Species Diversity and Phytosociological Study of Herbaceous Layer of Rangeland Ecosystem

Abstract

The present study was proposed to work on species diversity and phytosociological study of the herbaceous layer at eight different sites in the surrounding area of Dera Ghazi Khan, particularly Choti Zareen, to determine a comprehensive phytosociological analysis, assessment of species diversity, and distribution of herbaceous species. The sampling data was obtained to analyze density, relative density, frequency, relative frequency, the IVI index, and to conduct the analysis of species diversity in herbaceous and dynamic communities. For this purpose, a total of 400 quadrats were selected for the evaluation of 8 different sites by identifying and analyzing various indices (Shannon Diversity-Index (H), species evenness, their variance, and Simpson index D). During the period of field surveys, 120 herbaceous species were analyzed, belonging to 92 genera, and distributed in 35 different families. Our phytosociological analysis revealed that Chloris flagellifera in site no. 2 with IVI 22.9, followed by Aerva javanica with IVI 13.24, were found to be the most dominant species as compared to others, respectively. The highest density was 38 plant/m2 recorded in sampling site no. 4. The highest species richness was 30 at site no. 2. The highest values of the Shannon Diversity Index (H) and Simp Index (D) are also shown at site 2. The phytosociological analysis of the studied sites provides valuable insight to ecologists for the management and conservation of plant diversity, which is influenced by many climatic factors such as water, air, and rain, as well as anthropogenic stress.