PHYTODIVERSITY AND ENDEMIC RICHNESS OF KARAMBAR LAKE VEGETATION FROM CHITRAL, HINDUKUSH-HIMALAYAS

Abstract

The Hindukush Himalayas (HKH) is one of the world’s richest biodiversity region hosting 4 global biodiversity hotspots, 60 ecoregions and 488 protected areas. More than 2500 out of total 10700 Himalayan plants are reported in HKH including the important endemic taxa like Androsace, Viola, Rhododendron, Saxifraga, Gentiana, Primula, Lentopodium and Saussurea. HKH region in North Pakistan has received limited attention due to its remoteness and inaccessibility. Current study was undertaken to get information about alpine vegetation structure and community distribution in Karambar lake surroundings, North Pakistan at 4200 m.a.s.l. A total of 108 plant species belonging to 27 families were recorded from the area in four identified plant communities. Communities showed an average species diversity of 2.18; evenness, 0.68; and species richness of 29. Asteraceae (19%), Leguminosae (13%), Capprifoliaceae (11%), Rosaceae (7%), Primulaceae (7%) and Poaceae (5%) constituted bulk of the flora of Karambar Lake. TWINSPAN and Deterrended Correspondence Analyses (DCA) revealed aspect based moisture gradient as the major limiting factor governing the distribution of plants in the area.