Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multivariate analysis of the vegetation of calcarious hills around Karachi

1. An indirect gradient analysis

  • Original Articles
  • Published:
Vegetatio Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Twenty four stands situated on the slopes of calcarious hills around Karachi were sampled quantitatively and data on microtopography were obtained. The effect of various microtopographic factors on the vegetation type was investigated.

A two-dimensional phytosociological ordination was constructed from a matrix of dissimilarity values. The effectiveness and usefulness of the ordination is discussed.

A study of behavioral pattern of ten most important species in the phytosociological ordination showed that each species had its own characteristic behavioral pattern in relation to phytosociological ordination and no two species were identically distributed. Moreover, variation in species composition along phytosociological gradient was gradual and not aburpt. Thus the individualistic hypothesis of species distribution and the continuum hypothesis of vegetation have been verified in the region under study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AndersonD. J. 1965 Classification and ordination in vegetation science, Controversy over a non-existent problem?J. Ecol. 53: 521–526.

    Google Scholar 

  • AustinM. P. 1968 An ordination study of a chalk grassland community.J. Ecol. 56: 739–757.

    Google Scholar 

  • AustinM. P. &L.Orloci 1966 Geometric models in ecology. II. An evaluation of some ordination techniques.J. Ecol. 54: 217–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • AyyadM. A. G. &R. L.Dix, 1964 An analysis of a vegetation microenvironmental complex on prairie slopes in Saskatchewan.Ecol. Monogr. 34: 421–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baig, M. N. 1966—Studies in the autecology ofCommiphora mukul (Hk. of,Ex. Stocks) Engler. M. Sci. Diss. Dept. Bot., Univ. Kar.

  • BannisterP. 1968 An evaluation of some procedures used in simple ordinations.J. Ecol. 56: 27–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • BealsE. W. 1960 Forest bird communities in the Apostle Islands of Wisconsin,Wilson Bull. 72: 156–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beschel, R. E. 1964—Mapping of vegetation gradients on Axel Heiberg Island. Arctic Canada. Proc. X Int. Bot. Congr. Edinburgh, Part I, p. 287.

  • BlatterE., C.McCann &T. S.Sabnis, 1927–1928 Flora of Indus Delta.J. Indian. Bot. Soc. 6: 115–132, 7: 22–43, 71–96, 168–175.

    Google Scholar 

  • BrayJ. R. &J. T.Curtis, 1957 An ordination of the upland forest communities of southern Wisconsin.Ecol. Monogr. 27: 325–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • BrownR. T. &J. T.Curtis, 1952 The upland conifer-hardwood forests of northern Wisconsin.Ecol. Menogr. 22: 217–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • BuckP. 1964 Relationships of the woody vegetation of the Wichita Mountains: Wild Life Refuge to Geological formations and soil types.Ecology 45 336–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • BurroughsC. J. 1962 Vegetation types of high mountain grasslands. Proc. New ZealandEcol. Soc. 9: 8–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • CampbellC. J. &W. A.Dick-Peddie, 1964 Comparison of phanerophyte communities on the Rio Grande in New Mexico.Ecology 45: 492–502.

    Google Scholar 

  • ChaudhriI. I. 1961 The vegetation of Karachi.Vegetatio 10: 229–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • ChurchillE. D. 1955 Phytosociological and environmental characteristics of some plant communities in the Umiat region of Alaska.Ecology 36: 606–627.

    Google Scholar 

  • ChristensenE. M., J. J.Clausen &J. T.Curtis, 1959 Phytosociology of the lowland forests of northern Wisconsin.Amer. Midl. Nat. 62: 232–247.

    Google Scholar 

  • ClarkP. J. &F. C.Evans, 1954 Distance to nearest neighbour as a measure of spatial relationships in populations.Ecology 35: 445–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coaldrake, J. E. 1961 —Ecosystem of the coastal lowlands (Wallum) ofsouthern Queensland.Commonwealth Sci. & Ind. Res. Org. Bull. 283, 138 pp.

  • CottamG. &J. T.Curtis, 1949 A method of making rapid surveys of woodlands by means of pairs of randomly selected trees.Ecology 30: 101–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • CottamG. &J. T.Curtis, 1956 The use of distance measures in phytosociologic sampling.Ecology 37: 451–461.

