- Plant Ecology, Ecology, Ecosystems Ecology, Ecosystem Services, Biodiversity, Forest Ecology And Management, and 31 moreForest Ecology, Temperate Forests, Alpine Research, Agriculture, Genetics, Botany, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function, IUCN, Conservation Ecology, Community Ecology, Ethnobotany, Conservation Biology, Biology, Ancient Ports, Ethnobotany, Ethnobiology, Ethnoecology, Plant Biodiversity, Ecological Indicators, Ecological Informatics, Forestry, Plant Science, Science Communication, Environmental Education, Human-wildlife conflicts, Habib Ahmad, David Harper, Sue Page, Academia Research, Medical Anthropology, Gastronomy, Albanian Studies, and Balkan Studiesedit
- Shujaul Mulk Khan is serving as a Tenured Associate Professor of Ecology & Conservation in the Department of Plant Sc... moreShujaul Mulk Khan is serving as a Tenured Associate Professor of Ecology & Conservation in the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. He is elected member of Pakistan Academy of Sciences. He is also a Visiting Professor of Ethnoecology in the University of Gastronomic Sciences, Italy. He served Hazara University Mansehra for more than 9 years as a Lecturer of Botany (2006 -2015). He also served as General Secretary of the Pakistan Society for Conservation Biology. He and his research team mainly focus on Ethnoecology of the Himalayas, the world’s largest mountains with an aim to introduce the potentials and problems of biodiversity and ecosystems at a global scale. He has been a member of the administrative bodies for various Universities across the country. He is a member of a number of international societies like Slow Food Association, Conservation Biology, BSBI, SBS, PBS, etc. He has been on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicines. He is a reviewer of dozens of journals. He has been a member of a number of social welfare groups and Literacy societies. He received various awards during his academic career, Best Scholar award at IBC Shenzhen China 2017, Best Research Paper Award HEC Pakistan 2018, and Research Productivity Award QAU, Pakistan 2019. He has published 9 books, 25 book chapters and 133 papers in prestigious journals. He has been in the top 50 young productive Scientists of Pakistan under the age of 40 years. He supervised 10 PhDs and 71 MPhil students so far. He achieved a number of research projects and travel grants. He participated/presented in more than 140 international and national conferences and academic events.edit
The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially in order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked to nature and how... more
The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially in order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked to nature and how they adapt to new socioecological systems. This paper addresses the complexity of Traditional/Local Environmental Knowledge (LEK) changes associated to wild vegetables and herbs across four different groups of Afghan refugees living in Mansehra District, NW Pakistan, since 1985. Via interviews with eighty study participants, forty-eight wild vegetables and herbs were recorded, representing both the past and present wild plant gastronomic heritage. The majority of the quoted wild plant ingredients were only remembered and no longer actively used, thus suggesting an important erosion of LEK. Moreover, the number of wild vegetables and herbs currently used by Afghan Pashtuns engaged in farming activities is much higher than those reported by the other groups. The findings indicate that practiced LEK, i.e., knowledge that is continuously kept alive via constant contact with the natural environment, is essential for the resilience of the biocultural heritage, which is, however, also influenced by the rearrangement of social life adopted by refugees after relocation.
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Phytogeography is concerned with the past and present distribution of vegetation on the earth surface. The distribution of plants is neither even nor random on earth surface but follow a definite geographic pattern. The present study was... more
Phytogeography is concerned with the past and present distribution of vegetation on the earth surface. The distribution of plants is neither even nor random on earth surface but follow a definite geographic pattern. The present study was aimed to find out phytogeographic pattern of plants distribution and subsequent classification of plant species of the Jambil Valley, District Swat Pakistan using multivariate statistic techniques. Sampling of vegetation was done using quadrats of 1 × 1 m2 for herbs, 5 × 5 m2 for shrubs and 10 × 10 m2 for trees. The data were analyzed by PCORD v. 5 and CANOCO 4.5. The studies revealed that the vegetation of Jambil valley belongs to eighteen different phytogeographic elements. The highest percentage of elements (19.4%) belongs to Western-Himalayan region, followed by Cosmopolitan (13.9%), Eurasian (10.6%), Irano-turanian (10%), Paleotropical (9.4%), Eastern Asiatic and Mediterranean (6.7% each), Euro-Siberian (5.6%), Holoarctic (3.9%), Pantropical (3.3%), Sub-cosmopolitan (2.8%), Saharo-Arabian (2.2%), Eastern-Himalayan (1.7%), Central Asian and Neotropical (1.1% each), Pantemperate, Australian and Sudano-Zambezian (0.6% each). CANOCO correlated phytogeographical data with environmental factors, which showed significant effect of environmental variables on phytogeographical patterns. It is clear from our results that higher pH, electrical conductivity, moderate sand and silt, phosphorous and nitrogen have great impact on distribution of phytogeographical elements. The Western Himalayan elements having narrow geographic range require immediate attention and conservation efforts.
