Ecological Significance of floristic structure and Biological Spectrum of alpine floral biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

Sujjad Haider^1*, Nasiba Ibrahim²

¹Department of Environmental Sciences Karakoram International University Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

²Govt girl’s high School Sikanderabad Nagar Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

*Correspondence: sajjadbotanist@gmail.com, Sujjad.Hyder@kiu.edu.pk

Citation |Haider. S, Ibrahim. N, “Ecological Significance of floristic structure and Biological Spectrum of alpine floral biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan”. International Journal of Innovations in Science and Technology. Vol 4, Issue 2, 2022, pp: 459-475

Received | March 25, 2022; Revised | April 28, 2022; Accepted | May 15, 2022; Published | May 18, 2022.

________________________________________________________________________

The current study was conducted in Khunjerab National Park which is situated in the subalpine zone. The study area was thoroughly surveyed to ensure the maximum collection of flowering plants diversity. The work aimed to investigate the ecological significance of floral structure and the biological spectrum of prevailing flowering plants' biodiversity in the study area. For this purpose, we recognized four ecological zones based on altitude in the park namely the subalpine zone (3000m to 3500m), alpine zone (3600m to 4000m), super alpine zone (4100-4500m), and sub naval zone was started from (4600-4800m) altitude. The collected specimens comprised (155) plant species that belong to 97 genera and 36 families. The life forms of the collected species were 72% Hemicryptophyte (H), 13% Therophytes, 10% Chaemephyte, and 5% Phanerophyte. While the habit categories of the flora were analyzed with the help of Theophrastus classification. The breakup of the habit categories shows that the herbs with 137 species held the highest percentage to contribute the flora of the study area was with 88%, followed by shrubs with 14 species which contributed to the flora of the area was 9.03%. Similarly, subshrubs and trees contained the same number of 2 spices. We observed the phenological status of each species, i.e., flowering and fruiting conditions, and of the species that were infrequent.

Keywords: biodiversity, flora, phenology, life-form, habit categories

Introduction

The life form is an important physiognomic attributes that have been widely used in vegetation studies and also it indicates micro and macroclimate as well as human disturbance of a particular area [1]. The life forms of species point out the adjustment of perennating buds to environmental conditions [2]. Raunkiær described the biological spectrum in [3]. Climate determines the type of plants that can exist in each ecosystem and the general appearance of vegetation is referred to as physiognomy or structure. It constitutes the general structure, shape and life forms of the species comprising the vegetation and actually the classification of vegetation type has been done based on physiognomy [4]. Raunkiaer designed his life-form system to define what he called phytoclimates. The theoretical basis was familiar in plant geography [5] and may be expressed as follows: (1) Plants are limited in their capacity to endure different environmental complexes. (2) There is usually a correlation between the morphology (growth-form, life-form) of an organism and its environment, i.e., there is a morphological basis for adaptation in many if not all cases. (3) A plant, in its successful existence, represents what may be called an automatic physiological integration of all the factors of its environment. If these are general truths, it follows that the life-forms of the plants of an area are a measure of the environmental conditions, especially climate. It remains only to find the key to the plant-climate interrelations.

Raunkiaer decided that the significant relationship was to be looked. for in the seasonal climates. When growth is slowed or dormancy forced upon a plant by cold or drought the most critical tissues are meristematic. Therefore, the amount of protection provided embryonic growing tissues and their success in enduring the unfavorable period represent a critical adaptation [1].

The five principal classes of the life-form system of Raunkiaer (based, on the protection the perennating buds during the unfavorable season) are arranged according to increasing protection: Phanerophyte (trees and shrubs), chamaephytes (low perennials with buds close to the ground surface or semi-woody plant), Hemicryptophytes (buds at the soil surface), cryptophytes (buds beneath the soil or underwater), and Therophytes (annuals, herbaceous plant which produces seeds). These classes are subject to subdivision. The chamaephytes are so few in number that no breakdown was made. My information concerning the hemi cryptophytes is inadequate for the detailed treatment of subclasses. The geophytes (the major group 0 (cryptophytes) were c1assified according to whether the subterranean organs bearing the perennating buds are rhizomes, bulbs, stem tubers, root tubers, or roots, but the various groups seen to have little significance for present purposes. The Phanerophyte, however, were easily treated according to four Subclasses based 0n height. Megaphanerophytes exceed 30 meters; Mesophanerophytes are between 8 and 30 meters; Mesophanerophytes are between 2 and 8 meters; and Nanophytes are less tall than 2 meters and taller than chamaephytes (about 25 cm.) [1]. The geological and Ecological varieties zones of the world support various types of floristic composition [6].

