STUDIES ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT IN MONOTHECA BUXIFOLIA (Falc.) A.D, FOREST, DISTRICT LOWER DIR, PAKISTAN

The present paper is about the species composition, diversity, equitability, richness and concentration of dominance of tree species along an altitudinal gradient of District Dir Lower Hindukush range of Pakistan. A total of 15 stands in Monotheca buxifolia (Falc.) A.D forests were analyzed at an elevation of 1370m to 1670m asl. The vegetation analysis showed that a total of six tree species existed and Monotheca buxifolia emerged as dominant tree species on all locations with IVI ranging between 62% to 100%. Olea ferruginea and Acacia modesta were reported in four stands as a second dominant species. At two locations Quercus baloot and Punica granatum were associated species with 14% and 35% of importance value respectively. Ficus palmata was notably found as a rare species in the study area. The total density ranged between 110 tree/ha to 304 tree/ha. Species diversity was ranged 0 to 0.36 and maximum diversity was reported at the elevation of 1370m and 1555m asl. Concentration of dominance and equitability values in some stands 1 to 1.70 were relatively high due to the presence of single species in the forests.