Effects of environmental and spatial gradients on Quercus-dominated Mountain forest communities in the Hindu-Kush ranges of Pakistan.

ABSTRACT: Quercus-dominated forests are among the most important broad-leaved evergreen forests of the Hindu Kush ranges and are currently prone to drastic anthropogenic and climatic changes. The aim of this study was to provide basic data for the development of a regional oak forest ecosystem framework for ecological restoration and management plan development to maintain local peoples' livelihoods. Hence, we analyzed distribution patterns and environmental factors that affect regional oak forests' species composition and diversity. Ward's Agglomerative clustering divided oak-dominated forest communities into three groups: i.e., Group I, dominated by Quercus baloot had an importance value index (IVI) of 89.87 ± 4.31, Group II, dominated by Quercus dilatata had an IVI of 32.16 ±

SUBMITTER: Rahman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9073057 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature