Ecological Importance of Physiognomic Characteristics of Floral Biodiversity along the Karakoram Highway, Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan

Abstract

The present study, conducted between 2022 and 2023, aimed to document the floristic diversity, life forms, and leaf spectra of the vegetation from Gilgit to Raikot in the Gilgit District. Phytosociological analysis was performed to identify the dominant species, life forms, and leaf size spectra, with the area divided into four stands and thirty quadrats sampled per stand to calculate the Importance Value Index (IVI). A total of 181 phanerogamic species were recorded from 138 genera and 61 families, establishing a comprehensive inventory of the flora. In terms of habit categories, herbs dominated with 134 species (74%), while hemicryptophytes led life forms with 74 species (40.9%). Microphylls (44.2%) and nanophylls (23.8%) were the most common leaf sizes. Hemicryptophytic herbs with microphyllous and nanophyllous leaves exhibit vital adaptations to cold climates, reducing water loss, resisting winds, and leveraging snow insulation. Polygonum maritimum, a dominant prostrate perennial with an IVI of 47.2, stabilizes soil, supports nutrient cycling, and indicates cold climatic conditions while contributing significantly to ecosystem resilience and biodiversity. One-way ANOVA (P < 0.0001) revealed significant differences between Stand 3 and Stand 4, with Stand 4, a rocky, barren area, exhibiting lower diversity due to variations in altitude, soil, and vegetation. This study provides essential baseline data on plant diversity and ecological structure in the Gilgit to Raikot region and the importance of the need for targeted conservation. Future research should monitor long-term environmental changes and the effects of anthropogenic activities on biodiversity.