Road corridors vegetation in the semi-arid region: functional trait diversity and dynamics.

Autor: Arshad F; Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, 56300, Pakistan., Iqbal M; Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, 56300, Pakistan., Riaz A; Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, 56300, Pakistan., Haq SM; Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia., Waheed M; Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, 56300, Pakistan. f19-phd-bot-5013@uo.edu.pk.; Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia. f19-phd-bot-5013@uo.edu.pk., Qadeer S; Department of Zoology, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan., Bussmann RW; Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia.; Department of Botany, Institute of Life Sciences, State Museum of Natural History, Karlsruhe, Germany., Shoaib M; Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara, 56300, Pakistan., Hashem A; Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Fathi Abd-Allah E; Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Oct 24; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 25212. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 24.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-76484-w
Abstrakt: Road corridor vegetation plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem stability and providing essential ecological services, particularly in semi-arid regions where environmental conditions are challenging. In this study, we investigated the functional traits of native and non-native plant species along the N5 highway corridor in the semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan. The methodology involved extensive field surveys and systematic sampling of herbaceous vegetation, followed by detailed measurements of functional traits diversity. We classified 38 plant species into native and non-native categories and analyzed their distribution, life forms, leaf spectra, and flowering phenology. Our results revealed distinct patterns in the functional traits of native and non-native species, with non-native species exhibiting larger plant heights, leaf sizes, and leaf surface areas compared to native species. Additionally, native species displayed greater root and stem biomass, indicative of adaptations to nutrient-poor soils and water-limited environments. The findings suggest that non-native species possess traits associated with rapid growth and resource acquisition, enabling them to outcompete native vegetation and establish dominance in roadside ecosystems. These results provide valuable insights for understanding the ecological implications of non-native species and designing effective management strategies to mitigate their impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in semi-arid regions.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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