    Google Scholar 

  • CouplandR. T. 1961 A reconsideration of grassland classification in the northern Great Plains of North America.J. Ecol. 49: 135–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • CrawfordR. M. M. &D.Wishart, 1966 A multivariate analysis of the development of dune slack vegetation in relation to coastal accretion at Tentsmuir, Fife.J. Ecol. 54: 729–743.

    Google Scholar 

  • CrawfordR. M. M. &D.Wishart, 1967 A rapid multivariate method for the detection and classification of groups of ecologically related species.J. Ecol. 55: 505–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • CrawfordR. M. M. &D.Wishart, 1968 A rapid classification and ordination method and its application to vegetation mapping.J. Ecol. 56: 385–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • CurtisJ. T. 1959 The vegetation of Wisconsin. Univ. Wis. Press, Madison, xi+657 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • CurtisJ. T. &R. P.McIntosh, 1951 An upland continuum in the prairieforest-border region of Wisconsin.Ecology 32: 476–496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Czekanowski, J. 1913 —Zarys metod statystycznych. (Die Grundzuge der statischen Methoden) Warsaw.

  • DagnélieP. 1960 Contribution à L'étude des communautés végétales par l'analyse factorielle.Bull. Serv. Carte Phytogéogr. Sér. B, 5: 7–71, 93–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • DansereauP. 1951 Six problems in New Zealand vegetation.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 91: 114–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • DaubenmireR. 1960 Some major problems in vegetation classification.Silva Fenn. 105: 22–25.

    Google Scholar 

  • DaubenmireR. 1966 Vegetation: identification of typical communictics.Science 151: 291–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • DixR. L. 1961 An application of the point centred quarter method to the sampling of grassland vegetation.J. Range. Mgmt. 14: 63–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • GleasonH. A. 1917 The structure and development of the plant association.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 44: 463–481.

    Google Scholar 

  • GleasonH. A. 1926 The individualistic concept of the plant association.Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 53: 7–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • GleasonH. A. 1939 The indivualistic concept of the plant association.Amer. Midl. Nat. 21: 92–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoffF. G. &G.Cottam, 1967 Gradient analysis: The use of species and synthetic indices.Ecology 48: 793–806.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoffF. G. &P. H.Zedler, 1968 Structural gradient analysis of upland forests in the western Great Lakes area.Ecol. Monogr. 38: 65–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoodallD. W. 1952 Quantitative aspects of plant distribution.Biol. Rev. 27: 194–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoodallD. W. 1954a Objective methods for the elassification of vegetation. III. An essay on the use of factor analysis.Austr. J. Bot. 2: 304–324.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoodallD. W. 1954b—Vegetational classification and vegetational continua. Angew. Pflanzensoz. (Wien.), Festschr. Aichinger 1: 168–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • GoodallD. W. 1963—The continuum and the individualistic association.Vegetatio 11: 297–316.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greio-SmithP. 1964—Quantitative plant ecology. 2nd Ed. Butterworths & Co., London, xii+256 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • GuinochetM. 1954—Sur les fondements statistiques de la phytosociologie et quelques-unes de leurs conséquences,Veräffentl. Geobet. Inst. Rubel. 29: 41–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • HarberdD. J. 1962—Application of a multivariate technique to ecological survey.J. Ecol. 50: 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • HarperP. C. 1962 — The soils and vegetation of Lammermuir.J. Ecol 50: 35–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • HewetsonC. E. 1956 — A discussion on the “climax” concept in relation to the tropical rain and deciduous forest.Empire Forest. Rev. 35: 274–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • HorikawaY. &K.Okutomi, 1955 — The continuum of the vegetation on the slopes of Mt. Shiroyama, Iwakuni City, Prov. Suwo.The Seibutsugakkaishi 6: 8–17 (Japanese, English Summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Horton, K. W. 1956 — The ecology of lodgepole pine in Alberta. Role in forest succession.Canad. Forest. Branch, Tech. Note No. 45, 29 pp.

  • JafriS. M. H. 1966 — The flora of Karachi (Coastal West Pakistan). The Book Corporation, Karachi, iv+375 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • JohnsonP. L. &W. D.Billings, 1962 — The alpine vegetation of the Beartooth Plateau.Ecol. Monogr. 32: 105–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • KlikoffL. G. 1967 — Moisture stress in a vegetational continuum in the Sonoran desert.Amer. Midl. Nat. 68: 285–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • KöppenW. 1918 — Klassification der Klimate nach Temperaturen, Niederschlag, und Jahrslauf.Petermanns Mitt. 64: 193.