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The present studies aimed to explore plant diversity and ethnoecologically important plants of the Sarban Hills in District Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The area is gifted with diverse and unique flora because of... more
The present studies aimed to explore plant diversity and ethnoecologically important plants of the Sarban Hills in District Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The area is gifted with diverse and unique flora because of the extension and mixing of three type of forests, i.e., subtropical pine forest, subtropical broadleaf forest, and the Himalayan moist temperate forests. A total of 147 plant species belonging to angiosperm, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes were reported. Percent shares of
Quantitative ecological techniques in winter wheat fields were used to assess weed species richness, distribution pattern and abundance under the influence of varying environmental conditions in the District of Malakand KP, Pakistan. A... more
Quantitative ecological techniques in winter wheat fields were used to assess weed species richness, distribution pattern and abundance under the influence of varying environmental conditions in the District of Malakand KP, Pakistan. A total of 1200 quadrats (1x1 m 2 size) were established in 120 randomly selected wheat fields. Using quadrat data phytosociological attributes i.e., density, frequency, cover, relative density, relative cover, relative frequency and importance values were calculated for each weed species. Preliminary 132 weed species were recorded from 1200 quadrats. Cluster and Two Cluster Analyses using PCORD Version 5 gave rise to five major weed communities via Sorenson distance measurements. These weed communities were: (1) Emex-Vicia-Lathyrus weeds community (2) Alysum-Cannabis-Lithospermum weeds community (3) Oxalis-Lathyrus-Chenopodium weeds community (4) Euphorbia-Cerastium-Capsella-bursa weeds community and (5) Alopecuris-Mazus-Persicaria weeds community. Over all top five abundant weed species were Anagallis arvensis, Poa annua, Medicago denticulata L, Veronica polita and Fumaria indica with Importance Values Index (IVI) of 1101.45, 1050.30, 916.23, 782.57 and 664.76 respectively in the region. Among the less abundant weed species with minimum IVI in the region Lamium amplexicaule (94.6435), Papaver rhoeas L. (94.1686), Lathyrus aphaca (94.0310), Medicago polymorpha (93.2877) and Lithospermum erythrorhizon (90.8317) were noteworthy. The weed species Boerhavia procumbens (1.2350), Saussurea heteromalla (1.2055), Verbascum Thapsus (1.1217), Mentha longifolia (1.0738) and Juncus biflorus (1.0605) having IVI less than 2 were considered as rare weeds of wheat in the study area. While Acanthophyllum grandiflora, Boerhavia procumbens, Carex fedia, Dicliptera roxburghiana and Eryngium caeruleum were among the least common species (LCS) showing their presence in one field only. It was concluded that electrical conductivity, soil texture, pH, organic matter, CaCO3, phosphorous and high nitrogen concentration were the strong environmental variables that gives rise to diverse weed species composition, richness and distribution pattern.
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The present book describes the importance, distribution and management of sub tropical dry deciduous forests (STDDF) of Pakistan. Economic importance, distribution, management, conservation status and uses of indicator species, which are... more
The present book describes the importance, distribution and management of sub tropical dry deciduous forests (STDDF) of Pakistan. Economic importance, distribution, management, conservation status and uses of indicator species, which are indigenous woody plants (trees and shrubs) are elucidated in details. These species are studied in different districts of Pakistan i.e., lower Swat, Malakand, Northern Mardan (Rustum), Northern Sawabi (Gadoon–Amazai), Buner, Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Northern Gujrat, Northern Sialkot, Mirpur and District Kotli. Distribution of these forests shows that variability in temperature and extent of precipitation seem to be influencing factors. There is a gradient of decreasing annual rainfall from east to west which make them more gregarious in the eastern parts as compared to west. This book provide a baseline for the conservationists, foresters and policy makers for better management of sub tropical dry deciduous forest.
Medicinal plants a gift of nature are being used against various infections and diseases throughout the World. Plants biodiversity provide food, wood, fruits, shade and oxygen for humane and fodder for their livestock. Similarly, numbers... more
Medicinal plants a gift of nature are being used against various infections and diseases throughout the World. Plants biodiversity provide food, wood, fruits, shade and oxygen for humane and fodder for their livestock. Similarly, numbers of trees have also been traditionally regarded as natural remedies for common ailments of human population. Present study was conducted to analyze the medicinal trees of lesser Himalayan region. Seventy-nine species of medicinal trees were studied at different localities in the area. Among them, 12 tree species are used each as astringent and anti-dysenteric each while, 9 each are used as tonic and anti-diarrheal. Moreover various number of these tree species are used as laxative, anthelmintic, in gonorrhea, ulcer, asthma and cough. Other species are used for kidney stone, rheumatism, Wound healing, urticaria, as anodyne, febrifuge and in skin and various other diseases. It is expected that raw material obtained from plants will establish base for the manufacture of synthetic drugs. Furthermore it was observed during study that 59 of these species have multiple uses. Few of the species are under risk and need quick conservation measures.
