|
Pak. J. Bot., 44: 107-112, Special Issue May 2012. |
Back to Contents | ||||
|
|
Updated: 06-07-12 | ||||
|
|
MPACT OF HIGHLY SALINE WETLAND ECOSYSTEM ON FLORAL DIVERSITY OF THE CHOLISTAN DESERT
ANWAR HUSSAIN GILL1, KHAWAJA SHAFIQUE AHMAD2, SADAF HABIB2, MANSOOR HAMEED2,*, MUHAMMAD SAJID AQEEL AHMAD2, TAHIRA NAWAZ2, FAROOQ AHMAD2 AND RIFFAT BATOOL2
Abstract: The impact of highly saline wetland ecosystem created under Salinity Control and Reclamation Project (SCARP) on floral diversity was investigated in the arid environments of Cholistan Desert. Species richness, diversity indices and evenness indices were worked out to look at the distance at which the salt water has altered the native vegetation. Four sites including SCARP ponds of different ages (S1, S2, S3 and S4), and a reference site (SR) were selected for vegetation studies and data were recorded by 1x1 m quadrats, which were laid on permanent transect lines. Salt water showed great influence on ecological parameters of the native vegetation up to 40 m. Multivariate (cluster) analysis showed close clustering of highly salt tolerant species, Aeluropus lagopoides, Tamarix dioica and Suaeda fruticosa in one group, and relatively less tolerant Crotalaria burhia, Cyperus conglomeratus, Indigofera argentea, Haloxylon salicornicum, Haloxylon stocksii, Neurada procumbens and Salsola baryosma in second group. Moderately salt tolerant Aristida adscensionis, Lasiurus scindicus and Sporobolus iocladus were clustered in a separate group.
1Punjab Wildlife Department, 2Sanda Road, Lahore, Pakistan 2Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan *Corresponding author e-mail: hameedmansoor@yahoo.com |
||||
|
|
|||||
| Back to Contents |
|
Back to Contents | |||
|
|
|||||