CHARACTERIZATION OF BI-NULL SLANT(BNS) HELICES OF (k,m )-TYPE IN R^3_1 AND R^5_ 2

The present study discusses bi-null slant helices of $(k, m)$ type in $R_2^5$ and give the characterization for a curve to be certain $(k,m)$ type bi null slant helix (BNS helix). The discussion includes the proofs for the non existence cases of $(k,m)$ type bi null slant helices in $R_2^5$. Moreover certain characterizations and non existence have also been obtained for bi null slant helix to be $(k,m)$ type using modified orthogonal frame

Spatial Dynamics of Forest Cover and Land Use Changes in the Western Himalayas of Pakistan

The current study deals with the mapping and evaluation of forest and land use cover changes in the western Himalayas, Pakistan. These forest types include i) Moist temperate forests ii) Mixed coniferous forests and iii) Sub-tropical broad leaved forests. Moist temperate forest mostly consists of evergreen conifers with some of oaks and deciduous trees. Subtropical pine forest are mostly dominated by Pinus roxburghii. These forest type are mostly mixed by Pinus roxburghii and other coniferous species like Pinus wallichiana at the upper ranges in Dewal, Angoori, Nambal, Aucha and Khanitak etc. The broad-leaved subtropical forests are recorded on the hills and in the lower slopes of Himalaya near Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The high quantity of vegetation index were observed in winter season as compared to summer. The Landsat satellite images of years 1988, 1998, 2008 and 2018 were classified into land-cover units. Vegetation land decreased in the total area whereas the bare land class increased in the total. Water class further reduced and the built- up class increased up in the Murree area, Pakistan

Floristic composition, biological spectrum, and phytogeographic distribution of the Bin Dara Dir, in the western boundary of Pakistan

This study assessed the floristic composition, biological spectrum, and phytogeographical elements of the Bin Dara western boundary of Pakistan. The flora consisted of 140 plant species belonging to 47 families. The most dominant family was Poaceae (with 14 species), followed by Asteraceae (11 species). The biological spectrum showed the therophytes (71 species, 50.71%) as the dominant life form class, followed by mega -phanerophytes (27 species, 19.28%), nano-phanerophytes (15 species, 10.71%), geophytes (10 species, 7.14%), chamaephytes (9 species, 6.42%), and hemi-cryptophytes (8 species, 5.71%). Leaf size classes comprised of nanophylls (48 species, 34.28%), microphylls (32 species, 22.85%), mesophylls (22 species, 15.71%), macrophylls (17 species, 12.14%), leptophylls (12 species, 8.57), megaphylls (8 species, 5.75%), and aphyllous (1 species, 0.71%). Cosmopolitan was the most prominent form of phytogeographic elements (with 17 species, 12.14%), followed by pantropical and Euro-Siberian Mediterranean Irano-Turanian (14 species, 10%) each. The pluriregional represented (13 species, 9.28%), Holarctic and Mediterranean Irano-Turanian (10 species, 7.14%), Irano-Turanian and Western Himalayan (9 species, 6.42%) each. It is recommended that further study is needed to map the vegetation, its indicators, and rare species that face a huge threat of endangerment

Plant Communities and Vegetation Ecosystem Services in the Naran Valley, Western Himalaya

The Naran Valley, western Himalayas, is of high floristic interest owing to its geographic location and altitudinal range. It represents other remote Himalayan valleys where rugged terrain and geopolitics restrict plant biodiversity and conservation assessment, but has experienced no previous quantitative ecological or ethnobotanical research. This study had three objectives: (i) assess species distributions and plant communities using phytosociological techniques; (ii) identify environmental gradients responsible for vegetation variation; (iii) quantify vegetation ecosystem services for indigenous people. Species attributes were measured along altitudinal gradients using transect and quadrat methods on slopes with different aspects (elevation range 2400-4100 m). One hundred and ninety-eight plant species from 68 families were quantified along 24 transects. Classification and ordination techniques (PCORD & CANOCO) identified 5 major plant communities. Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) and assortment of fidelity classes identified indicator/characteristic species. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) showed altitude and aspect to be the strongest drivers of community classification. The vegetation changed from a moist-cool temperate community characterised by woody species, to dry-cold subalpine and alpine herbaceous communities both along valley sides and at higher elevations. Plant species diversity reached an optimum at mid-altitude (2800-3400 m) as compared to lower (2400-2800 m) and higher elevations (3400-4100 m). Questionnaire methods were used to record and quantify plant uses and indigenous ethnobotanical knowledge. Plant Use Values (UV) were calculated using quantitative ethnobotanical techniques while the phytosociological data yielded Importance Values (IV). UV and IV data were combined to illustrate anthropogenic influences, with a focus on rare, endangered and endemic species. This study contributes to an enhanced understanding of (i) plant diversity in the Western Himalayas; (ii) ethnobotanical and ecosystem service values of mountain vegetation within the context of anthropogenic impacts; (iii) local and regional plant conservation strategies and priorities