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Research Interests: Botany, Biology, Ecology, fERN, Selaginella, and 4 moreDryopteris, Pteridophyte, Dryopteridaceae, and Springer Ebooks
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Due to overlapping and diverse morphological characters, Berberis is among the most taxonomically complex genera. Palynology is one of the taxonomic tools for delimitation and identification of complex species. In this study, pollens of... more
Due to overlapping and diverse morphological characters, Berberis is among the most taxonomically complex genera. Palynology is one of the taxonomic tools for delimitation and identification of complex species. In this study, pollens of 10 Berberis species were analyzed through light and scanning electron microscopy. Qualitative as well as quantitative features (pollen shape, size, presence or absence of colpi, colpi length and width, exine thickness, ornamentation, pollen class, aperture, and polar–equatorial ratio) were measured. Five species were observed to have colpate (pantocolpate) with elongated ends, radially symmetrical, isopolar, monads, and psilate‐regulate pollens. In polar view, six pollen were spheroidal, two were ovoid, one spherical, and one oblate. Similarly, variation in pollen length was prominent and the largest pollen on polar view was recorded for B. psodoumbellata 60–65 μm (62.4 ± 0.9), while the smallest one was observed for B. lycium 29–35 μm (32.2 ± 1). The observed variation in both quantitative and qualitative features were important in taxonomic identification. This shows that palynological characters are helpful in identification of Berberis genus at the species level.
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Plant species diversity patterns and vegetation structure are influenced by climatic and other environmental factors. We hypothesized that a combination of edaphic and topographic factors affect not only plant community patterns,... more
Plant species diversity patterns and vegetation structure are influenced by climatic and other environmental factors. We hypothesized that a combination of edaphic and topographic factors affect not only plant community patterns, vegetation structure and heterogeneity but also the indicator species in the dry temperate zone of the Liakot forests, Hindu Raj series of Hindu Kush Mountains, Pakistan. Quadrat along the elevation gradient were used for vegetation sampling. Soil samples were collected from each quadrat and analyzed by using standard protocols. All the collected data were analyzed using Cluster Analysis, Indicator Species Analyses and Data attribute plots via Canonical Correspondance Analyses. Cluster Analysis using Sorensen distance measurements grouped the plant species into three communities based on microclimatic indicators. These communities were: (1) Celtis caucasica-Lonicera hispida-Pennisetum orientale, (2) Juglans regia-Rubus idaeus-Tragopogon gracilis, and (3) Abies pindrow-Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana-Agrostis gigantea. Elevation, aspect, organic matter, electrical conductivity and potassium were the strong ecological factors responsible for different communities' formation and their associated indicators in the region. Techniques and criteria used in the current study for communities formation and their respective indicator identification could be used further for management and conservation of the Liakot forest of the Hindu Raj series of Hindu Kush Mountains and other adjacent ecosystems of the northern Pakistan. Findings of the study can also be utilized in the reforestation drives.
Research Interests: Geography, Conservation Biology, Sustainability Indicators, Community Ecology, Tropical Ecology, and 10 moreEcology, Forest Ecology, Temperate Forests, Ecological Niche Modeling, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Ecological Indicators, Trees, Forestry and Natural Resources Management, and Plant Community
A high amount of CO2 causes numerous health effects, including headaches, restlessness, difficulty in breathing, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, asphyxia, and dizziness. This issue of increasing atmospheric CO2 can only be... more
A high amount of CO2 causes numerous health effects, including headaches, restlessness, difficulty in breathing, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, asphyxia, and dizziness. This issue of increasing atmospheric CO2 can only be solved via above-ground and below-ground carbon sequestration (CS). This study was designed to determine the relationship between CS with the crown area (CA), diameter at breast height (DBH), height (H), species richness (SR), and elevation in different forest types of Pakistan with the following specific objectives: (1) to quantify the direct and indirect relationship of carbon sequestration with CA, DBH, H, and SR in various natural forest types and (2) to evaluate the effect of elevation on the trees functional traits and resultant CS. We used the linear structural equation model (SEM) for each conceptual model. Our results confirmed that the highest CS potential was recorded for dry temperate conifer forests (DTCF) i.e., 52.67%, followed by moist te...
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Vegetation structures and dynamics are the result of interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem. The present study was designed to investigate vegetation structure and species diversity along various environmental... more
Vegetation structures and dynamics are the result of interactions between abiotic and biotic factors in an ecosystem. The present study was designed to investigate vegetation structure and species diversity along various environmental variables in the Yakhtangay Hills of the Hindu-Himalayan Mountain Pakistan, by using multivariate statistical analysis. Quadrat quantitative method was used for the sampling of vegetation. PC-ORD version 5 software was used to classify the vegetation into different plants communities using cluster analysis. The results of regression analysis among various edaphic variables shows that soil organic matter, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, CaCO3 and moisture contents shows a significant positive correlation with species abundance, while the soil pH has inverse relationship with plant species abundance. Similarly, species richness increases with increase in soil organic matter, CaCO3 and moisture contents, while decrease with increase in so...
