistan.
INTRODUCTION process of riverine ecosystem
especially in relation to abiotic
There is increasing interest in the factors. The linkage between the river
importance of rivers ecologically, paths and wetlands creates “boom”
geomorphologically, hydrologically and “bust” ecology (Jenkins and
and environmentally. The scientific Boulton, 2003).
literature on riverine ecosystem is Diversity of Pakistan is dis-
rapidly expanding (Van der Velde et tinctive as the country shelters three
al., 2004). The available literature bio-geographic realms i.e., the Indo-
highlights the fluvial and structuring Malayan; Palaearctic and Africo-
* Department of Forestry and Range Management, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
** Department of Soil Science and Soil Water Conservation, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi,
Pakistan.
*** Department of Agronomy, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Corresponding author: [email protected]
377
RAJA ZOQ-UL-ARFEEN ET AL.
tropical (UNEP, 1995). About two-third western part of Punjab in Tehsil Kot
of the country is mountainous and Addu district Muzaffargarh was built
rapid changes in altitude aggravate over river Indus in 1958. Taunsa
differences in diversity within short Barrage wildlife sanctuary comprises
distances. Pakistan includes variety alluvial plains of fine to grained soil
of terrestrial ecosystems within 18 dominated with deposits of calcar-
major geographical zones i.e., eous nature. A wildlife sanctuary at
permanent snowfield and cold desert, Taunsa Barrage was declared during
alpine meadow, subalpine scrub and 1978 under Punjab Wildlife Act 1974.
birch forest, dry temperate coniferous Its total area is 2834 ha (WWF, 2014).
forest, Himalayan moist temperate Its wildlife sanctuary is worldwide
forest, sub-tropical pine forest, tropical famous for habitat of Indus blind
deciduous forest, steppic forest in the dolphin (Platanista minor). The climate
Northern latitude, intermediate and of the area is arid with extremely hot
the Southern latitude, monsoon- summers (39-46 oC during June) and
influenced arid sub-tropical, less mild winters (5-19 oC). The average
pronounced monsoon influenced, annual rainfall is about 200 mm of
Balochistan desert scrub, Indus which 80% is received in summers.
plains, sand dunes, inundation Relative humidity in the area varies
(seepage and swamp) zones, riverine from 25% to 88%. The wind velocity
tract and littoral (inter-tidal) zone. In remains around 15-30 km h-1;
addition, a number of different agro- however, during summers it exceeds
ecosystems have been created through up to 30-35 km h-1 with dust storms
the conversion of natural habitats for and haze. The wind directions are
agricultural use (Roberts, 1997). from north to south or from north-
Riparian zones possess an west towards south-east. It often turns
unusualy diverse array of species and to storm during summer months
environmental processes. The eco- (Khurshid and Chaudhry, 1998).
logical diversity is related to variable Keti Shah forest is situated in the
flood regimes; geographically unique vicinity of Sukkur city, Sindh,
channel processes, altitudinal climate Pakistan. Sukkur district covers
shifts and upland influences on the 5165 km2, 27º 43´21.63´´ N and 68º
fluvial corridor. The resulting dynamic 50´ 40.94´´ E on map. It shares
environment supports life-history northern border with Shikarpur and
strategies, biogeochemical cycles and Kashmore districts, southern border
organisms adapted to disturbance with Khairpur districts, north-eastern
regimes over broad spatial and border with Ghotki and eastern
temporal scales. Riparian zones play border with India. Climatically, It has
essential roles in managing riparian hot climate and with temperature
vegetation, water and landscaping range of 6º-46ºC during the year. Keti
planning, in restoration of aquatic Shah forest (7346 ha) is a part of the
systems and in catalyzing institutional riverine forest ecosystem in Sukkur.
