Assessment of the effect of major anthropogenic factors and current conservation status of indigenous vegetation in degraded rangeland of Cholistan desert, Pakistan
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2017, Vol 11, Issue 5
Abstract
Assessment of Anthropogenic factors and current conservation status of indigenous flora of Cholistan desert is the main aim of this study. Questionnaire based survey; key informant interviews, direct observation and group discussion were used for data collection from ten range sites. 62 range species which belongs to 47 genera and 24 families were identified which includes 06 species of trees, 14 species of shrubs, 3 species of subshrubs, 20 species of herbs,1 species of sedge and 18 species of grasses. Family importance index showed that Poaceae is most dominant family with 18 species followed by Aizoaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Mimosaceae having 4 species each. By Raunkiaerian life form, recognized species were found as therophytes (37%), phanerophytes (26%), chamaephytes (19%), hemicryptophyte (16%) and cryptophyte (2%) respectively. Anthropogenic factors showed that 07 species (11.29%) were exploited by all four factors (TW, FW, M, F), 13 species (20.91%) were exploited by three factors (FW, M, F), 18 species (29.03%) were exploited by two factors (M,F) and 24 species (38.7%) were exploited by single factor (F). Grazing is main cause of floral degradation. Conservation status of indigenous vegetation in current findings revealed that 11 species (17.74%) were found as “Least Concern”, 22 species (35.48%) were found as “Near Threatened” 20 species (32.48%) were found as “Vulnerable”, 7 species (11.29%) were found as “Endangered” and 2 species (3.22%) were found as “Critically Endangered”. It is concluded that the vegetation of Cholistan is in pressure due to deforestation, removal of medicinal plants and overgrazing. The vegetation cover is at edge of extinct from the whole rangeland. Conservation of Cholistan flora is highly recommended for future generations.
Authors and Affiliations
Sohail Akram, Tanveer Hussain, Muhammad Safeer, Muhammad Abdullah, Rashid Iqbal, Muhammad Saqlain Zaheer, Muhammad Waseem
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP39306
- DOI -
- Views 259
- Downloads 0
Diet of largemouth Bass reared in earthen ponds in polyculture system with Nile Tilapia and Chinese carps in a semi-arid environment at Deroua Fisheries Station (Fkih Ben Saleh, Morocco)
Diet is an important part of the biology of the largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides. Lacépède, 1802). The behavior and interactions that occur in a fish population in an aquatic environment are the basis of any fish m...
The estimation of domestic water demand function of urban households (case study: Tabriz city)
The purpose of this study is to estimate the domestic demand functions of Tabriz city and the elasticity of water demand with respect to price and income. To do that, the model of drinking water demand is used based on...
Optimization of hydraulic retention time (HRT) employing statistical tools of a lab-scale sequencing batch rector (SBR) treating real wastewater of a University campus
Two lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR) with combined capacity of 45 L/day, each having holding volume of 6 L were installed and operated at Institute of Environmental Sciences and Engineering (IESE) lab. The SBR s...
Physiological and biochemical characterization of Cork Oak Seedlings (Quercus suber.L) in Tunisia
The cork oak is native forest species, the most represented in Tunisia and especially to Mogods Kroumirie. This species is considerable regression estimated at 1.22% of the area per year . Natural regeneration of cork oa...
Pomological diversity of fig (Ficus carica L.) accessions of kermanshah, Iran
The fig (Ficus carica L.) is one of the oldest fruit trees cultivated in Iran. Kermanshah province is located in the west of Iran. It have sub climate that fig grow by farmers and have some genotypes as wild fig. Many s...