FUNGAL AND FLORAL DIVERSITY AND THREAT TO ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION IN ZARYAN FOREST, PARACHINAR

Q FIRDOUS; SI HUSSAIN; AN KHALID

doi:10.54112/bcsrj.v2023i1.407

Authors

Q FIRDOUS Fungal Biology and Systematics Research Lab, Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore 54590, Punjab, Pakistan/College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, United States of America
SI HUSSAIN Botany Department, Hazara University Mansehra, Dhodial, KPK, Pakistan
AN KHALID Fungal Biology and Systematics Research Lab, Institute of Botany, University of the Punjab Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore 54590, Punjab, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54112/bcsrj.v2023i1.407

Keywords:

Fungal diversity, floral diversity, ecological succession, Zaryan Forest, Parachinar, mycorrhizal associations, invasive species, conservation, habitat degradation

Abstract

Parachinar exhibits a combination of flat and hilly terrains characterized by limited vegetation, biodiversity, and resource availability. The Zaryan forest is a mountain forest that begins at the base of a mountain and extends up to but does not encompass its peak. These mountains encompassed a vast plain. In this woodland, Quercus baloot is the most prevalent plant species. The sedimentary sediments present at the beginning of this forest provide clues as to how this climax community evolved. Unbelievably, it was discovered that these species are more abundant at the base of the slope and disappear as we ascend. As the region's economy is poor, locals visit the forest more frequently to obtain wood, herbs, other bushes, and fodder to satisfy their basic needs. They have a meager income and subsist hand to mouth. Occasionally, they cut down mountains and sell them to meet their basic requirements. The region's disputed geographical and political position prohibits tourism, despite the region's incredible grandeur and breathtaking views. However, the hazard is alarming because this forest ecosystem requires protection. Pakistan Environmental Journalists and other wildlife organizations should take decisive actions and precautions to halt the deterioration and biodiversity loss.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Gaskin, J. F., Zhang, D. Y., and Bon, M. C. (2005). Invasion of Lepidium draba (Brassicaceae) in the western United States: distributions and origins of chloroplast DNA haplotypes. Molecular Ecology 14, 2331-2341.

Adnan, M., Islam, W., Gang, L., & Chen, H. Y. (2022). Advanced research tools for fungal diversity and its impact on forest ecosystem. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29(30), 45044-45062.

Ajaib, M., Haider, S. K., & Zikrea, A. (2014). Ethnobotanical studies of shrubs and trees of Agra valley Parachinar, upper Kurram agency, Pakistan. FUUAST Journal of Biology 4(1), 73-81.

Ajaib, M., Haider, S. K., Zikrea, A., & Siddiqui, M. F. (2014). Ethnobotanical Studies of Herbs of Agra Valley Parachinar, Upper Kurram Agency, Pakistan. International Journal of Biology and Biotechnology 11(1), 71- 83.

Ali, F., Khan, N., & Rahmonov, O. (2022). Ecosystem services and linkages of naturally managed Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A. DC. Forests with local communities across contiguous mountainous ranges in Pakistan. Biology 11(10), 1469.

Bodo, T., Gimah, B. G., & Seomoni, K. J. (2021). Deforestation and habitat loss: Human causes, consequences and possible solutions. Journal of Geographical Research 4(2), 22-30.

Chauvier, Y., Thuiller, W., Brun, P., Lavergne, S., Descombes, P., Karger, D. N., ... & Zimmermann, N. E. (2021). Influence of climate, soil, and land cover on plant species distribution in the European Alps. Ecological Monographs 91(2), 01433.

Devi, S. H., Bhupenchandra, I., Sinyorita, S., Chongtham, S. K., & Devi, E. L. (2021). Mycorrhizal fungi and sustainable agriculture. In Nitrogen in Agriculture-Physiological, Agricultural and Ecological Aspects. IntechOpen.

Digun-Aweto, O., Van Der Merwe, P., & Saayman, M. (2020). Tolerance factors in human- wildlife conflicts in protected areas: the case of Cross River National Park, Cross River State Nigeria. Geo Journal 34, 1-13.

Firdous, Q., de Souza, M. F., Aptroot, A., & Khalid, A. N. (2023). Some Physciaceae lichens from Pakistan. Lindbergia 2023 (1).

Firdous, Q., Habib, K., Khalid, A. N., & Aptroot, A. (2022). Physcia vitii nadv. new to south asia-molecular data. Pakistan Journal of Botany 54 (6), 2341-2345.

Genes, L., & Dirzo, R. (2022). Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystems. Biological Conservation 265, 109393.

Ghanim, A. A., Anjum, M. N., Rasool, G., Irfan, M., Alyami, M., Rahman, S., & Niazi, U. M. (2023). Analyzing Extreme Temperature Patterns in Subtropical Highlands Climates: Implications for Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies. Sustainability 15 (17), 12753.

