所属领域：
西南生物多样性领域
资源类型：
环境科学、安全科学
/ 环境科学基础理论
/ 环境生物学
/ 生物多样性保护
文献作者：
Khan, W; Khan, SM; Ahmad, H; Ahmad, Z; Page, S
文献发表年份：
2016
文献期刊：
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
文献摘要：Questions: Does the plant species composition of Thandiani sub Forests Division (TsFD) correlate with edaphic, topographic and climatic variables? Is it possible to identify different plant communities in relation to environmental gradients with special emphasis on indicator species? Can this approach to vegetation classification support conservation planning? Location: Thandiani sub Forests Division, Western Himalayas. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of species along with environmental variables were measured using a randomly stratified design to identify the major plant communities and indicator species of the Thandiani sub Forests Division. Species composition was recorded in 10 x 2.5 x 2 and 0.5 x 0.5 m square plots for trees, shrubs and herbs, respectively. GPS, edaphic and topographic data were also recorded for each sample plot. A total of 1500 quadrats were established in 50 sampling stations along eight altitudinal transects encompassing eastern, western, northern and southern aspects (slopes). The altitudinal range of the study area was 1290 m to 2626 m above sea level using. The relationships between species composition and environmental variables were analyzed using Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) and Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) via PCORD version 5. Results: A total of 252 plant species belonging to 97 families were identified. TWCA and ISA recognized five plant communities. ISA additionally revealed that mountain slope aspect, soil pH and soil electrical conductivity were the strongest environmental factors (p <= 0.05) determining plant community composition and indicator species in each habitat. The results also show the strength of the environment-species relationship using Monte Carlo procedures. Conclusions: An analysis of vegetation along an environmental gradient in the Thandiani sub Forests Division using the Braun-Blanquet approach confirmed by robust tools of multivariate statistics identified indicators of each sort of microclimatic zones/vegetation communities which could further be used in conservation planning and management not only in the area studied but in the adjacent regions exhibit similar sort of environmental conditions. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
文献作者地址： Khan, Waqas; Khan, Shujaul Mulk; Ahmad, Habib; Ahmad, Zeeshan; Page, Sue
