title: Examining relationship between environmental gradients and Lesser Himalyan forest vegetation of Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir using ordination analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the relationship of vegetation structure and environmental gradient and physiochemical properties of soil at Nikyal valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir .
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of natural vegetation and soil of Nikyal valley was undertaken. Phytosociological survey was conducted by using Braun-Blanquet's approach. The study also investigated the vegetation structure and its relationship with altitude and edaphic factors. The floristic data was analyzed by cluster anlaysis, detrended correspondence analysis and canonical correspondence analysis using CANACOO 5.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 110 plant species and 13 stands were merged into five major associations as dema rcated by cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis. The associations were Olea-Pinus-Themeda association, Myrsine-Rhus-Quercus association, Quercus-Rubus-Pinus association and Quercus association. Soil organic matter, saturation, pH and altitude play the major role in distribution of species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variation in vegetation structure is controlled by the altitudinal gradient and physiochemical properties of soil. These results indicate a deteriorated forest structure and reduced regeneration pattern, demanding immediate attention of forest management authorities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Electronic address: malikshoaib1165@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shoaib
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Amjad
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Audil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sunbal Khalil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chaudhari
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Mirpur University of Science and Technology AJK, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nafeesa Zahid
authors.initials: NZ
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sammer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fatima
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife Management, PMAS-University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Faraz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akrim
keywords: Canonical correspondence analysis; Cluster anlaysis; Detrended correspondence analysis; Nikyal valley; Plant association