Spatial assessment, distribution patterns, and diversity of selected floral species across arid rangelands
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22981594Keywords:
Cholistan Desert, plant diversity, vascular flora, spatial distribution, habitat heterogeneity, desert ecologyAbstract
Despite variable rainfall, extreme aridity, salinity, and low soil fertility, the Cholistan Rangelands have specialized vegetation. This study examined the floristic composition, spatial distribution, habitat association, and diversity of vascular plants across the Cholistan Rangelands. We sampled sand dunes, sandy plains, shrubland habitats, agricultural ecotones, saline Dahars, drainage channels, toba margins, and other habitats in the field from March 2025 to January 2026. We recorded GPS coordinates in a GIS and identified species by family, growth form, life cycle, and Raunkiaer life form. We recorded and selected 58 species from 19 families. Asteraceae (15.5%) was the richest family, and Aizoaceae, Capparaceae, and Chenopodiaceae contained six species each (10.3%). Sand dunes had the highest species richness (18 species; 31.0%), followed by sandy plains (10 species). Shannon diversity at the family level was 2.638, Simpson diversity was 0.914, and Pielou evenness was 0.896; habitat-level values were 1.907, 0.825, and 0.917, respectively. Analyzed distribution patterns suggest that substrate, salinity, moisture availability, and habitat heterogeneity influence vegetation throughout Cholistan. Conservation of representative habitats and maintenance of perennial vegetation are thus critical to rangeland biodiversity, ecosystem function, and resilience.
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