    Google Scholar 

  • Köppen, W. 1936 — Das geographische System der Klimate. Handb. der Klimatologie, Berlin.

  • LambertJ. M. &M. B.Dale 1964 — The use of statistics in phystosociology, In: “Advances in Ecological Research”, Academic Press, Inc., London, Vol. II, pp. 55–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • LangenheimJ. H. 1962 — Vegetation and environmental patterns in the Crested Butte area, Gunnison County, Colorado.Ecol. Monogr. 32: 249–285.

    Google Scholar 

  • LenobleF. 1926 (1927) — A propos des associations végétales.Soc. Bot. France. Bull. 73: 873–893.

    Google Scholar 

  • LenobleF. 1928a — Associations végétales et espèces.Arch. Bot. (Caen) 2 (Bull. Mens. 1): 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • LenobleF. 1928b — Nouvelles considérations sur les associations végétales.Arch. Bot. (Caen) 2 (Bull. Mens. 7): 129–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • LoucksO. L. 1962 — Ordinating forest communities by means of environmental scalars and phytosociological indices.Ecol. Monogr. 32: 137–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • MaarelE.van der, 1966 — Dutch studies on coastal and dune vegetation, especially in the delta region.Wentia 15: 47–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • MaarelE.van der &V.Westhoff, 1964 — The vegetation of the dunes near Oostvoorne (The Netherlands) with a vegetation map.Wentia 12: 1–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • MartinH. A. &R. L.Specht, 1962 — Are mesic communities less drought-resistant? A study on moisture relationships in dry selerophyll forest at Inglewood, South. Australia.Austr. J. Bot. 10: 106–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • MatuszkiewiczW. 1947 — Zespoly lesne poludniowego Polesia. (The prest associations of South Polesia)Ann. Univ. M. Curie—Sklodowska, Sec. E, 2: 69–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • MatuszkiewiczW. 1948 — Roslinnosc lasow okolic Lwowa. (The vegetation of the forests of the environs of Lvov.)Ann. Univ. M. Curie-Sklodowska, Sec. C, 3: 119–193.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntoshR. P. 1958 — Plant communities.Science 128: 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntoshR. P. 1967 — The continuum concept of vegetation.Bot. Rev. 33: 130–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • McVean, D. N. & D. A. Ratcliffe, 1962 — Plant communities of the Scottish Highlands. Monogr. Nat. Conservancy, London, No.I, xiii+445 pp.

  • MorisitaM. 1957 — A new method for the estimation of density by the spacing method applicable to non-randomly distributied populations.Seiri-Setai 7: 134–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • OrlociL. 1966 — Geometric models in ecology. I. The theory and application of some ordination methods.J. Ecol. 54: 193–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • OrlociL. 1967 — An agglomerative method for classification of plant communities.J. Ecol. 55: 193–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • PithawalaM. B. 1946 — Geology and geography of Karachi and its neighbourhood. Sind. Observer Press, Karachi.

    Google Scholar 

  • PonyatovskayaV. M. 1961 — On two trends in phytocenology. (Translated byJ. Major;).Vegetatio 10: 373–385.

    Google Scholar 

  • PooreM. E. D. 1956 — The use of phytosociological methods in ecological investigations. IV. General discussion of phytosociological problems.J. Ecol. 44: 28–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • PooreM. E. D. 1962 — The method of successive approximation in descriptive ecology. In: “Advances in Ecological Research”, Academic Press, Inc., London, Vol. I, pp. 35–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qadir, S. A. & S. Moinuddin, 1968 — A phytosociological survey of Makli hills. Abstract (Agriculture section) 20th Pak. Sc. Conf.

  • RamenskyL. G. 1926 — Die Grundgesetzmässigkeiten in Aufbau der vegetationsdecke.Bot. Zentralbl. N.F. 7: 453–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • RamenskyL. G. 1930 — Zur Methodik der vergleichenden Bearbeitung und Ordung von Pflanzenlisten und anderen Objekten, die durch mehrere, verschiedenartig wirkende Factoren bestimmt werden. Beitr.Biol. Pflanzen 18: 269–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • RichardsP. W. 1963 — What the tropics can contribute to ecology.J. Ecol. 51: 231–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • SabnisT. S. 1929 — A note on the ecology of the flora of Sind.J. Indian Bot. Soc. 8: 263–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, J. P. 1960 — Ecological studies on rain forest in Northern Suriname. Verhandl. Koninkl. Nederlandse Akad. Wetensch. Afd. Natuurkunde, Amsterdam, 2nd Series, Vol. 53, No. 1.