Material and Methods

Investigation site

The study area lies between latitude 36° 45.5’ N and 74° 49.7’ E longitude. The entire area comprises three vallies and constituting the national park falls in the former Hunza state, which, together with neighboring Nagar, is an independent district. The KNP comprises mostly difficult and terrain mountains snow-covered peaks which provide heterogeneous diversity to the ecosystem. The biodiversity pattern in mountains depends upon the physical environmental conditions such as solar radiation, precipitation, soil, wind, and biotic pressure. The physical complexity of the alpine environment encourages rapid speciation, especially because of flora and fauna [7]. Researches in alpine regions demonstrate enormous intra-specific variation even within a small area, for example, in flowering rhythms [8], [9].The alpine mountain system provides distinct altitudinal zones which enhance the local, regional and global biodiversity.

Figure 1- Map of the study area

Collection of field data

The reconnaissance study was conducted in the Khunjerab National Park (KNP), situated in the district of Hunza Nagar Gilgit-Baltistan. Field trips in different seasons thoroughly surveyed the study area. It provides an opportunity to make plant collection observations. During the field survey and the collection of plant specimens, we observed each species' phenological and ecological parameters.

Identification and analysis

The collected specimens were identified with the help of Flora of Pakistan [10], [11] using available literature and a comparison of specimens at Karachi University Herbarium. The study area was thoroughly surveyed to collect the plant specimens with the help of a presser and ecological data was collected with the help of an altimeter and Raunkiaer classification system . Habit categories and life cycle was categorized with the help of the Theophrastus system of classification [12]. While for the data analysis simple statistics and tabulation format was used.

Results

The Khunjerab National Park in the district Hunza Nagar of Gilgit-Baltistan comprises 2,269 square kilometers in the Hunza, Gojal on either side of the Karakoram Highway from Dih to the Pak- China border at the Khunjerab pass. Based on altitude and Phytoclimatic conditions, we recognized four ecological zones: subalpine zone, Alpine zone, super alpine zone, and sub naval zone detail is given in (Figure-2). The distribution of plant taxa (Subalpine zone) from 3000m to 3500m altitude was 55 belonging to 20 families with 42 genera, followed the next alpine zone from 3600m to 4000m altitude 54 species were belonging to 19 families with 39 genera. While the super-alpine zone was started from 4100-4500m altitudes where 26 genera followed 33 species with 13 families, the sub naval zone was started from 4600-4800m only 13 species with 8 genera belonging with 6 families. Here it was noticed that the number of species was decreased with the higher altitude.

Figure-2 Distribution of taxa in Ecological zone

During the inventory of alpine vegetation survey, 155 plant species were recorded belonging to 97 genera and 36 families (Table-1). The taxonomic breakup of the inventorying shows that the Gymnosperms comprised 2 families followed by 2 genera and 2 species. Among gymnosperms, only one family and one species belonged to the subgroup conifers, while one family and three species belonged to the subgroup Gnetophyte. The Angiosperms were 29 families belonging to 80 genera followed with 128 species and monocots were 23 species followed by 2 families and 15 genera. Based on the highest number of species, the Compositae family was disproportionately higher than other families. The second-largest family Poaceae had less than half the number of species (about 40%) as compared to Compositae.

Figure 3 Larger families in the study area

Figure 4 Life-form of the study area

Figure 5 Raunkaeir’s Life forms normal spectrum

The collected data show that only 5species are rare, 7 species are common and 141 species are infrequent in the study area (Figure-6).

Figure 7 Breakup of the habit categories and their percentage.

The breakup of the habit categories shows that the herbs were with 137 species holding the highest percentage to contribute to the flora of the study area was herbs with 88% followed by shrubs with 14 species which contributed to the flora of the area was 9.03%. Similarly, subshrubs and trees contained the same number of spices (Figure-7).

Table-1: Cumulative check list the of species with observed ecological parameters on the study area

S.No.

Family

Species

Habit

Life form

Altitude

Abun.

Phenological status

Flo.

Fruiting.

