Species and community diversity of vascular flora along environmental gradient in naran valley: A multivariate approach through indicator species analysis

Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of floristic diversity at species level along environmental gradients were measured using a randomly stratified design for identifying major plant communities of narran valley,pakistan. data was collected at 144 sampling stations along 24 altitudinal transects,12 each at southern and northern aspects. altitudinal range transects was within the limits of 2450 to 4100 masl. some 198 species belonging to 68 families were indentified along transects. the two way cluster analysis (twca) and indicator species analysis (isa) recognized 5 plant communities with significant indicator species. the communities generally showed an elevation-latitudinal gradient complex from inclined,mesic-cool temperate vegetation of phenerophytes and chamaephytes,to more dry cold subalpine and alpine herbaceous vegetation of cryptophytes and therophytes. isa analysis revealed that the mountain aspect,altitude from the sea level and soil depth were the strongest environmental variables (p ≤ 0.05) for determining the community structure. species diversity was optimum at the middle altitudes (2800-3400 masl) as compared to either the lower or higher altitudes. herbaceous vegetation had positive correlation with altitude as a function of eco-physiological pressures as generally observed on like other highly elevated peaks himalayas.