Vegetation Dynamics Along an Elevational Gradient in Terich Valley, Chitral Hindukush Range, Northern Pakistan

This phytosociological study was carried out during 2016-2019 in Terich valley, Hindukush range, Chitral Pakistan. The objective of this study was to determine the vegetation dynamics along various ecological parameters. The quantitative data of vegetation were collected from five monitoring sites using the systematic-random sampling quadrate method. The size of quadrates was 10 m 2 for the trees, 6 m 2 for shrubs and 1.5 m 2 for herbaceous species. Three communities viz. Elaeagnus-Prunus-Adiantum, Fraxinus-Rosa-Acanthophylum and Hippophae-Sophora-Poa community structures were established at foot-hills. Mid-hills comprised Ferula-Artemisia-Capparis, Prangos-Ribes-Berberis and Astragalus*-Astragalus-Eremurus communities. Community structure was quite different at sub-alpine (Artemisia-Rhodiola-Rosularia, Betula-Scutellaria-Taraxacum) and alpine zones (Anaphalis-Cousinia-Kobresia, Alajja-Oxyria-Oxytropis). Soil samples were collected and analyzed to study soil properties. Soils were slightly acidic and had low content of organic matter. Vegetation was found to be under extreme biotic stress. Results also showed that vegetation at higher elevation showed lower species richness.