GYMNOSPERMS

CONIFERS

Cupressaceae

JuniperusturkestanicaKomarov

Tree

3500m

GNETOPHYTES

Ephedraceae

Ephedra gerardianaWall.exStapf

Shrub

3500m

Ephedraceae

Ephedra intermedia schrank& Mayer

Shrub

3600m

Ephedraceae

Ephedra regelianaFlorin

Shrub

4000m

ANGOSPERMS-DICOTS

Apocynaceae

Trachomitumvenetum(L.) Woodson

Perennial herb

3000m

Berberidaceae

BerberisbrevissimaJafri

Shrub

3500m

Berberidaceae

BerberisulicinaHook,f&Thoms.

Shrub

3500m

Betulaceae

BetulautilisD.Don

Tree

3000m

Boraginaceae

ArnebiaguttataBunge

Perennial herb

3300m

10.

Boraginaceae

CynoglossumglochidiatumWall.exBenth.

Perennial herb

3600m

11.

Boraginaceae

Eritrichiumcanum (Benth. in Royle) KitamuraVar.canum

Perennial herb

4000m

12.

Boraginaceae

Lappulaconsanguinea(F. &C.A. Meyer)Gurke

Perennial herb

4200m

13.

Boraginaceae

Lindelofiaanchusoides(Lindl.)Lehm.

Perennial herb

4000m

14.

Boraginaceae

MyosotisalpestisF.W.Schmidt

var. asiaticaVest.exHulten

Perennial herb

4300m

15.

Boraginaceae

Myosotisarvensis(L.)Hill

Perennial herb

4000m

16.

Boraginaceae

OnosmahispidaWall. ex G.Don

Perennial herb

3600m

17.

Boraginaceae

Pseudomertensiaechioides(Benth.) Riedl

Perennial herb

3600m

18.

Brassicaceae

Brayarosea(Turcz.)Bunge

Perennial herb

4300m

19.

Brassicaceae

Capsella bursa-pastoris(L.) Medik.

Perennial herb

3500m

20.

Brassicaceae

ChristoleacrassifoliaCamb.

Perennial herb

4400m

21.

Brassicaceae

Christoleahimalayensis(Camb.)Jafri

Perennial herb

4200m

22.

Brassicaceae

Descurainiasophia(L.)Webb & Berth.

Perennial herb

3500m

23.

Brassicaceae

Hediniatibetica(Thoms.) Ostenf.

Perennial herb

4500m

24.

Brassicaceae

LepidiumapetalumWilld.

Annual herb

3700m

25.

Brassicaceae

LepidiumlatifoliumL.

Annual herb

3600m

26.

Brassicaceae

LepidiumsativumL.

Annual herb

3800m

27.

Brassicaceae

ParryaexscapaLedeb.

Perennial herb

4300m

28.

Brassicaceae

SisymbriumheteromallumC.A.Mey

Annual herb

3300m

29.

Brassicaceae

SisymbriumbrassiciformeC.A.Mey.

Annual herb

3500m

30.

Brassicaceae

Smelowskia alba (Pall) Regel

Perennial herb

4500m

31.

Brassicaceae

Smelowskiacalycina(Steph. ex Willd.)C.AMey.

Perennial herb

4500m

32.

Campanulaceae

Campanula pallidaWall.

var.tibetica(Hook.f.et Thoms.)Hara

Perennial herb

3800m

33.

Capparidaceae

CapparishimalayensisJafri

Sub shrub

3700m

34.

Caprifoliaceae

LoniceramicrophyllaWilld.exRoem. &Schultes

Shrub

3700m

35.

Caprifoliaceae

LonicerasemenoviiRegel

Shrub

3600m

36.

Caryophyllaceae

CerastiumpusillumSer

Perennial herb

3800m

37.

Caryophyllaceae

Silenegonosperma(Rupr.)Bocquet

Perennial herb

4200m

38.

Caryophyllaceae

SilenekunawarensisBenth.

Perennial herb

3700m

39.

Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium album L.

Annual herb

3500m

40.

Chenopodiaceae

ChenopodiumbotrysL.

Annual herb

3500

41.

Chenopodiaceae

ChenopodiumfoliosumAsch.

Annual herb

3600m

42.

Chenopodiaceae

HalogetontibeticusBunge

Perennial herb

3500m

43.

Chenopodiaceae

Kochiaprostrata(L.)Schrad.

Perennial herb

3000m

44.

Chenopodiaceae

Krascheninnikoviaceratoides(L.) Guldenst.