and societal cooperation for these The species composition in low lying
efforts (Gregory et al., 1991; Naiman frequently inundated areas comprises
and Décamps, 1997; Rood et al., 2007). Acacia nilotica and mixture of Acacia
Taunsa Barrage situated at 31o nilotica and other species including
31' N and 70o 51' E in the south- Prosopis cineraria, Tamarix spp. and
378
BIODIVERSITY AND PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES
Populus euphratica (WWF, 2013). MATERIALS AND METHOD
Siddiqui et al. (2010) have
examined quantitative vegetation of Sampling Technique
temperate coniferous forest of The study area (Taunsa wildlife
Himalayan region of Pakistan. They sanctuary and Keti Shah forest) was
separated vegetation into different surveyed once during pre and post-
groups. Group I was dominated by monsoon seasons using the line
Pinus wallichiana stand; group II was intercept method (Canfield, 1941; Kent
dominated by Abies pindrow and and Coker, 1992; Mueller-Dombois
group III was dominated by Cedrus and Ellenberg, 2013). Due to dense
deodara. In Keenjhar Lake District vegetation transect line of 50 m was
Sindh seven plant communities were used to sample the study area (Canfield,
dominated which includes Tamarix 1941) and by placing 1 m2 quadrat at
sarenensis, Populus euphratica and alternate sides after 10 m interval on
Luffa echinata (Akbar et al., 2010). the same transect. For woody plant-
Shah and Hussain (2009) analyzed 5 ation, 10 m × 10 m quadrat was used on
plant communities, each having its same transect line after 20 m interval.
own species composition in Hayat Transects were ran-domly distributed
Abad, District Peshawar. They all over the area using Geographical
described Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Information System maps of the area.
Solanaceae and Asteraceae as richest
families. In life forms, therophytes Plant Collection and Identification
dominates cryptophytes and in leaf During the field survey each floral
size spectra Microphyllous dominates species was collected and identified
were studied more (40%) than lepto- with the help of available literature on
phylls (22%). Edaphic and phyto- Identification and Standard Nomen-
sociological parameters of south clature from Department of Botany,
Waziristan vegetation during autumn Karachi University, Pakistan. A
season. They report great variation in complete floristic list along with
biomass production due to difference families was compiled according to
in air and soil temperature were the Standard Nomenclature (Ali and
noticed. Moreover, the original Qaiser, 1997-2010; Nasir and Ali,
vegetation was altered due to over 1971-1996; Stewart, 1972).
grazing and deforestation. In another
study in Pirghar hills South Waziristan Phenology
agency reported by life form and leaf The phenological observations
form on the basis of altitude were recorded during the vegetation
difference. They reported that original sampling and plants were classified
woody species present on the hills are into (a) seedling stage (young and pre-
mainly isolated due to degradation. flowering), (b) flowering, (c) fruiting
Since there was no previous study and (d) dormant (fruiting or life cycle
that reports the phytosociological completed). These observations were
perspectives of Taunsa wildlife made according to Fenner (1998) and
sanctuary and Keti Shah forest of Ahrends et al. (2008).
Pakistan, the present study was
conducted to delineate both the plant Life Form (Biological Spectrum)
communities of low riparian zones. The life form classes and their
379
RAJA ZOQ-UL-ARFEEN ET AL.
percentage in each community was Density
based upon Raunkiaer (1934). Density of plant species were
Hussain and Malook (1984) and obtained by dividing total number of
Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg individuals of the species in all the
(2013). The major classes were: (a) quadrats by the total number of
Phanerophytes (P): Tree and shrub quadrats examined (Hendry and
species in which the buds are borne Grime, 1993).
0.25cm-2.00 m above ground
surface; (b) Chamaephytes (Ch): Number of individuals
Their perennating buds are situated of a species
Density = (3)
25 cm above ground surface; (c) Total number of quadrats
Hemicryphotophytes (H): Herbaceous
perennials whose aerial portion die at After calculating the density; the
the end of growing season leaving relative density was calculated using
perennating bud at or just beneath formula:
ground surface; (d) Cryptophytes (C):
Species density
Plant buds are situated below ground Relative density = x 100 (4)
Density of all
surface as bulb; tuber; rhizome etc.
species
and (e) Therophytes (Th), seed
producing plants who complete their
Cover
life cycle in one year.
Cover is the perpendicular pro-
jection of crown or shoot of a species
Phytosociological Studies
to the ground surface measured as a
The following phytosociological
fraction or percentage of a surface
attributes were measured from each
area (Hendry and Grime, 1993). The
site during field data collection.
cover was calculated using formula:
Frequency Species total length
It is the percentage of sampling of intercept
Cover = x 100 (5)
plots in which a given species occurs
Total transect length
and shows the distribution and
occurrence of the species. It was The relative cover was calculated
determined according to Hendry and using formula:
Grime (1993). Using following formula:
Total length of a
Number of quadrats in species intercept
which species occure Relative cover = x 100 (6)
All species intercept
Frequency = x 100 (1)
Total number of length
quadrats
Importance Value
Later, the relative frequency was The measure of relative domi-
calculated using formula: nance of species in a particular forest
community is the importance value
Frequency of a (IV) and was estimated by following
species
the method of Curtis and McIntosh
Relative frequency = x 100 (2)
(1950) and Stephenson and Adams
Total frequency
of all species (1986).
