Species composition of dry-temperate forest as an important habitat for wildlife fauna species

• Published in: Journal of environmental biology Vol. 41; no. 2(SI); pp. 328 - 336
• Main Authors: Rajpar, M.N., Ozturk, M., Altay, V., Ullah, S., Ullah, A., Martin, C.O., Gücel, S., Zakaria, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lucknow Triveni Enterprises 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Birds; Composition; Diversity indices; Dry forests; Endangered species; Environmental science; Fauna; Forest ecosystems; Forests; Ground cover; Habitats; Juglans regia; Mammals; Plant diversity; Reptiles; Shrubs; Species composition; Species diversity; Species richness; Temperate forests; Terrestrial ecosystems; Trees; Vegetation; Visual observation; Wildlife; Wildlife habitats; Pakistan
• ISSN: 0254-8704; 2394-0379
• DOI: 10.22438/jeb/41/2(SI)/JEB-08

Aim: To determine the present species composition and diversity In dry temperate forest ecosystem, especially trees, shrubs, ground cover, birds, reptiles and mammals. Methodology: The vegetation composition and diversity of dry-temperate forest in Kumrat valley was determined through employing the 20x20 m (0.4 ha) quadrant method. In addition, fauna species were detected through direct visual observations. Atotal of 100 quadrant plots were randomly selected to determine the vegetation composition and diversity from July, 2017 to August, 2018. Results: Atotal of 7 tree species, 3 shrubs, and 12 grass species were identified, which were attracted into the study area. The highest tree density was determined for P. wallichiana (3.375 tree ha ') and the lowest one for J. regia (0.300 tree ha'1). CAP tests indicated that the diversity indices, i.e., ShannonWinner's Diversity Index (H,=2.908+0.161), Margalefs Richness Index (R,=3.26+0.112) and McIntosh Evenness Index (E=0.9746+0.0206) occured in Kumrat valley. Further, diversity indices of trees varied from species to species, e.g., the highest tree species diversity (H,=2.248) and species richness (R,=2.730) was recorded in Picea smithiana and the lowest one (H,=0.297) and richness (R,=0.4024) in Juglans regia. Taxus baccata (E=0.9763) showed even distribution in the study area as compared to other tree species. The direct observation observed a total of 11 mammal species (6 endangered, 3 data deficient, and 2 species least concern), 41 bird species (mostly least concern), and 6 reptile species (4 least concern, one data deficient, and one vulnerable) simultaneously within the same area where plant cover was determined. Interpretation: The results of this study demonstrated that plant cover structure and composition of dry-temperate forest is the most prominent factor that had formed a wide array of different habitats to attract the higher diversity of fauna.