Traditional ecological knowledge sustains due to poverty and lack of choices rather than thinking about the environment

Abstract In this debate article, we have tried to discuss Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and its close link to the available resources and lack of options in the indigenous communities. We came across the article of Hartel et al. where they initiated a discussion on this important but debatable topic of TEK and its merits and demirits for the environment. We believe that this discourse could continue to clarify both sides of the picture. Our research group is working on species facing extinction threats due to extensive utilization, leading to overexploitation of the taxa, which the TEK seldom cares for. We are of the opinion that the marginalized tribal communities living around the globe extensively use some of the species and natural resources for their food, fodder, fiber, shelter, energy, health and other benefits, irrespective of their conservation needs, and many other ecosystem services. They have to sustain their basic live’s needs from the resources available for their livelihood. They collect economically important medicinal and other species in large quantities to gain higher earnings, rather than thinking of the issues faced by them. Hence, we believe that the continuity and utilization of TEK are driven by poverty and lack of choices rather than positive environmental values, historically. Nevertheless, those communities sometimes have their local system of protection which sometimes works very well or otherwise with the passage of time and the formation of government-driven regulations in the recent past, TEK itself has lost its real sense especially, related to conservation and management. Therefore, TEK could be linked with existing research-based policies and regulations for long-lasting benefits to the environment and its sustainable future. Such bridging can benifit all the stake hoders—the TEK holders, regulatory bodies, government agencies and many more. This debate can lead to a positive and critical discourse towards the clarification of the conundrum under consideration as well as creation of more questions hyptheses related to TEK

Detoxifying the heavy metals: a multipronged study of tolerance strategies against heavy metals toxicity in plants

Heavy metal concentrations exceeding permissible limits threaten human life, plant life, and all other life forms. Different natural and anthropogenic activities emit toxic heavy metals in the soil, air, and water. Plants consume toxic heavy metals from their roots and foliar part inside the plant. Heavy metals may interfere with various aspects of the plants, such as biochemistry, bio-molecules, and physiological processes, which usually translate into morphological and anatomical changes. They use various strategies to deal with the toxic effects of heavy metal contamination. Some of these strategies include restricting heavy metals to the cell wall, vascular sequestration, and synthesis of various biochemical compounds, such as phyto-chelators and organic acids, to bind the free moving heavy metal ions so that the toxic effects are minimized. This review focuses on several aspects of genetics, molecular, and cell signaling levels, which integrate to produce a coordinated response to heavy metal toxicity and interpret the exact strategies behind the tolerance of heavy metals stress. It is suggested that various aspects of some model plant species must be thoroughly studied to comprehend the approaches of heavy metal tolerance to put that knowledge into practical use

Plant species and communities assessment in interaction with edaphic and topographic factors; an ecological study of the mount Eelum District Swat, Pakistan

The current analyses of vegetation were aimed to study the different effects of environmental variables and plant species and communities interaction to these variables, identified threats to local vegetation and suggestion for remedial measures in the Mount Eelum, Swat, Pakistan. For assessment of environmental variability quantitative ecological techniques were used through quadrats having sizes of 2 × 2, 5 × 5 and 10 × 10 m2 for herbs, shrubs and trees respectively. Result of the present study revealed 124 plant species in the study area. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to analyze the ecological gradient of vegetation. The environmental data and species abundance were used in CANOCO software version 4.5. The presence absence data of plant species were elaborated with Cluster and Two Way Cluster Analysis techniques using PC-ORD version 5 to show different species composition that resulted in five plant communities. Findings indicate that elevation, aspect and soil texture are the strongest variables that have significant effect on species composition and distribution of various communities shown with P value 0.0500. It is recommended to protect and use sensibly whole of the Flora normally and rare species particularly in the region

Life forms, leaf size spectra, regeneration capacity and diversity of plant species grown in the Thandiani forests, district Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The life form and leaf size spectra of plant species of the Thandiani forests, district Abbottabad, were studied during the summer of 2013. These forests host 252 plant species of 97 families. Biological spectra showed that Hemicryptophytes (80 spp., 31.74%) were dominant followed by Megaphanerophytes (51 spp., 20.24%), Therophytes (49 spp., 19.44%) and Nanophanerophytes (45 spp., 17.86). Hemicryptophytes are the indicators of cold temperate vegetation. At the lower elevations, Megaphanerophytes and Nanophanerophytes were dominant which confirm trees as dominant habit form due to high soil depth, moisture and temperature factors. Data on Leaf spectra in the area showed that Microphyllous (88 spp., 34.92%) species were dominant followed by Leptophyllous (74 spp., 29.36%) and Nanophyllous (60 spp., 23.80%). The Microphyllous plants again are the indicator of cold temperate zone as the area is situated at an elevation of 1191–2626 m. Similarly, Nanophylls were dominant at lower elevations. Data on family importance values and diversity among various communities were also recorded. Life form and Leaf spectra studies could be used to understand the micro climatic variation of the region