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Arisaema jacquemontiiBlume is a highly medicinal and poisonous plant belong to the family Araceae. It is used to treat several deadly diseases, including viral infections. It has antioxidant, anti-cancerous, antimalarial, anti-vermicidal,... more
Arisaema jacquemontiiBlume is a highly medicinal and poisonous plant belong to the family Araceae. It is used to treat several deadly diseases, including viral infections. It has antioxidant, anti-cancerous, antimalarial, anti-vermicidal, and antiviral activities. Therefore, five parts of theArisaema jacquemontiiBlume plant, such as leaf, seed, stem, pulp, and rhizome extract, were evaluated for metabolic andin silicocharacterization of probable compounds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. A total of 22 compounds were isolated from the methanolic extracts ofA. jacquemontiiBlume. A selected antiviral COVID-19 protein i.e., protease (6LU7) was docked against the obtained compounds. Different affinities were obtained through various compounds. The best results were shown by three different compounds identified in the rhizome. The maximum binding affinity of these compounds is 8.1 kJ/mol. Molecular docking (MD) indicate that these molecules have the highest bin...
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Objective: Protected areas are of immense importance to enhance the functional role of plants due to abundance of woody species, their carbon sequestration ability and the rich organic matter and hence it needs to be documented and... more
Objective: Protected areas are of immense importance to enhance the functional role of plants due to abundance of woody species, their carbon sequestration ability and the rich organic matter and hence it needs to be documented and quantified scientifically with special focus on its carbon sink potential. Mathods: In this study, the Carbon sequestration, diversity and abundance of woody plants were evaluated in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), Pakistan using quantitative and functional ecological approaches. We randomly sampled 40 (20 m  20 m) plots from March, 2020 to March, 2021. PC-ORD version-5 and CANOCO software were used to evaluate relationships of different environmental factors with species composition, distribution pattern and other quantitative traits of forests. R program was used for regression and correlation analyses to model Carbon sequestration capacity of MHNP. Results: A total of 4916 individuals belonging to 49 species and 28 families were reported. The higher carbon sequestration was found in Albizia lebbeck 2620.75 lbs per year followed by Pinus roxburghii 2214.48 lbs and Castanea sativa 1731.59 lbs while the lower rate of carbon dioxide sequestration per year were found in Myrsine africana 1.81 (lbs) followed by Nerium oleander 2.84 (lbs) and Jasminum officinale 3.92 (lbs). The Two-way Cluster Analysis shows the distribution of species in the study area. The CCA analysis show that pH, EC, and TDS play a significant role in the distribution of woody plant vegetation. Carbon sequestration mainly depends on plant DBH, followed by plant crown. Conclusion: The results prove that the DBH has a leading role in the carbon sequestration rather than height of the woody species. The present study indicates the MHNP is a rich source of woody plant vegetation because of its conserve nature and plays a significant role in ecosystem stability and air quality, therefore, more studies are required to study other aspects of the woody plant vegetation in the MHNP.
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Rusts comprises the largest natural group of plant pathogens including approximately 8% of all described Fungi. Rust fungi are extremely plant pathogens responsible for great losses to agriculture productivity. Rust species belong to... more
Rusts comprises the largest natural group of plant pathogens including approximately 8% of all described Fungi. Rust fungi are extremely plant pathogens responsible for great losses to agriculture productivity. Rust species belong to several genera among which more than half are Puccinia species. In Pakistan, rust causes severe damage to agriculture crops. Current study was carried out to identify and characterize different rust species common in the research area through microscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Morpho‐anatomical investigation of each collected rust species was carried out using different standard protocols. The dimensions of spores were measured and snapped under a stereomicroscope. SEM was used to examine the shape, size, and ornamentation of the spores of each rust fungus. Results revealed documentation of seven rust fungi, that is, Melampsora euphorbiae, Phragmidium barclayi, Puccinia nepalensis, P. exhausta, P. menthae, Uromyces capitatus, and Uromyces decorates belong to four different genera, were recorded. SEM revealed that spermogonia and Aecia were missing in most of the rust fungus studied. Uredinia was found in a scattered, irregular, lengthy, and epidermis‐enclosed form. Urediniospores were found to be ovulating, elongated, echinulate, globose to sub‐globose, ellipsoid to ovoid, and globose to sub‐globose. Telia was found as sub‐epidermal, amphigenous, dispersed, minute, and spherical cells. Teliospores ranged in form from cylindrical to oblong. The germ pores were detected in both apical (top cell) and basal (bottom cell) idiosyncratic and pedicel‐attached cells. The techniques used in the current investigation will aid mycologists in rust identification and microscopic characterization.
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The direct effects of relative humidity and soil on aboveground biomass (AGB) versus the indirect effects mediated by stand structural diversity remain unclear in forest ecosystems across large-scale elevation gradients. Forest inventory... more
The direct effects of relative humidity and soil on aboveground biomass (AGB) versus the indirect effects mediated by stand structural diversity remain unclear in forest ecosystems across large-scale elevation gradients. Forest inventory data containing 15,260 individual trees and 104 tree species from 200 forest plots were collected. The result shows that the relative humidity, elevation, and Coefficient of Variation of Diameter at breast height (CVD) significantly influence AGB in the Tropical Thorn Forest (TTF). Regarding elevation, CVD was positive and significant, and relative humidity and SR negatively impacted AGB in sub-tropical broad-leaved forests (STBLF). In moist temperate mixed forests (MTMF), soil phosphorus and CVD have a significant positive impact, while relative humidity, elevation, and SR negatively influence AGB. Elevation and CVD have positive, while SR and soil phosphorus have a negative and insignificant effect on AGB in Dry Temperate Conifer Forests (DTCF). S...