380
BIODIVERSITY AND PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES
IV = Relative frequency + Relative families. evaluated the riparian forest
density + Relative cover (7) in Sindh province of Pakistan. The
important riparian species in the
Summed Dominance Ratio evaluated province was Acacia
Summed Dominance Ratio (SDR) arabica, Dalbergia sissoo; Tamarix
was estimated using data from spp., Salix sp., Morus alba, Populus
importance values according to euphratica and other Populus species.
Kobayashi et al. (2003) .
Phenology
Importance value
The vegetation within the riparian
SDR= (8)
3 zone performs an important ecological
function for in-stream processes.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Large scale disturbances; such as
high water flows and flooding, are
The study evaluates the dyna- likely to be important factors in the
mics of riverine flora of low riparian dynamics of the riparian community
zone in Taunsa wildlife sanctuary and (Barnes, 1985; Bradley and Smith,
Keti Shah forest during pre and post- 1986; Johnson, 1994). The pheno-
monsoon seasons. Total 240 transect logical observations were recorded
lines of 50 m were laid in evaluated during the vegetation sampling and
forest areas and data regarding plant plants were classified into; (a)
species and phytosociological studies seedling (young and pre-flowering) (b)
were recorded. flowering (c) fruiting and (d) dormant
(fruiting or life cycle completed).
Floristic Composition During pre-monsoon in Taunsa
Total 14259 plants were recorded, wildlife sanctuary, out of 30 plant
belonging to 54 plant species with 18 species total 19, 7, 2 and 2 plants
different families. In Taunsa pre- were on flowering, seedling, fruiting
monsoon survey, 30 plant species with and dormant stages, respectively while
4476 plants from 16 different families during post-monsoon season 9, 7, 3
were recorded. They belongs to and 1 species were on stage above
Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. mentions, respectively (Figure 1). In
While, in Taunsa post-monsoon Keti Shah forest during pre-monsoon
survey, 3348 plants of 9 different season, 13, 5 and 4 species were on
families and 20 species were found flowering, seedling and dormant stages,
belonging to Poaceae, Cyperaceae respectively. While in post-monsoon
and Asclepiad-aceae. season, 7, 4, 4 and 1 species were on
In Keti Shah forest, 6435 plants fruiting, flowering, dormant and
were surveyed, and 22 plant species seedling stage, respectively (Figure 1).
were recorded that belong to 11 Different plant species within a
different families. During pre- community may share phenological
monsoon season, 3975 plants were patterns. These may share some of their
recorded that mainly belongs to morphological and physiological
Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Poaceae adaptations and also some have
while in post-monsoon season 2460 similar patterns in phenology because
plants were surveyed that belongs to of close phylogeny (Wright and
16 plant species with 10 different Calderon, 1995) Marques et al. (2004).
381
RAJA ZOQ-UL-ARFEEN ET AL.
pointed out that phenologies in In comparison which to Keti Shah
Araucaria forest in Southern Brazil is forest during pre-monsoon season
associated with the climatic variables, species comprised 6 chamaephytes, 5
day length and temperature and to phanerophytes, 5 cryptophytes, 4
some extent with rainfall. therophytes and 2 hemicryptophytes.
Similarly, in post-monsoon season, 6
Life Forms phanerophytes, 4 chamaephytes, 3
Biological spectrum of vegetation cryptophytes, 2 hemicryptophytes
is the index of the phytoclimate of the and 1 therophyte species were
site, deduction of which is based on recorded (Figure 2).
