Paper Details

PJB-2024-621

Floristic diversity and phytosociological analysis of Takkar wildlife sanctuary district Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan

Naeema Khatoon Khaskheli, Muzafar Hussain Sirohi and Mumtaz Ali Saand
Abstract

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Biodiversity is of paramount importance to human society as it provides essential ecosystem services. Floristic diversity, a key source of botanical knowledge, plays a critical role in the conservation of ecological resources. This study aimed to assess the phytosociological aspects of the previously unexplored Takkar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Khairpur District. We conducted a sampling of 30 sites to evaluate the vegetation structure of the study area. Vegetation data were collected utilizing the quadrat method, with 20 × 20 m quadrats designated for shrubs and trees, and 2 × 2 m quadrats for herbaceous species. The Takkar Wildlife Sanctuary exhibited significant diversity in its flora, comprising 81 species across 34 families and 68 genera. The Poaceae family emerged as the most dominant, featuring 13 species (16%), closely followed by Fabaceae with 11 species (14%). Herbs and grasses constituted the majority of the flora, accounting for 59 species (72.8%) of the overall floristic composition, followed by shrubs (11 species, 13.5%). Perennial (50 species, 61.7%) were the most common lifespan category in the floristic composition, followed by annual (31 species, 38.2%). Based on the biological spectrum, Therophytes were the most dominant, representing 31 species (38.2%) of the total flora, followed by phanerophyte (20 species, 24.6%). The prevalence of therophytes indicates a region under high biotic pressure. Four species - Haloxylon salicornicum (Amaranthaceae), Aristida adscensionis (Poaceae), Prosopis juliflora (Fabaceae), and Capparis decidua (Capparaceae) - were identified as the most frequent species. TWINSPAN classification clustered the vegetation plots based on soil characteristics, identifying 20 distinct plant communities. Notably, one species, Tecomella undulata, was found to be globally threatened and classified as Endangered (EN) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This research provides current information on the area's floristic richness, which may be beneficial for future plant conservation efforts.

 

To Cite this article: Khaskheli, N.K., M.H. Sirohi and M.A. Saand. 2026. Floristic diversity and phytosociological analysis of Takkar wildlife sanctuary district Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot., 58(4): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-4(3)
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