Gilani, S. S., Abbas, S. Q., Shinwari, Z. K., Hussain, F., & Nargis, K. (2003). Ethnobotanical studies of Kurram Agency, Pakistan through rural community participation. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences (Pakistan).

Griffiths, H. M., Ashton, L. A., Parr, C. L., & Eggleton, P. (2021). The impact of invertebrate decomposers on plants and soil. New Phytologist 231 (6), 2142-2149.

Haq, A., & Badshah, L. (2021). Floristic description and ecological characteristics of the plants of Pashat Valley, Pak-Afghan border, District Bajaur, Pakistan. Acta Ecologica Sinica 41(6), 524-536.

Hussain, K., Rahman, F., Ullah, I., Ahmad, Z., & Schickhoff, U. (2022). Assessing the impacts of population growth and roads on forest cover: a temporal approach to reconstruct the deforestation process in district Kurram, Pakistan, since 1972. Land 11(6), 810.

Hussain, W., Hussain, J., Ali, R., khan Shinwari, Z., Nascimento, I. A., & Lope, W. A. (2012). Tradable and Conservation Status of Medicinal Plants of KurramValley, Parachinar, Pakistan. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science 2 (10), 066-070.

Hussain, W., Ullah, M., Dastagir, G., & Badshah, L. A. L. (2018). Quantitative ethnobotanical appraisal of medicinal plants used by inhabitants of lower Kurram, Kurram agency, Pakistan. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine 8 (4), 313.

J Gundale, M., & Kardol, P. (2021). Multi‐dimensionality as a path forward in plant‐soil feedback research. Journal of Ecology 109 (10), 3446-3465.

Kiyama, R., & Uchida, Y. (2023). Seasonal Changes in the Prediction Accuracy of Hayfield Productivity Using Sentinel-2 Remote-Sensing Data in Hokkaido, Japan. Grasses 2 (2), 57-67.

Krauze, P., Wagner, D., Yang, S., Spinola, D., & Kühn, P. (2021). Influence of prokaryotic microorganisms on initial soil formation along a glacier forefield on King George Island, maritime Antarctica. Scientific Reports 11 (1), 13135.

Kumar, S., Chatterjee, U., & David Raj, A. (2023). Ecological Footprints in Changing Climate: An Overview. Ecological Footprints of Climate Change: Adaptive Approaches and Sustainability 2, 3-30.

Li, F., Zi, H., Sonne, C., & Li, X. (2023). Microbiome sustains forest ecosystem functions across hierarchical scales. Eco-Environment & Health.

Malhi, Y., Franklin, J., Seddon, N., Solan, M., Turner, M. G., Field, C. B., & Knowlton, N. (2020). Climate change and ecosystems: Threats, opportunities and solutions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society 375 (1794), 20190104.

Mathur, M., & Mathur, P. (2023). Predictive ecological niche modelling of an important bio- control agent: Trichoderma harzianum (Rifai) using the MaxEnt machine learning tools with climatic and non-climatic predictors. Biocontrol Science and Technology 36, 1-35.

Rahmonov, O., Skreczko, S., & Rahmonov, M. (2021). Changes in soil features and phytomass during vegetation succession in sandy areas. Land 10 (3), 265.

Rathoure, A. K., & Patel, T. K. (2020). Techniques to assess animal diversity: faunal diversity assessment. In Current State and Future Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity (pp. 238- 247). IGI Global.

Sage, R. F. (2020). Global change biology: a primer. Global Change Biology, 26(1), 3-30.

Sajida, J., Jan, S., Rehman, K., & Hussain, F. (2013). Eco-taxonomic study of algal flora from Kurram River, Parachinar. Int J Phycol Phycochem 9 (1), 63-68.

Seidl, R., & Turner, M. G. (2022). Post-disturbance reorganization of forest ecosystems in a changing world. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119 (28), 2202190119.

Stefanidis, S., & Alexandridis, V. (2021). Precipitation and potential evapotranspiration temporal variability and their relationship in two forest ecosystems in Greece. Hydrology 8 (4), 160.

Stewart, R. R. (1982). History and exploration of plants in Pakistan and adjoining areas. The flora of West Pakistan 32, 99-100.

Van Der Heijden, M. G., Bardgett, R. D., & Van Straalen, N. M. (2008). The unseen majority: soil microbes as drivers of plant diversity and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems. Ecology letters 11 (3), 296-310.

Wang, R., Wang, Q., Dong, L., & Zhang, J. (2021). Cleaner agricultural production in drinking- water source areas for the control of non-point source pollution in China. Journal of Environmental Management 285, 112096.