Sub shrub

3300m

45.

Compositae

Acroptilonrepens(L.) DC.

Perennial herb

3600m

46.

Compositae

Ajaniafruticulosa(Ledeb.)Poljakov

Perennial herb

4000m

47.

Compositae

Anaphalisnepalensis(Spreng.)Hand.-Mazz.

Perennial herb

4200m

48.

Compositae

Artemisia absinthiumL.

Perennial herb

3600m

49.

Compositae

Artemisia biennisWilld.

Perennial herb

3500m

50.

Compositae

Artemisia capillaris Thunb.

Perennial herb

3600m

51.

Compositae

Artemisia dracunculusL.

Perennial herb

3500m

52.

Compositae

Artemisia elegantissimaPamp.

Perennial herb

3800m

53.

Compositae

Artemisia macrocephalaJacquem. ex Besser

Perennial herb

3300m

54.

Compositae

Artemisia persicaBoiss.

Perennial herb

3300m

55.

Compositae

Artemisia rupestrisL.

Perennial herb

4500m

56.

Compositae

Artemisia rutifoliaSpreng.

Perennial herb

3300m

57.

Compositae

Artemisia roxburghianaWall.exBesser

Perennial herb

3200m

58.

Compositae

Artemisia santolinifoliaTurcz.exKrasch.

Perennial herb

3300m

59.

Compositae

Artemisia vulgaris L.

Perennial herb

3500m

60.

Compositae

SeneciokraschenninikoviiSchischkin

Perennial herb

3500m

61.

Compositae

Crepisflexuosa(DC.) Bth.&Hk.f.

Perennial herb

4000m

62.

Compositae

EchinopscornigerusDC.

Annual herb

3500m

63.

Compositae

HieraciumumbellatumL.

Perennial herb

3000m

64.

Compositae

HieraciumvirosumPall.

Perennial herb

3300m

65.

Compositae

HieraciumvulgatumFries

Perennial herb

3400m

66.

Compositae

LeontopodiumbrachyactisGandoger

Perennial herb

3600m

67.

Compositae

Leontopodiumleontopodinum(DC.)Hand.-Mazz

Perennial herb

4000m

68.

Compositae

Leontopodiumnanum(Hook.f. & Thomson ex C. B. Clarke) Hand.-Mazz.

Perennial herb

3800m

69.

Compositae

Saussureagnaphalodes(Royle) Sch.-Bip.

Perennial herb

4700m

70.

Compositae

Saussureajacea(Klotzsch) Clarke

Perennial herb

3000m

71.

Compositae

Saussureaobvellata (DC.) Sch.

Perennial herb

4400m

72.

Compositae

Saussureasimpsoniana (Field &Garden)Lipschitz

Perennial herb

4800m

73.

Compositae

Seriphidiumbrevifolium(Wall. ex DC.) Ling & Y.R. Ling

Perennial herb

4000m

74.

Compositae

TanacetumartemisioidesSchultz-Bip.exHook.f.

Perennial herb

4000m

75.

Compositae

TanacetumbaltistanicumPodlech

Perennial herb

3600m

76.

Compositae

TaraxacumafficinaleL.

Perennial herb

3500m

77.

Compositae

Taraxacumlati-base v.S.

Perennial herb

4300m

78.

Compositae

Taraxacumnasiriv. S.

Perennial herb

4700m

79.

Compositae

TricholepistibeticaHook.f.& Thomson

Perennial herb

3100m

80.

Crassulaceae

Hylotelephiumewersii (Ledeb.) H.Ohba

Perennial herb

3300m

81.

Crassulaceae

Orostachysthyrsiflora(Fisch.)D.C.

Perennial herb

4200m

82.

Crassulaceae

Rhodiolawallichiana(Hook) S.H.Fu

Perennial herb

4000m

83.

Elaeagnaceae

HippophaerhamnoidesL.

subsp.turkestanicaRousi

Shrub

3500m

84.

Fumariaceae

Corydalis adiantifoliaHook f. &Thoms.

Perennial herb

3600m

85.

Gentianaceae

Aloitismoorcroftiana (wall.ex G Don) Omer, Qaiser& Ali.

Perennial herb

4200m

86.

Gentianaceae

Ciminalisaquatica(L.)Zuyev

Perennial herb

4300m

87.

Gentianaceae

Ciminaliskarelinii(Griseb.) Omer

Perennial herb

4000m

88.

