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Pak. J. Bot., 45(2): 577-592, 2013.

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VEGETATION-ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP OF CONIFER DOMINATING FORESTS OF MOIST TEMPERATE BELT OF HIMALAYAN AND HINDUKUSH REGIONS OF PAKISTAN

MUHAMMAD FAHEEM SIDDIQUI¹*, SYED SHAHID SHAUKAT², MOINUDDIN AHMED^2*, NASRULLAH KHAN³ AND IMRAN AHMED KHAN⁴

Abstract: The present investigation focuses on quantitative description of moist temperate conifer forest vegetation. Forty-one stands of conifer dominating forests, throughout their natural range, were sampled by point-centered quarter method while associated understorey vegetation was sampled by circular plots (1.5 m radius) and relevant quantitative attributes calculated and described. In addition to vegetational sampling, topographic observations were also taken and described in relation to vegetation description and distribution. Out of the twelve tree species, five conifer species were common in moist temperate area of Pakistan, including Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jackson (average importance value = 46%), Abies pindrow Royle (43%), Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don. (49.6%), Picea smithiana (Wall.) Boiss. (25.2%) and Taxus fuana Nan Li & R.R. Mill. (6%). Among angiospermic trees, Juglans regia L. attained 9.25 % average importance value. Common understorey species were:  Pteris cretica L., Rosa brunoni Lindl, Berberis lyceum Royal I.C., Hedera nepalensis K. Koch, Rubus biflorus Ham. ex Sm., Thymus serpyllum L., Rosa webbiana Wall. ex Royle, Rubus ellipticus Smith and seedlings of some tree species.  Thirteen forest community types were recognized on the basis of dominance (importance value) and described in relation to associated topographic and climatic characteristics. The community types examined, in particular, correlated well with the biotemperature and precipitation.

¹Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Pakistan

²Laboratory of Dendrochrolonogy and Plant Ecology, Deparment of Botany, Federal Urdu University, Pakistan

³Department of Botany, University of Malakand at Chakdara, Dir Lower, Pakistan

⁴Department of Geography, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan

*Corresponding author e-mail: mfsiddiqui2011@yahoo.com