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Is Soil Heterogeneity the Major Factor Influencing Vegetation Zonation at Karachi Coast?

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Sabkha Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Tasks for Vegetation Science ((TAVS,volume 47))

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Abstract

This study attempts to understand whether changes in edaphic factors are key players in regulating ecophysiological parameters in coastal plants. Some ecophysiological parameters of selected populations along the coastal gradient (dune and salt marsh zones) were investigated. Significant variation in soil parameters such as ECe, moisture and organic matter were found between dune and marsh zones. However, populations mostly displayed plant-type specific variations in ecophysiological parameters i.e., dicot species had more negative xylem pressure potential and higher chlorophyll and transpiration rates than monocots. In addition, some species specific responses were also observed. Despite these differences all the species displayed almost similar water-use efficiency. Significance of results obtained in this study is discussed.

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Acknowledgements

SG would like to thank the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan for provision of funds for the NSRP research project No. 20-923.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU), University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Salman Gulzar, Abdul Hameed, M. Zaheer Ahmed & M. Ajmal Khan

Authors
  1. Salman Gulzar
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  2. Abdul Hameed
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  3. M. Zaheer Ahmed
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  4. M. Ajmal Khan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salman Gulzar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization (ISHU), University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan

    M. Ajmal Khan  & Bilquees Gul  & 

  2. Ecological Sciences Advisor – Ethiopia and African Union UNESCO Liaison Office in Addis Ababa with the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Benno Böer

  3. Botany Department & Center for Environmental Studies, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey

    Münir Öztürk

  4. Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) Marine Environment Research Centre, Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Thabit Zahran Al Abdessalaam

  5. Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, UNESCO Headquarters Natural Sciences Sector, Paris, Cedex, France

    Miguel Clüsener-Godt

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Gulzar, S., Hameed, A., Ahmed, M.Z., Khan, M.A. (2014). Is Soil Heterogeneity the Major Factor Influencing Vegetation Zonation at Karachi Coast?. In: Khan, M.A., Böer, B., Öztürk, M., Al Abdessalaam, T.Z., Clüsener-Godt, M., Gul, B. (eds) Sabkha Ecosystems. Tasks for Vegetation Science, vol 47. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7411-7_13

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