Ph.D Defence of Hafiz Ullah

Mr. Hafiz Ullah, Ph.D. Research Scholar has submitted thesis on "Phytoecological Analysis of Plant Resources with Special Reference to Markhor Niche, Lotkuh, Chitral, Pakistan" to the University of Peshawar, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Botany.

The oral examination (Public Defence) is scheduled to be held on July 16th, 2026 at 10.30 am in the Department of Botany, University of Peshawar. The abstract of the thesis is attached herewith.

All those interested in the said research work may participate in the event. They may raise relevant questions during presentation by the scholar for further evaluation.

ABSTRACT

PHYTOECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF PLANT RESOURCES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MARKHOR NICHE, LOTKUH, CHITRAL, PAKISTAN

In the extreme northwest of Pakistan, Lotkuh is a mega diverse ecosystem, supporting the iconic biodiversity and global flagship species of Pakistan. The vegetation of this region is a distinct assemblage of plant species, adapted to the dry temperate rain shadow zone. Despite the ecological significance of the region, literature is limited on

its floristic diversity and the intricate linkage between vegetation and the wild fauna. The heritage of indigenous knowledge of the isolated geographical pocket is yet to be documented. A floristic and vegetation study was undertaken between 2020 and 2023. The inquiry on the floristic wealth yielded 440 species spreading over 250 genera and 82 families. The flora included 64 families of dicots, 12 monocot families, and 3 families of both gymnosperms and pteridophytes. The Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms had 3 genera each, while monocots and dicots had 43 and 201 genera, respectively. From a floristic standpoint, the flora was highly diverse, showing spatiotemporal variations. The most prevalent life forms, accounting for 56% of the total life forms, were hemicryptophytes and therophytes. Nevertheless, geophytes made 15 % of the life forms, indicating that the plant life of the region was governed by extreme climatic fluctuations. Data analysis indicated the dominance of nanophyll and microphyll leaf classes, accounting for 26.5% and 26% of the total leaf size spectrum. Such leaf classes were abundant above 2000 meters, and their leaf size adaptation allowed them to thrive in the high altitudes. Vegetation was composed of six distinct plant communities. The Motyka's similarity index identified high heterogeneity among the communities. Simpson's diversity index fell between 0.19 and 0.34, with the highest in the Ephedra-Prangos-Scutellaria community, indicating maximum diversity. The Artemisia-Astragalus-Quercus

community showed a higher species richness of 0.33. Prangos-Cousinia-Oxyria, Ephedra-Prangos- Scutellaria, and Cotoneaster-Rheum-Sorbaria manifested higher maturity indices of 30 and 29.35. The soil was predominantly sandy and silty loam, slightly calcareous and alkaline. The highest organic matter was 4%, and maximum

water holding capacity reached 44%. The soil N varied between 0.15% to 0.30 %. P ranged between 200- 300 mg/Kg, adequate for vegetation demand. S values lied between 350 mg/Kg to 500 mg/Kg. Ca ranged from 1.25 to 3.0 Meq/L, and Mg between 0.65 Meq/L to 1.25 Meq/L. The soil contained the maximum K of 180 mg/Kg. The

highest Na+ was 70 ppm and Cl- 20 ppm, offering no stress. Zn was recorded 60 ppm, Fe 200 ppm, while Mn showed a peak concentration of 25 ppm. The forage species of Markhor were assessed based on consumption frequency with subsequent nutritional analyses following AOAC protocols. The dietary spectrum showed 55 taxa from 26 families, including diverse life forms. Depending on the season, Markhor alternated between grazing and browsing. Quercus baloot, Artemisia brevifolia, Prangos pabularia, Astragalus psilocentros, Prunus amygdalus, Rumex hastatus, Oxyria digyna, Sophora mollis, and Salix acmophylla displayed higher RIVs and DSVs, indicating their elevated dietary role. Nutritionally, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate ranged from 5.5- 17.5%, 3.1-11.5%, and 40.3-73.7%. Ash, CF, and NFE ranged from 4.0% to 10.2%, 13.4% to 44.0%, and 17.9% to 45.6%. NDF, ADF, ADL, and TDN had the highest values of 75%, 56%, 24%, and 79%. Maximum cellulose and hemicellulose were 34.5% and 28%. GE, DE, and ME ranged from (3.8-4.65), (1.45- 3.5), and (1.01-3.08) Kcal/g. Ca was highest in Prunus kuramica at 42.50 mg/g, while Mg was maximum in Prunus kuramica at 5.20 mg/g. Prangos pabularia had the highest P of 3.85 mg/g, and Na and K ranged between 0.03-1.57mg/g and 0.07-9.07 mg/g. Fe was highest in Astragalus psilocentros at 980 μg/g. Quercus baloot had the highest Zn and Cr at 260 μg/g, and 200 μg/g, while Salix acmophylla had higher Mn at 350 μg/g, and Saccharum spontaneum (200 μg/g) had the highest Cu.

The ethnoecological inquiry identified 150 plant species spanning across 59 families, and nine use groups. Astragalus oihorensis, Astragalus owirensis, Cicer nuristanicum, Geranium parmiricum, and Rochelia chitralensis were novel species with novel applications. Medicinal category garnered 600 reports, while animal feed, veterinary, human food, and toxic categories recorded 500, 450, 425, and 104 use reports respectively. Informant consensus was high on human food and animal feed category, ranging from 0.8 to 0.9. Platanus orientalis and Juglans regia, with RFC 0.91 were the most cited. Juglandaceae and Platanaceae, each with FIV of 0.91, and Capparidaceae with 0.83 were the highest- ranking families. The proximate analyses of 16 wild food plants showed that the wild edibles contained nutrients in quantity exceeding the commercial veggies. At 14.0 g/100 g Mentha longifolia had the highest protein. Highest lipid, 56.50 g/100 g, was found in Pinus gerardiana while Crataegus songarica contained high carbohydrates at 87.50 g/100 g. High crude fiber, 19.33 g/100 g, was found in Ziziphora clinopodiodes. Maximum Vitamin C, 90.63 mg/100 g, was observed in Mentha longifolia. Ca was 948.33 mg/100 g in Oxyria digyna while Mg was rich in Oxyria digyna at 994.00 mg/100 g. Berberis lyceum contained 26.04 mg/100 g while Mn was high in Berberis lyceum at14.33 mg/100 g). Prunus prostrata had highest Zn of 12.16 mg/100 g. Most of the wild species contained enough macro and micro minerals to address the respective DRI values. The WFPs of Lotkuh were concluded as nutrient-dense, inexpensive seasonal diet.

Key words: Vegetation, Chitral, Markhor, Wild Food Plants, Ethnoecology