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Weeds are unwanted plant species growing in the domesticated crops. Like other crops maize also faces the problem of competition with weeds. Severe loses in yield up to 70% of maize have been reported in small scale farming due to weeds.... more
Weeds are unwanted plant species growing in the domesticated crops. Like other crops maize also faces the problem of competition with weeds. Severe loses in yield up to 70% of maize have been reported in small scale farming due to weeds. Composition and abundance of weeds is influenced by a number of environmental variables as well as farming practices in an ecosystem. Present study was formulated to measure the effect of environmental variables on weed species composition, abundance, distribution pattern and formation of various weeds communities in District Mardan, Pakistan. Phytosociological attributes such as density, frequency, relative density, relative frequency and Importance Values were measured for each field.Presence absence data of 29 species and 65 fields were analyzed using Cluster and Two Way Cluster Analyses via PC-ORD version 5 that resulted in four major weed communities. CANOCO software version 4.5 was used to evaluate the environmental gradients of weeds through ...
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Abstract Grape plant (Vitis vinifera L.) is a species of the family Vitaceae. It is an economically important fruit plant abundantly grown all over the world. Vitaceae comprised of 900 species distributed across tropical, sub-tropical and... more
Abstract Grape plant (Vitis vinifera L.) is a species of the family Vitaceae. It is an economically important fruit plant abundantly grown all over the world. Vitaceae comprised of 900 species distributed across tropical, sub-tropical and partially temperate sorts of climatic zones. In the current study we aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of grape leaves extract from different Pakistani varieties. We have analyzed the crude methanolic extract from the leaves of Pakistani grape varieties (i.e. NARC Black, Sundar Khani, Shogran-1, Shogran-2, Haita, Sheghali, Perlette, and Sultania-C) cultivated in various soil compositions. Total phenolic contents (TPC) of the extract were determind by using Folin-ciocalteu reagent method. Total flavonoid contents (TFC) were determind by the Aluminum Chloride Calorimetric method. Antioxidant activities of the extracts of different concentration were evaluated using Phosphomolybdenum method, Reducing power and DPPH (2, 2-disphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) assays. Assays performed for grape varieties showed great antioxidant potential. All varieties significantly depicted with variation in polyphenolic contents and antioxidant potential with changes in the soil conditions. The highest TPC and TFC were quantified in Shogran-1 97.58 ± 0.09 (GAE, g−1) and Sultania-C 97.47 ± 0.12 (µg QE/g DE) varieties respectively which were grown in (T6) and (T5), while lower were recorded in Sundar khani 5.16 ± 0.23 in (T6). Likewise, Shogran-1 128.26 ± 0.23 (µg AAE/g extract) variety grown in (T6) depicted highest total antioxidant capacity, NARC black 182.06 ± 0.24 (µg AAE/g extract) variety grown in (T6) resulted in maximum reducing power while DPPH free radical scavenging potential were determinded in Sultania-C 80.91 ± 0.10 (T4) equivalent µg/g. In the terms of bioassays, the promising results were showed by compost + sand + clay (T4), compost + clay + dung (T5) and sand + clay + dung (T6). Therefore, we conclude that variation in soil composition has a significant contribution in the quantity of phytochemicals and antioxidants expression. Our study further suggest that use of organic fertilizer (Compost) and loamy sort of soil enhance functioning of most of the varieties in terms of important phytochemicals.
Research Interests: Chemistry, Horticulture, Antioxidant, Vitis Vinifera, DPPH, and 3 moreVitaceae, Flavonoid, and Polyphenol
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Background Mazri palm (Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch.) is a member of the family Arecaceae, native to Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan, it is used since long time for various purposes. This species... more
Background Mazri palm (Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch.) is a member of the family Arecaceae, native to Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan, it is used since long time for various purposes. This species plays a significant cultural and economic role in the daily lives of many rural areas in Pakistan and adjacent countries. However, the handcrafted products made up of this palm are often mainly known by specific local communities rather than by a broader range of people. Methods Eighty-six structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted from Mazri growing areas, villages, and markets of urban centers during the fieldwork that was conducted in diverse regions of Pakistan. Interviewees included 27 Mazri farmers, 17 locals retaining Traditional Knowledge in handcrafting Mazri palm (12 were men and 5 were women), 23 handicrafts experts (21 were men and 2 were women), and 19 sellers. The age of the informants ranged from 14 to 83 years. Study part...
