PS 27-127 - Industrial pollution plays a key role in structuring the vegetation and phytogeographic elements

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PDT

Location: ESA Exhibit Hall

Presenting Author(s)

UE

Ujala Ejaz

Quaid i azam university, Islamabad, Pakistan, Pakistan

Coauthor(s)

SK

Shujaul Mulk Khan

Associate Professor of Ecology
Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad
Islambad, Pakistan
SJ

Sadia Jehangir

Quaid i azam university, Islamabad, Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
AA

Abdullah Abdullah, n/a

PhD Scholar
Quaid-i-Azam University, Islam
Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
QA

Qurat ul Ain

Quaid i azam university, Islamabad, Pakistan
islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract: Abstract

The distribution of vegetation on the surface of earth follows a particular geographical pattern. We observe neither randomness nor evenness in the distribution of vegetation. Various environmental factors are responsible for the particular pattern of distribution of plants. This pattern of distribution is the subject matter of phytogeography. The current study was carried out at Sialkot Industrial Zone of Pakistan to investigate the phytogeographical distribution and subsequent classification of plant species of the region with the help of multivariate statistical techniques. Vegetation was sampled using quantitative ecological techniques. A total of 450 quadrates were established in 50 stations at three distant sites based on industrial pollution. Plant and soil samples were collected using standard protocols. Soil was analyzed for various physicochemical characteristics under standard laboratory techniques. The data were analyzed by PCORD v. 5 and CANOCO 4.5 and R. The data analysis showed 150 plant species which were divided into various floristic elements, the highest percentage of elements 13.3% (20 species) belong to Cosmopolitan. The second highest percentage was that of Tropical plants 10.7% (16 species), followed by pluriregional elements (10%), Irano-Turanian (8.7%), Pantropical (6.7%), Eurasia (6%), and so on. The least representation was that of Western Himalayan, Subcosmopolitan, Pakistan, Sino-Japanese, sub-Himalayan, Indo-Chinese, etc. The relationship of various phytogeographic elements with different environmental variables such as pH, TDS, organic matter, temperature, electrical conductivity, moisture, saturation, phosphorous, potassium, and heavy metals were determined via Canonical and Detrended Correspondence Analyses. Our findings show that there is a direct relationship between phytogeographic elements and soil variables that is obviously coupled with the genetic mechanism and natural selection of the species. Overall, vegetation density increased as we moved from a less polluted zone to a more polluted zone. Thus, it is evident from the discussion that pollution greatly affects the distribution of phyto-geographic elements and density of vegetation. It is also suggested that Irano-Turanian and Tropical elements of the regions should be protected as their geographic range is narrow and can be further explored for mycorrhizal, species and genetic migration view point.

Keywords: Plant Diversity, Industrial Pollution, Vegetation, Cosmopolitan, Tropical plants