Gentianaceae

Comastomafalcatum(Turcz.exKar. &Kir) T

Perennial herb

4100m

89.

Gentianaceae

Comastomapulmonarium(Turcz) Toyok.

Perennial herb

4400m

90.

Gentianaceae

GentianopsisPaludosa(Munro ex Hook.f.) Ma

Perennial herb

3300m

91.

Labiatae

DracocephalumstamineumKar. &Kir.

Perennial herb

4000m

92.

Labiatae

MentharoyleanaBenth.

Perennial herb

3500m

93.

Labiatae

NepetalongibracteataBenth.

Perennial herb

3700m

94.

Labiatae

PerovskiaabrotanoidesKarel.

Perennial herb

4000m

95.

Papaveraceae

PapavernudicauleL.

Perennial herb

4500m

96.

Papilionaceae

AstragalusfalconeriBunge

Perennial herb

4600m

97.

Papilionaceae

Oxytropismicrophylla(Pallas) DC.

Perennial herb

4000m

98.

Papilionaceae

OxytropissavellanicaBunge ex Boiss.

Perennial herb

4600m

99.

Papilionaceae

OxytropisstaintonianaAli

Perennial herb

3300m

100.

Plantaginaceae

PlantagogentianoidesSibth.& Sm. subsp.gentianoides

Perennial herb

3900m

101.

Polygonaceae

Rheum tibeticumMaxim. ex Hook. f.

Perennial herb

4200m

102.

Primulaceae

PrimulanutansJ.G.Georgi

Perennial herb

4300m

103.

Ranunculaceae

Delphinium pyramidaleRoyle

Perennial herb

4200m

104.

Ranunculaceae

Pulsatillawallichiana(Royle) Ulbr.

Perennial herb

4100m

105.

Ranunculaceae

Delphinium vestitumWall.exRoyle

Perennial herb

4300m

106.

Ranunculaceae

Ranunculus pulchellusC.A.Mey.

Perennial herb

4700m

107.

Rosaceae

Potentilladryadanthoides(Juz.) Viroshilov

Shrub

4000m

108.

Rosaceae

PotentillapamiricaTh. Wolf var.pamirica

Perennial herb

3600m

109.

Rosaceae

PotentillasalesovianaSteph.

Shrub

4000m

110.

Rosaceae

Rosa microphyllaLindl.

Shrub

3500m

111.

Rosaceae

SibbaldiapurpureaRoyle

Perennial herb

4200m

112.

Rubiaceae

GaliumceratophylloidesHook.f.

Perennial herb

3900m

113.

Rubiaceae

GaliumverumL.

Perennial herb

4000m

114.

Rubiaceae

RubiatibeticaHook.f.Rubia

Perennial herb

3100m

115.

Saxifragaceae

SaxifragaflagellarisWilld ex Sternb.

Perennial herb

4500m

116.

Saxifragaceae

SaxifragapulvinariaH.Smith

Perennial herb

4000m

117.

Saxifragaceae

Saxifragaflagellariswilld ex stermb.subsp.komarovii(A.Los.) Hulten

Perennial herb

4000m

118.

Saxifragaceae

SaxifragaflagellarisWilld ex Sternb. subspcrassiflagellataHulten

Perennial herb

4200m

119.

Saxifragaceae

SaxifragaflagellarisWilld ex Sternb. subsp.sentophylla(Royle) Hulten

Perennial herb

4300m

120.

Saxifragaceae

SaxifragahirculusL.

Perennial herb

4800m

121.

Scrophulariaceae

PedicularisalbidaPenn.

Perennial herb

4000m

122.

Scrophulariaceae

PedicularisoederiVahl

Perennial herb

3800m

123.

Scrophulariaceae

PedicularispurpureaPennell

Perennial herb

4700m

124.

Scrophulariaceae

PedicularisrhinanthoidesSchrenk ex Fisch. &Mey.

Perennial herb

4600m

125.

Scrophulariaceae

Pedicularisroylei Maxim.

Perennial herb

4600m

126.

Tamaricaceae

MyricariasquamosaDesv.

Shrub

4000m

127.

Tamaricaceae

TamarixgallicaL.

Shrub

3000m

128.

Tamaricaceae

MuricariaelegansRoyle

Shrub

3500m

129.

Umbelliferae

TrachydiumroyleiLindl.

Perennial herb

3300m

130.

