PS 42-144 - Who prefers to live in association with Nannorrhops ritchieana (Griff) Aitch. an ecological assessment in the fragile ecosystem of Northwestern, Pakistan

Abstract: It is crucial to understand how linkages and associations developed among plant species with environmental factors in the surrounding ecosystem. How environmental factors affect the diversity, distribution and vegetation composition within an association or community until now little is known in the fragile ecosystem of Northwest, Pakistan. To fill this research gap, we chose Mazri Palm Nannorrhops ritchieana (Griff) Aitch. a gregarious palm forms different associations across various sorts of climatic zones from arid to cold environments. Nannorrhops ritchieana associations were explored and data were gathered across 63 transects (508 plots) in Northwest, Pakistan from 2018-2021. Various statistical techniques including species-area curves (SAC), hierarchical clustering, detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), indicator species analysis (ISA) and structural equation modeling (SEM). We checked our sample adequacy using SAC. A total of 252 plant species in four different associations were recorded. CCA was used to understand species distribution in relation to different climatic factors. We classified all plots into four associations using the hierarchical cluster analysis based on Jaccard distance and Ward’s linkage method. We identified three indicator species for each association using the indicator species analysis method. Association 01 indicators were Pyrus pseudopashia, Daphne mucronata, Androsace rotundifolia, association 02 indicators were, Melia azedarch, Rydingia limbata, Verbascum thapsus, association 03 indicators were Capparis decidua, Periploca aphylla, Convulvolus prostratus, association 04 indicators were Phoenix dactylifera, Rhazya stricta and Aerva javanica based on the indicator and p* values. We further justified these indicators through SEM analysis. We conclude that Nannorrhops ritchieana being a gregarious and charismatic palm species prefers to live in different associations under the influence of various climatic drivers in the fragile ecosystem of Northwest, Pakistan. This research work will be a model approach for the identification of different plants' associations with climate.