Paper Details

PJB-2026-1511

Community structure drives common bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) invasion in the sub-Himalayan mountain ecosystems

Zahida Parveen, Mansoor Hameed, Farooq Ahmad and Muhammad Ashfaq Wahid
Abstract

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Slight elevation changes in mountainous ecosystems affect plant communities' structure and distribution. Due to climate change, many mountainous plant species are shifting their distributional ranges to higher elevations. Studying the invasion dynamics of Convolvulus arvensis across elevation gradients in the mountainous ecosystem of the Salt Range provides valuable insights for both ecological understanding and conservation efforts. The studies were focused on topographic variation of land use that can play a significant role in C. arvensis invasion, and the relationship of community structure to the invasiveness of this species. It was hypothesized that a change in species composition in the Salt Range along the elevation gradient may facilitate the invasion of Convolvulus arvensis, an invasive species of the mountainous areas. C. arvensis was collected from ten ecologically diverse sites (protected areas such as game reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, and salt marshes) to study community structure and its impact on the spread of C. arvensis. Sampling was conducted by a quadrat method, which was laid on a transect line of 100 m. The environmental and soil characteristics had significant spatial variation, and vegetation studies showed distinct patterns of species dominance. In the Ahmadabad site (elevation 813 m), Senegalia modesta emerged as the most dominant species. Pail site (elevation 804 m) was dominated by Cynodon dactylon, followed by S. modesta and Cymbopogon jwarancusa. S. modesta, C. jwarancusa, and Chrysopogon serrulatus showed ecological plasticity and competitiveness due to their dominance across multiple sites. The invasion of C. arvensis was relatively high in the C. dactylon community at lower elevations, particularly mixed with tufted grass, i.e., C. serrulatus, and woody species like S. modesta and Ziziphus nummularia, reflecting its potential for invasion in mixed communities. Areas dominated by tall grasses had restricted invasion of C. arvensis. The invasion dynamics of C. arvensis in mountainous habitats along the elevation gradient were closely influenced by the structure and composition of plant communities, where the maximum density of C. arvensis was observed. It was concluded that community structure has a critical role in shaping the invasiveness of alien species like C. arvensis in the mountainous areas along the elevation gradient

To Cite this article: Parveen, Z., M. Hameed, F. Ahmad and M.A. Wahid. 2026. Community structure drives common bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.) invasion in the sub-Himalayan mountain ecosystems. Pak. J. Bot., 58(3): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-3(6)  
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