different life-forms composing the Bouri and Mukherjee (2011)
flora of the site. The life-form in its studied the biological spectrum in
turn is the ultimate manifestation of tropical deciduous Sal forest in
the sum of all the adaptations Bankati Gram Panchayat area under
undergone by a plant to the climate in Durgapur Forest Range, Burdwan
which it resides. Raunkiaer (1934) District, West Bengal based on 71
proposed the term “Biological plant species of angiosperms revealed
Spectrum” to express both the life- that out of hundred species of its
form distribution in a flora and the flora, 63.38 are phanerophytes, 1.41
phytoclimate under which the chamaephytes, 8.45 cryptophytes,
prevailing life-forms evolved. The life 7.04 hemicryptophytes and 19.72
forms of Taunsa wildlife sanctuary in therophytes. The phytoclimate appears
pre-monsoon season, revealed 9 to be of phanerotherophytic type. The
therophytes; 7 phanerophytes; 7 recent studies recommends vegeta-
chamaephytes; 4 cryptophytes and 3 tion spectrum when working at
hemicryptophytes (Figure 2). Whereas, smaller scales, due to under repre-
in post-monsoon season 5 phanero- sentation of therophytic population
phytes, 5 cryptophytes, 5 hemicrypto- and overrepresentation of phanero-
phytes, 4 therophytes and 1 specie phytes (Batalha and Martins, 2002).
belongs to chamaephyte was recorded. Also the vegetation biological spectrum
25
Seedling (S) Flowering (FL) Fruiting (Fr) Dormant
20 19
s
e15
ci 13
e
p
S
t 10 9
n
a 7 7 7
Pl 5
4 4 4
5 3
2 2
1 1
0
Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Taunsa Post-Monsoon Keti Shah Pre-Monsoon Keti Shah Post-Monsoon
Phenological Stages
Figure 1. Plant phenology from different seasons in Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary and
Keti Shah Forest
382
BIODIVERSITY AND PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES
10
Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Taunsa Post-Monsoon 9
9
Ketishah Pre-Monsoon Ketishah Post-Monsoon
8
7 7
7
6 6
s
cie 6
e 5 5 5 5 5
p
S 5
t 4 4 4 4
n
a 4
Pl 3 3
3
2 2
2
1 1
1
0
Phanerophytes (P) Chamaephytes (Ch) Cryptophytes (Cr) Hemicryptophytes Therophytes (Th)
(H)
Life Forms
Figure 2. Plant life forms of Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary and Keti Shah Forest in pre
and post-monsoon seasons
is more readily comparable to biolo- the pre-monsoon season was 59.17%
gical spectra similarly constructed for for the Cynodon dactylon. Similarly,
other sites. The biological spectra of Saccharum spontananeum followed
different regions of India have been by Cynodon dactylon with 51.67%
worked out by Meher-Homji (1964) and 20.04 relative frequency.
Pandey and Parmar (1993) Pattanaik Tamarix dioca was found with the
et al. (2007): Rana et al. (2002) Reddy 40.84% and 16.7 relative frequency.
et al. (2002) Sharma and Dhakre In Acacia nilotica frequency was
(1993). Thus the biological spectrum 15.84% and 6.21 relative frequency.
of different regions may be worked Average minimum frequency of
out and used to compare the widely 0.83% was calculated for the Conyza
separated plant communities in camadasis, Dalbergia sissoo, Eclipta
terms of their climatic adaptbility. prostrata, Lythyrus aphaca, Mentha
sp, Oxystlma esculentum, Ranunca-
Phytosociological Studies lus muricatus and Zizyphus mauri-
These are essential for protecting tiana. Similarly, the least values of the
the natural plant communities and relative frequencies were observed for
biodiversity as well as understanding the same plant species as for
the changes experienced in the past minimum frequency (Figure 3).
