PETROGRAPHY OF THE EARLY PERMIAN (ASSILIAN) TOBRA FORMATION, EASTERN SALT RANGE, POTWAR BASIN, PAKISTAN: IMPLICATIONS ON PROVENANCE, TECTONIC SETTINGS AND ENVIRONMENT OF DEPOSITION

The end of the Gondwana sedimentation in the Salt Range is represented by the glacio-fluvial Tobra Formation, which is composed of diamictite, tillite and fresh water facies. Clast supported and matrix supported conglomerates represent the basic lithology of the Tobra Formation. The sandstone is present as matrix in the conglomerate beds. An integrated petrographic study of the sandstone units of the Tobra Formation was carried out to interpret the provenance and tectonic settings. This analysis is based on the thin section study of samples collected from four different sections (Pidh, Tobar, Watli and Wahali Bala sections) of the Eastern Salt Range. On the basis of framework grains, the sandstone is classified as lithic arkose to feldspathic arenite or subarkosic to sublitharinite. Thin section study reveals that the sandstone of the Tobra Formation has quartz, feldspar and rock fragments along with some accessory minerals. Monocrystalline quartz is most abundant while polycrystalline quartz is also present. Feldspar in the form of albite, microcline and perthite is present in the sandstone. Rock fragments of igneous (granitic), metamorphic as well as sedimentary rocks are present. Accessory minerals such as mica, hematite and chlorite are also present. A few amount of cement in the form of ferruginous clay is present which indicates submature stage of sandstone. Grains are subrounded to subangular in shape and grain boundaries are mostly concavo convex and sutured which depict intermediate level of compaction. Varying population of moderately to poorly preserved palynomorphs were also observed at various horizons. The petrographic study suggests that the Tobra Formation has plutonic granitic (igneous) or metamorphic provenance. Petrographic point count data indicates that the tectonic settings are recycled orogeny. Paleogeographic history of Gondwanaland indicates that the Aravalli Range and Melani System are the main sediment source area of the Tobra Formation in the Salt Range of Pakistan

Ecological Distribution Patterns and Indicator Species Analysis of Climber Plants in Changa Manga Forest Plantation

Climbing plants have an important role in forest communities and ecosystems. Despite the significance of the climbers in ecosystems, most of the previous research work in Pakistan has been concentrated on trees, shrubs, and herbs, with little attention paid to climbing plants. The current study investigated the ecology of climbers and the influence of soil characteristics on diversity, richness, and indicator species distribution in the Changa Manga Forest Plantation, Punjab, Pakistan. Field surveys were carried out between 2020 and 2021, with the data gathered using a random sample approach for ordination and cluster analysis of each plant species and edaphic data from sample plots. We reported a total of 29 climber species belonging to 23 genera and 9 families from the area. The Convolvulaceae family was the most prevalent, followed by Apocynaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Herbaceous climbers were the typical life form (70% species) and species showed peak flowering during the months of August and September. The multivariate analysis and cluster analysis grouped the climbers into four distinct communities based on the indicator species, representing filtering of the species pool in the studied area. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) results showed that soil factors had a significant influence (p ≤ 0.002) on the climbers’ diversity and distribution pattern. Our research contributes to a deeper understanding of climbing plant ecology in response to soil variables, with immediate consequences for policy and practice in this Himalayan region, as well as research insights for neighboring Himalayan regions and elsewhere in the world