Research Interests: Human Ecology, Geography, Ethnobotany, Ethnography, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and 15 morePakistan, Ethnobiology, Medicine, Ethnoecology, Economic botany, Biological Conservation, Arecaceae, Field Study, Handicrafts, Anthrophology, Palm, Cottage Industry, Handicraft, INDEGINOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS IN FOREST CONSERVATION, and Mazri Palm
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Abstract The absence or presence of particular plant species indicates specific level of pollution. It was hypothesized that the marble waste polluted ecosystem also host specific plant indicators that can grow, survive and tolerate more... more
Abstract The absence or presence of particular plant species indicates specific level of pollution. It was hypothesized that the marble waste polluted ecosystem also host specific plant indicators that can grow, survive and tolerate more successfully than others and can be utilized in better managements of such systems. The current research work was therefore, conducted to determine the indicators of marble polluted region of Buner, Pakistan. Ecological techniques using varying sized quadrats i.e., 1 × 1 m2, 5 × 2 m2 and 10 × 2 m2 for herbs, shrubs and tree species were used respectively. Standard protocols were used to prepare soil samples and plant parts (root, leaf and shoot) for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Indicator i.e., Populus alba L., Arundo donax L., Erigeron canadensis L and Morus alba L. were identified via Indicator Species Analyses (ISA) in various polluted zones. All the collected data were put in MS Excel for analyses in PCORD through Cluster Analysis (CA), Two Way Cluster Analysis (TWCA) and ISA. CANOCO software was used to examine the impact of miscellaneous environmental variables in zonation via both direct and indirect gradient techniques i.e., Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). A total of 102 plant species belonging to 95 genera and 48 families were recorded in the marble waste polluted ecosystem. CA and TWCA through Jaccard Distance measurements and Wards Linkage methods gave rise to 3 major polluted zones. These zones were i) Heavily Polluted Zone (HPZ), ii) Moderate Polluted Zone (MPZ) and iii) Less Polluted Zone (LPZ). The recorded values of Biological Concentration Factor (BCF), Translocation Factor (TF) and Bioaccumulation Coefficient (BAC) for analyzed heavy metals i.e. Fe, Mg, Ca, Na and Cu in root and shoot of P. alba L., A. donax L., and M. alba L. showed that these species were significant phytostabilizers and E. canadensis L. was phytoextracters and hence best indicandum of marble waste polluted ecosystems. It was concluded that among all the measured environmental variables, higher phosphorus level, higher pH, moderate potassium and lower electrical conductivity (EC) had significant effects (p 0.05 ) on the functions of these indicators as phytoremediaters. It is recommended to develop green belts of these indicators around the marble industrial areas for the better management and hazardous free environment.
Research Interests: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Cleaner Production, Phytoremediation, Groundwater Pollution, and 15 moreRemoval Of Heavy Metals In Contaminated Soils, Environmental Pollution, Heavy metals, Manufacturing Engineering, Heavy Metals in Environment, Heavy Metals Water Pollution, Pollution, Heavy metals toxicity, Biosorption of heavy metals, Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in living organisms, Indicator Plants, Heavy Metals Pollution, Interdisciplinary Engineering, Bioremediation and phytoremediation, and Marble waste recycling
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This PPT document explains in a comprehensive way, how to cultivate Table Grapes. Preparation of demonstration blocks, nurseries, arrangement of training workshops and handing over the mother plants to the local farmers of the selected... more
This PPT document explains in a comprehensive way, how to cultivate Table Grapes. Preparation of demonstration blocks, nurseries, arrangement of training workshops and handing over the mother plants to the local farmers of the selected agencies of Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai and FR Region of Bannu will be done according to the standard protocols. Keeping in mind the arrangement of the seven pillars of Vision 2025 new opportunities could be created via viticulture development. Horticulture is a fast growing sector with rising exports and increasing demand in domestic and international markets. Pakistani fruits, both fresh and dry, have great potential for exports. So, the present project will also contribute in the vision of 2025 (One nation One vision) not only to help in the development of FATA but also in the development of adjacent region. It will give rise to development of industries related to Grapevines products like raisins, juices, jams etc. that will be source of new jobs and development in the region. For the alleviation of poverty by enhancing the socioeconomic status of FATA people through viticulture development, we will further extend our work via developing a new project to extend our work to the remaining agencies like Khyber, Mohmand and Waziristan etc. The selected potential and successful varieties of grapes will be introduced for nurseries development and handing over to farmers of the FATA region in future as mother plants.
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This PPT document explains in a comprehensive way, how to cultivate Table Grapes. Preparation of demonstration blocks, nurseries, arrangement of training workshops and handing over the mother plants to the local farmers of the selected... more
This PPT document explains in a comprehensive way, how to cultivate Table Grapes. Preparation of demonstration blocks, nurseries, arrangement of training workshops and handing over the mother plants to the local farmers of the selected agencies of Bajaur, Kurram, Orakzai and FR Region of Bannu will be done according to the standard protocols. Keeping in mind the arrangement of the seven pillars of Vision 2025 new opportunities could be created via viticulture development. Horticulture is a fast growing sector with rising exports and increasing demand in domestic and international markets. Pakistani fruits, both fresh and dry, have great potential for exports. So, the present project will also contribute in the vision of 2025 (One nation One vision) not only to help in the development of FATA but also in the development of adjacent region. It will give rise to development of industries related to Grapevines products like raisins, juices, jams etc. that will be source of new jobs and development in the region. For the alleviation of poverty by enhancing the socioeconomic status of FATA people through viticulture development, we will further extend our work via developing a new project to extend our work to the remaining agencies like Khyber, Mohmand and Waziristan etc. The selected potential and successful varieties of grapes will be introduced for nurseries development and handing over to farmers of the FATA region in future as mother plants.