and continuing on into the future. Average maximum frequency of
Phytosociological parameters, like the each species during post-monsoon
frequency, density and cover, calcula- season was calculated as 45.84% for
ted for each study site were as follows: Saccharum spontaneum with the
relative frequency value of 20.31
Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary followed by Tamarix dioca and Cynodon
Frequency dactylon with 37.50% and 30.34%
Average maximum frequency in frequency, respectively. Average mini-
383
RAJA ZOQ-UL-ARFEEN ET AL
mum frequencies were recorded for y
a r
EAcruhnindooc load ocnrauxs,g aClliy, pLearuunse ar opturoncduums-, atnaatitirua ctua
2s2C0evSgCa0coadTc(fRspdwdOwwA1adadDwabo1aoipufnlnnaprea63..ee.nuaavaaoyeeaietue s.702omltonnnphme0..d5dddvccl.nrrrpnsussohns76023l,nrcetiehsess.e . sieu TDTpien 2atydr 6Ia17 ph, tesi2irrrrrirmmsenah ohttamAr. lgtge6a % e0raa huAt,3Oo5yy iycmrfce ene(ohen xlvp t2.tr isLnp. .Fre2o%aua ms ig0 se0x fdeu e5,esaeu2c d am,arritD Dphnlea, atr6y.uw iima8gr vunied r2 0rnh8otuaSnteevvande amousei- ,yeLsadearoca.h3 nredcgee natsmt dtr0ets lar dy s no a ni1m ur etm%ia baimbalciredelp ew5n h mt aS nmo da .dencdfrgenh aesecwu2e6, 2 oomgedianfehlt S e5 nd ynutdtyracoma rd3i 9sre81ilocCah shavg)guitltaaitru sm1f te. . c.ci.Zfnnhoiiecrpr2u oaeay8i ns7tni6ovvmmnahn1t,uaiectoa i iC r s rnl,heh2zdue3e7dsvymhtad.seld1 mn o x0 2ayu9oa dylsy,teer. %n iand re y Er ,c raa.txidupts4 enc aua fAms0cnerdes yeruirscno,f(ip nouhudm,o vanmCl(enF omiele 4r shp mrbaoFnh12dasmeduseull sr d iis o io a wfteii ttga .s uitnw naspordnipm bw gniwd6t yidnh0ttsnuevoc nevnmbyso2eadSiuiiyemy e7etpi.eniasevt2ret,roic c edta20.ctonan,rznth%o up ee e n h,tdlah fdntCyP e n.4oao fcsin s ysc e06mar03a uv0 c2e g,oEcaMfaiy d 4tieolc em.te d1ton.)tcarhoapv..ll1 0nne cvy)c7t a.q0y4loioetv,ona.nusal0iyta.n2ec l4yoe 7u ewnwv12ie6n lii ae)alrrwww.araaamduls utne p oret0 u7uuoae eninnnnmmhnmmim oluaaaasneet8antssmoom%syxddddaandasyessssss-ttff-.-.2222,,, 70Taunsa Pre-Monsoon FrequencyTaunsa Pre-Monsoon Relative Frequency 60Taunsa Post-Monsoon FrequencyTaunsa Post-Monsoon Relative Frequency 50 40 30 20 10 0 ao eam sp s a aax a xpanaapea asmamaamosptisicpe ancralcsuassruocsecplrnbtcaulsedisuuiuuonaaaag enoitnlsdsidtsl ehtmcr ytaisldjaateaoiugtridaineono fodnloennndpasuttnsanid ri-hfuvgacrelicrbsdinpesnse a hpiugpui ga iprtaatanxbnmoagetuouriloson epsanoincluot iiucrsmda bannldiytmrsrngsateaue apphreicoucmamg mo vi dcinir oMpurcneas sb pa l usrole madamossaepu oe c euaumyoy rluqapbsssiimhitMayosollrt daetlthlhutpEraauuyzualouAeyaeprs hlmalpToutcnhmiyl MplllEMhmslteryylPasoauDaynasrco cne ippuTLauPaCacpulCEtyiopgpotyrrsnrilheonqsCysbeCgmlaozeunPycEailHnmimhhoccInZuxPaPnccaiOasaFrcEuSeRGLaJDSSpecies ure 3. Frequency and relative frequency of plant species in pre and post-monsoon seasons of Taunsa Wildlife San
Tamarix dioca, Imperata cylindrica ycneuqerF egarevA aicac Fig
A
384
BIODIVERSITY AND PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES
25
Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Density Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Relative Density
Taunsa Post-Monsoon Density Taunsa Post-Monsoon Relative Density
20
y
t
si
n15
e
D
e
g
a10
r
e
v
A
5
0
Acacia niloticaArundo donaxCalotrpis procera Conyza camadasis Cynodon dactylon Cyprus rotendus Dalbergia sissooDesmostachya bipinnataEchinochloa crus-galli Eclipta prostrata Eleusine indica Equisetum arvense sp.Equisetum Fimbristylis hispidula Grangia madraspatana Herpestis monniera Imperata cylindrica Juncellus alopecuroides Launea procumbense Lythyrus aphacaspp.Malelotous spp.Medicago Meliolotus alba sp. Mentha Oxystlma esculentum Paspalum vaginatumPhyla nodiflora Polygonum plabejum Polypogan fugax Populus euphraticaRanuncalus muricatus Saccharum bengalense Saccharum spontaneum Tamarix dioca Typha angustataZizyphus mauritiana
Species
Figure 4. Density and relative density of plant species in pre and post-monsoon
seasons of Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary
and Acacia nilotica was found with the Importance Value and Summed
cover of 19.40%, 15.83%, 8.68% and Dominance Ratio (SDR)
6.51%, respectively. Average mini- Maximum average importance
mum cover was 0.02%, 0.01%, value was found for Saccharum spon-
0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01% and 0.01% for taneum (69.35), Cynodon dactylon
the Conyza camadasis, Eclipta pros- (66.30), Tamarix dioca (47.88),
trate, Lythyrus aphaca, Mentha sp., Imperata cylindrica (32.26) and
Oxystlma esculentum and Ranunculus Acacia nilotica (17.59) (Figure 6).