Umbelliferae

VicatiawolffianaWolff.exFedde

Perennial herb

3500

131.

Violaceae

Viola rupestrisF.W.Schm

Perennial herb

4000m

132.

Zygophyllaceae

PeganumharmalaL.

Perennial herb

3500m

ANGOSPERMS- MONOCOTS

133.

Cyperaceae

CarexpsychrophilaNees

Perennial herb

4600m

134.

Cyperaceae

CarexdilutaM.Bieb.

Perennial herb

4300m

135.

Cyperaceae

CarexdivisaHudson

Perennial herb

4500m

136.

Cyperaceae

CarexpseudobicolorBoeck

Perennial herb

4600m

137.

Cyperaceae

CarexstenophyllaWahlenb subsp. stenophylloides(V.Krecz.) Egor.

Perennial herb

4700m

138.

Cyperaceae

Kobresiacapillifolia(Decne.) C.B.Clarke

Perennial herb

4200m

139.

Cyperaceae

KobresianitensC.B.Clarke

Perennial herb

4200m

140.

Cyperaceae

Kobresiaschoenoides(C.A.Mey.) Steud.

Perennial herb

3500m

141.

Poaceae

SaccharumfilifoliumNees ex Steud.

Perennial herb

3500m

142.

Poaceae

Agrostis stoloniferaL.

Perennial herb

3700m

143.

Poaceae

Agrostis vinealisSchreb.

Perennial herb

4000m

144.

Poaceae

AristidacyanthaNees ex Steud.

Perennial herb

3700m

145.

Poaceae

Bothriochloabladhii(Retz.) S.T. blake

Perennial herb

3600m

146.

Poaceae

Calamagrostispseudophragmites(Hall.f.) Koel.

Perennial herb

3200m

147.

Poaceae

Cymbopogonpospischilii(K.Schum.) C.E. Hubb.

Perennial herb

3000m

148.

Poaceae

Elymuscaninus(L.) L.

Perennial herb

3500m

149.

Poaceae

Elymuslongearistatus(Boiss.) Tzvelev

Perennial herb

3300m

150.

Poaceae

PennisetumlanatumKlotzsch

Perennial herb

3300m

151.

Poaceae

Phragmiteskarka(Retz.) Trin. ex Steud.

Perennial herb

3000m

152.

Poaceae

PoaalpinaL.

Perennial herb

3700m

153.

Poaceae

PolypogonfugaxNees ex Steud.

Perennial herb

3000m

154.

Poaceae

SaccharumspontaneumL.

Perennial herb

3200m

155.

Poaceae

Sorghum halepense(L.) Pers.

Perennial herb

3500m

Discussion

The families ranging from 1st to 5th position were: Compositae (35), Poaceae (15), Brassicaceae (14), Boraginaceae (9), and Cyperaceous with (8) species (Figure-3), results of the current study are quite similar to [13], [14], [15].The Asteraceae family is the largest and most widespread family of flowering plants globally [16], [17].The wide ecological range of Asteraceae and Poaceae can be attributed to their adaptation to harsh conditions and effective wind dispersal strategies of their diasporas [18]. Besides inventory, we observed the phenological condition of each species; only 18 species were collected in fruiting conditions most of them belonging to the family Brassicaceae (Table-1).

The biological spectrum is developed when all the species of higher plants of a community are classified into life-forms and the ratio is expressed in several percentages [19]. The life forms of the collected species were 72% Hemicryptophytes (H), 13% Therophytes, 10% Chamaephytes, and 5% Phanerophyte. The life form and distribution of the flora interlinks with the altitude and soil characteristics of the area (Figure-4). The life forms of the current study were compared with the Raunkiaer normal spectrum,1918 (Figure-5). The normal spectrum showed that Phanerophyte (46%), Chamaephytes (9%), Hemicryptophytes were (26%) and Therophytes were (13%).

Interestingly our life-form spectrum is closely similar to Rainier’s normal spectrum with Therophytes and Chaemephyte, while the remaining values were quite different. The life form of the community composition is the aspect of adaptations of its constituent species to the climatic condition [20]. Therefore, the climates and the major linked soil types can be reflected by life forms [5]. Raunchier [3] acknowledged that the necessary patterns of climates are characterized by the fact that one or few life forms are, relatively or absolutely, dominant. A high percentage of Hemicryptophytes in any specific region indicate that the mid-latitude includes needle-leaved forest and moisture Steppes (moist temperate region) [21]. Cain Castro and Shimwell [22], [23] reported that hemicryptophyte indicates the temperate zone.