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akistan’s water resources are rapidly depleting because of climate change, posing a formidable threat to the country’s future, ecologists warn. In his brief chat with News Lens Pakistan, Dr. Shuja-ul-Mulk Khan, a leading ecologist and... more
akistan’s water resources are rapidly depleting because of climate change, posing a formidable threat to the country’s future, ecologists warn.
In his brief chat with News Lens Pakistan, Dr. Shuja-ul-Mulk Khan, a leading ecologist and assistant professor of plant sciences at Quaid-e-Azam University, said that “disappearing groundwater is the out-of-sight threat.”
In his brief chat with News Lens Pakistan, Dr. Shuja-ul-Mulk Khan, a leading ecologist and assistant professor of plant sciences at Quaid-e-Azam University, said that “disappearing groundwater is the out-of-sight threat.”
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Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) diagram showing distribution of 5 plant communities among 144 stations in relation to various environmental factors Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) diagram showing distribution of 198 plant... more
Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) diagram showing distribution of 5 plant communities among 144 stations in relation to various environmental factors Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) diagram showing distribution of 198 plant species among 5 plant communities and their environmental gradient Regression analysis through SPSS showing relationship between Important Value (IV) and Use Value (UV) of plant species in W Himalaya and prediction for the future from the high use value (Anthropogenic pressure)
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The Third International Symposium on “Biology of Rare and Endemic Plant Species (for shortBIORARE-2014) is organized and planned to be repeated every other years to share and to discuss recent developments and data on biology,... more
The Third International Symposium on “Biology of Rare and Endemic Plant Species (for shortBIORARE-2014) is organized and planned to be repeated every other years to share and to discuss recent developments and data on biology, conservation and evolution of rare and endemicplant species. The main goal is to bring senior scientists and students of the field in an informal, but rigorous discussion platform to stimulate future researches and collaborations on population biology, genetics and genomics, evolution-speciation, and conservation genetics of rare and endemic plants. Especially, it is essential for taxonomists and geneticistto get together and communicate with a common language of evolutionary biology so furtherinsights in speciation and evolution of rare and endemic plant species could be achieved. Thet BIORARE-2014 symposium has attracted diverse group ofresearchers from 20 countries including Turkey. Total of 49 oral presentations are going to be presented in the symposiumon April 20-23, 2014. Additionally, total of 58 diverse and interesting poster presentations will be available for the symposium participants to view. On behalf of organizing committee, I would like to welcome you all and wish you a productive meeting and good times in the Sunny Beaches of Antalya, Turkey.
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Pakistan’s water resources are rapidly depleting because of climate change, posing a formidable threat to
the country’s future, ecologists warn.
the country’s future, ecologists warn.
Research Interests: Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Economics, Environmental Education, Climate Change, and 10 moreWater, Flood Risk Management, Climate change policy, Water quality, Energy and Environment, Sustainable Water Resources Management, Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Security, Glaciers, and Water Table Rising
The Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) observed the World Soil Day and organized different activities with an aim to create awareness among students regarding soil pollution and importance of protecting soil. Dr.... more
The Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) observed the World Soil Day and organized different activities with an aim to create awareness among students regarding soil pollution and importance of protecting soil.
Dr. Shujaul Mulk Khan organizer of the event from the Department of Plant Sciences said that soil is vital for life as it provide medium for plants growth, habitat for many micro as well as organisms, acts as a natural filtration system, carbon storage and cycling of atmospheric gases. He said soil is the one of the four pillars upon which the structure of life is built up. It shapes micro and macro habitats for living organism, from microflora and fauna to macro organisms like plants, animals and humans. Soil is the source of food security and food safety. Clean Soil give rise to clean plants and plant parts such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants which are of utmost importance for healthy life. Earlier Dr. Abdul Samad Mumtaz, chairperson of the department of Plant Sciences also addressed the participants. A large number of faculty members and staff of university and members of PASTIC also attended the event. The students and participants resolved to maintain the cleanliness not only on campus but also in the areas where they live
Dr. Shujaul Mulk Khan organizer of the event from the Department of Plant Sciences said that soil is vital for life as it provide medium for plants growth, habitat for many micro as well as organisms, acts as a natural filtration system, carbon storage and cycling of atmospheric gases. He said soil is the one of the four pillars upon which the structure of life is built up. It shapes micro and macro habitats for living organism, from microflora and fauna to macro organisms like plants, animals and humans. Soil is the source of food security and food safety. Clean Soil give rise to clean plants and plant parts such as cereals, vegetables, fruits, and medicinal plants which are of utmost importance for healthy life. Earlier Dr. Abdul Samad Mumtaz, chairperson of the department of Plant Sciences also addressed the participants. A large number of faculty members and staff of university and members of PASTIC also attended the event. The students and participants resolved to maintain the cleanliness not only on campus but also in the areas where they live
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Himalayas are the world’s largest mountain ranges situated in South Asia separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Himalayas include more than hundred mountains exceeding 7,200 metres. The Himalayan region... more
Himalayas are the world’s largest mountain ranges situated in South Asia separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. Himalayas include more than hundred mountains exceeding 7,200 metres. The Himalayan region of Pakistan is recognized as the wellknown Western Himalayan Province famous for its unique endemic and threatened biodiversity.
