A contribution to the study of resource and community pattern in a Chir Pine Ecotonal Forest, Pakistan

Abstract

The forest type under consideration occupying Murree Hills and classified as tropical forests dominated with Pinus roxburgii (Chir Pine). These forests merge upward with temperate mixed conifer forests and downward with dry thorn forests. Study area is quite heterogeneous in topography and elevation ranges from 2200 m- 2600 m (a. s. l). It is located between 33o58.65 N´ to 73o22.60 E´. After orientation surveys of the area sampling sites were marked along an elevational transect. As a result of field work, the vascular flora reported in 35 stands contains a total of 72 species, belonging to 69 genera and 42 families. Most of soil cations and anions were significantly associated with vegetation variation along an altitudinal gradient. Current research work provides an integrated view of structure and composition of vegetation of area under consideration and also explains the link between resource pattern and community pattern across the altitudinal gradient.