muricatus, respectively (Figure 5). Average minimum importance value
Maximum cover value was was recorded for the Conyza cama-
calculated for Saccharum spontaneum dasis, Eclipta prostrate, Lythyrus
2.33% and relative cover of 26.67. aphaca, Mentha sp., Oxystlma
Similarly Tamarix dioca and Cynodon esculentum and Ranunculus muri-
dactylon covers the 14.02% and catus, respectively. Average maximum
8.72%, respectively. Desmostachya SDR was calculated for the Saccharum
bipinnata and Acacia nilotica covers spontaneum (23.12), Cynodon dactylon
the 6.92% and 4.81 % of the area (22.10), Tamarix dioca (15.96),
with 8.53 and 6.06 relative cover, Imperata cylindrica (10.75) and
respectively . Average minimum cover Acacia nilotica (5.86). Average
percent of 0.18, 0.21, 0.07, 0.23 and minimum SDR was recorded for the
0.26 was found for Arundo donax, Conyza camadasis, Eclipta prostrate,
Cyperus rotundus, Echinocloa crus- Lythyrus aphaca, Mentha sp.,
galli, Launea procumbense and Oxystma esculentum and Ranun-
Saccharum bengalense. culus muricatus, respectively.
385
RAJA ZOQ-UL-ARFEEN ET AL
30
Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Cover % Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Relative Cover
Taunsa Post-Monsoon Cover % Taunsa Post-Monsoon Relative Cover
25
er20
v
o
C
e 15
g
a
r
e
v10
A
5
0
Acacia nilotica Arundo donax Calotrpis procera Conyza camadasis Cynodon dactylon Cyprus rotendus Dalbergia sissoo Desmostachya bipinnata Echinochloa crus-galli Eclipta prostrata Eleusine indica Equisetum arvense sp.Equisetum Fimbristylis hispidula Grangia madraspatana Herpestis monniera Imperata cylindrica Juncellus alopecuroides Launea procumbense Lythyrus aphaca spp.Malelotous spp.Medicago Meliolotus alba sp.Mentha Oxystlma esculentum Paspalum vaginatum Phyla nodiflora Polygonum plabejum Polypogan fugax Populus euphratica Ranuncalus muricatus Saccharum bengalense Saccharum spontaneum Tamarix dioca Typha angustata Zizyphus mauritiana
Species
Figure 5. Cover and relative cover of plant species in pre and post-monsoon
seasons of Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary
Importance value and SDR was tively, as compared to the Tamarix
found higher for Saccharum spon- dioca and Cynodon dactylon 46.14
taneum with 70.8 and 23.6, respec- and 38.36, respectively (Figure 6).
80
Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Importance Value
d
me 70 Taunsa Post-Monsoon Importance Value
m Taunsa Pre-Monsoon Summed Dominance Ratio
uo 60
& SRati50 Taunsa Post-Monsoon Summed Dominance Ratio
e e
uc
Valnan40
ce mi30
no
rtaD20
o
p
m 10
I
0
Acacia nilotica Arundo donax Calotrpis procera Conyza camadasis Cynodon dactylon Cyprus rotendus Dalbergia sissoo Desmostachya bipinnata Echinochloa crus-galli Eclipta prostrata Eleusine indica Equisetum arvense sp.Equisetum Fimbristylis hispidula Grangia madraspatana Herpestis monniera Imperata cylindrica Juncellus alopecuroides Launea procumbense Lythyrus aphaca spp.Malelotous spp.Medicago Meliolotus alba sp.Mentha Oxystlma esculentum Paspalum vaginatum Phyla nodiflora Polygonum plabejum Polypogan fugax Populus euphratica Ranuncalus muricatus Saccharum bengalense Saccharum spontaneum Tamarix dioca Typha angustata Zizyphus mauritiana
Species
Figure 6. Importance value and summed dominance ratio of plant species in pre
and post-monsoon of Taunsa Wildlife Sanctuary
386