Background: Mazri palm (Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch.) is a member of the family Arecaceae, native to Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan, it is used since long time for various purposes. This species... more
Background: Mazri palm (Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch.) is a member of the family Arecaceae, native to Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In Pakistan, it is used since long time for various purposes. This species plays a significant cultural and economic role in the daily lives of many rural areas in Pakistan and adjacent countries. However, the handcrafted products made up of this palm are often mainly known by specific local communities rather than by a broader range of people. Methods: Eighty-six structured and semi-structured interviews were conducted from Mazri growing areas, villages, and markets of urban centers during the fieldwork that was conducted in diverse regions of Pakistan. Interviewees included 27 Mazri farmers, 17 locals retaining Traditional Knowledge in handcrafting Mazri palm (12 were men and 5 were women), 23 handicrafts experts (21 were men and 2 were women), and 19 sellers. The age of the informants ranged from 14 to 83 years. Study participants shared detailed information about various traditional utilizations of the Mazri palm. Results: Mature leaves of Mazri palm are used to produce mats, baskets, hand fans, hats, cages, hot pots, salt pots, brooms, etc. in the sudy area. Hot pots, salt pots, mats, baskets, and ropes represent highly used items. The mats are used for various purposes like drying grains, performing prayers, sitting, and sleeping. As a whole, 39 different kinds of handcrafted products from the leaves were found. Our findings revealed also that other parts of the plant, ie. petioles, fruits, and bark, have been used, although more rarely, by the locals. The palm uses differ accordingly to the different cultural areas of Pakisitan, thus demonstrating that local cultural heritage significantly informs Traditional Knowledge and practices related to the use of Mazri palm. The findings suggest also that this plant represents a crucial resource for the livelihood of the local communities in dry areas of the western borders of Pakistan, starting right from the coastal areas of Baluchistan up to District Bajaur in the North, where other farming activities there are difficult due to drought conditions. Conclusions: Traditional Knowledge about the sustainable utilization of Mazri palm is eroded in Pakistan among the younger generations due to rapid globalization and industrialization processes and appropriate strategies for revitalizing this heritage in a sustainable way should be urgently fostered.
Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health... more
Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent the primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex and confusing time, in which public health services in multiple countries have been completely overwhelmed, and in some cases even collapsed, these first-line household responses have been quintessential for building physical, mental, and social resilience, and for improving individual and community health. This editorial discusses the outcomes of a rapid-response preliminary survey during the first phase of the pandemic among social and community contacts in five metropolises heavily affected by the COVID-19 health crisis (Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, New York, and Rio de Janeiro), and in twelve rural areas or countries initially less affected by the pandemic (Appalachia, and South Africa). We summarized our perspectives as 17 case studies, observing that people have relied primarily on teas and spices ("food-medicines") and that there exist clear international plant favorites, popularized by various new media. Urban diasporas and rural households seem to have repurposed homemade plant-based remedies that they use in normal times for treating the flu and other respiratory symptoms or that they simply consider healthy foods. The most remarkable shift in many areas has been the increased consumption of ginger and garlic, followed by onion, turmeric, and lemon. Our preliminary inventory of food medicines serves as a baseline for future systematic ethnobotanical studies and aims to inspire in-depth research on how use patterns of plant-based foods and beverages, both "traditional" and "new", are changing during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Our reflections in this editorial call attention to the importance of ethnobiology, ethnomedicine, and ethnogastronomy research into domestic health care strategies for improving community health.
The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially in order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked to nature and how... more
The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially in order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked to nature and how they adapt to new socioecological systems. This paper addresses the complexity of Traditional/Local Environmental Knowledge (LEK) changes associated to wild vegetables and herbs across four different groups of Afghan refugees living in Mansehra District, NW Pakistan, since 1985. Via interviews with eighty study participants, forty-eight wild vegetables and herbs were recorded, representing both the past and present wild plant gastronomic heritage. The majority of the quoted wild plant ingredients were only remembered and no longer actively used, thus suggesting an important erosion of LEK. Moreover, the number of wild vegetables and herbs currently used by Afghan Pashtuns engaged in farming activities is much higher than those reported by the other groups. The findings indicate that practiced LEK, i.e., knowledge that is continuously kept alive via constant contact with the natural environment, is essential for the resilience of the biocultural heritage, which is, however, also influenced by the rearrangement of social life adopted by refugees after relocation. Citation: Manduzai, A.K.; Abbasi, A.M.; Khan, S.M.; Abdullah, A.; Prakofjewa, J.; Amini, M.H.; Amjad, M.S.; Cianfaglione, K.; Fontefrancesco, M.F.; Soukand, R.; Pieroni, A. The Importance of Keeping Alive Sustainable Foraging Practices: Wild Vegetables and Herbs Gathered by Afghan Refugees Living in Mansehra District, Pakistan. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1500. https://doi.