On the other hand, the second-largest life form was chamaephytes, indicating temperate phytoclimates [24]. It shows that the Khunjerab National park is laying in different Phytoclimatic zones due to its topography and altitude. The biological spectrum is also regarded as an indicator of the prevailing environment and the occurrence of a similar biological spectrum in different regions indicates similar environmental conditions [19].

The collected data show that only 5species are rare, 7 species are common and 141 species are infrequent in the study area (Figure-6). A significant number is considered globally threatened because of habitat decline and over [1] exploitation. In this study, we recorded only 7 species as being threatened [25].

The habit categories of the flora were analyzed with the help of the Theophrastus (250-370 B.C) system of classification. Habit in woody plants – lianas, shrubs, and trees – is typically an intrinsic trait [26], [27], and [28]. The breakup of the habit categories shows that the herbs were with 137 species holding the highest percentage to contribute the flora of the study area was herbs with 88% followed by shrubs with 14 species which contributed the flora of the area was 9.03%. Similarly, sub shrubs and trees contained the same number of species (Figure-5). According to Hazrat et al.,[29], [6] they recorded (11%) shrubs, (16%) grasses,(01%) climbers, and 70% herbs, our current results are closely similar to their results. I will enclose my observations on the ecological significance of the herbaceous layer in ecosystems by highlighting five aspects of herb-layer ecology: (1) the contributions of the herb layer to forest biodiversity; (2) the importance of the herb layer as the site of initial competitive interactions for the regeneration phases of dominant canopy species; (3) the ability of the herb layer to form linkages with the overstory; (4) the influence of the herb layer on ecosystem functions, such as energy flow and nutrient cycling; and (5) the multifaceted responses of the herb layer to various disturbances of both natural and anthropogenic origin [30]. Rare plants of the herbaceous layer can be used as indicators of biodiversity [31].Most of the plant biodiversity in ecosystems are found in the herbaceous layer [32], [33], and [34]. This is ironic because herbaceous species have higher natural extinction rates than plant species in other strata [30]. Levin and Wilson [35] estimated that extinction rates in herbs are more than three times that of hardwood tree species and approximately five times that of gymnosperms. Therefore, threats to the floral biodiversity are most often a function of threats to herbaceous-layer species [36].One of the most important ecological benefits of woody plants (Shrubs and trees) for human health is the interception and reduction of air pollution [37].Trees can mitigate temperatures in built environments. Not only do trees provide shade through intercepting and absorbing light, but through evapotranspiration trees actively cool the air of cities [38], [39], [40]. An analysis of 94 urban areas around the world indicates that trees have a significant impact on the temperature and are responsible for, on average, 1.9°C (SD 2.3) of cooling in a city, one of the key ways to limit the impacts of climate change is to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere [33]. Trees are beneficial to storing carbon, which is a major contributor to climate change [41]. Trees, specifically mature ones, perform a keystone role in terrestrial ecosystems [42].Trees are critically important, especially in urban areas, as they provide food and habitat for birds, invertebrates, mammals, and plants [43], [40], and [44]. Trees provide economic benefits; they can also provide resources, such as food, to a community. Tree cover is strongly linked to student academic performance, [45], [46], and [47]. Trees and shrubs at schools, as opposed to grass, were strongly related to future education plans and graduation rates [47]. The authors of this study classify the benefits of trees into five categories: (a) health and social well‐being; (b) cognitive development and education; (c) economy and resources; (d) climate change mitigation and habitat; and (e) green infrastructure [37].

The increasing biotic pressure in the park is creating a threat to all-natural resources; therefore, it needs to explore thoroughly before losing any natural resources and document the data for the future. Intensive animal grazing alters vegetation patterns. Additionally, grazing people digging valuable medicinal herbs at Pak-China border area and abrupt cutting of shrubs by people increase variation within vegetation. As a result, the habitats of species are being changed.

CONCLUSION The Khunjerab National Park (research area) is rich floristically. This area contains most important medicinal plants which are growing on high altitudes, one of the most important factor is that it is dire need to thorough study of ecological significance of these flora in the fergile ecosystem.

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Ecological Significance of floristic structure and Biological Spectrum of alpine floral biodiversity of Khunjerab National Park Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

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