  • ScottG. A. M. 1965 — The shingle succession at Dungeness.J. Ecol. 53: 21–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaukat, S. S. & S. A. Qadir 1970 — Observations on the vegetation of calcarious hills around Karachi (in press inAgr. Pak).

  • SjörsH. 1950 — Regional studies on North Swedish mire vegetation.Botaniska Notiser. 1950(2): 173–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • SörensenTh. 1948 — A method for establishing groups of equal magnitude in plant sociology based on similarity of species content.Acta K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. Biol. Skr. J. 5: 1–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steenis, C. G. G. J. van. 1958 — Basic principles of rain forest sociology. Study of Tropical vegetation. U.N.E.S.C.O., Proc. Kandy Symposium, pp. 159–163.

  • VoglR. J. 1966 — Salt marsh vegetation of upper Newport Bay, California.Ecology 47: 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vorobyov, D. V. & P. S. Pogrebnjak, 1929 — Lisovyi tipologitchnji visnatchnik ukrainskogo polissya. (A key to Ukranian forest types). Trudiz Lisovoi dosvidoni spravy na UkraniII.

  • VriesD. M.de, 1953 — Objective combinations of species.Acta. Bot. Neerl. 1: 497–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • WalkerD. 1966 — Vegetation of the lake Ipea region, New Guinea highlands. I. Forest, grassland and garden.J. Ecol. 54: 503–533.

    Google Scholar 

  • WebbD. A. 1954 — Is the classification of plant communities either possible or desirable?Bot. Tidsskr. 51: 362–370.

    Google Scholar 

  • WhittakerR. H. 1951 — A criticism of the plant association and climatic climax concepts.Northwest Sci. 25: 17–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • WhittakerR. H. 1956 — Vegetation of the Great Smoky Mountains.Ecol. Monogr. 26: 1–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • WhittakerR. H. 1962 — Classification of communities.Bot. Rev. 28: 1–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • WhittakerR. H. 1967 — The gradient analysis of vegetation.Biol. Rev. 49: 207–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • WhittakerR. H. &W. A.Niering, 1965 — Vegetation of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona: a gradient analysis of south slope.Ecology 46: 429–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • WilliamsW. T. &J. M.Lambert, 1959 — Multivariate methods in plant ecology. I. Association analysis in plant communities.J. Ecol. 47: 83–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • WilliamsW. T. &J. M.Lambert, 1960 — Multivariate analysis in plant ecology II. The use of an electronic digital computer for association-analysis.J. Ecol. 48: 689–710.

    Google Scholar 

  • WilliamsW. T. &J. M.Lambert, 1961 — Multivariate methods in plant ecology. III. Inverse association-analysis.J. Ecol. 49: 717–729.

    Google Scholar 

  • YarrantonG. A. 1967a — Principal component analysis of data from saxicolous bryophyte vegetation at Steps Bridge, Devon. I. A quantitative assessment of variation in vegetation.Canad. J. Bot. 45: 93–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • YarrantonG. A. 1967b — Principal component analysis of data from saxicolous bryophyte vegetation at Steps Bridge, Devon. II. An experiment with heterogeneity.Canad. J. Bot. 45: 229–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • YarrantonG. A. 1967c — Principal component analysis of data from saxicolous bryophyte vegetation at Steps Bridge, Devon. III. Correlation of variation in the vegetation with environmental variables.Canad. J. Bot. 45: 249–258.

    Google Scholar 

  • YoshiokaK. 1964 — A note on the forest vegetation in Sadogashima Island.Ecol. Rev. (Jap.) 16: 121–136.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Botany, University of Karachi, Pakistan

    S. Shahid Shaukat & S. A. Qadir

Authors
  1. S. Shahid Shaukat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. A. Qadir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper forms part of a thesis submitted by the Senior author for the degree of Master of Science in the University of Karachi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shaukat, S.S., Qadir, S.A. Multivariate analysis of the vegetation of calcarious hills around Karachi. Plant Ecol 23, 235–253 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02326663

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02326663

Keywords

Search

Navigation