Impact of Anthropogenic Threats on Species Diversity: A Case Study of the Sub-Himalayan Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Pakistan

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The author investigated and analyzed the ecological variables and human activities of 140 species of woody plants belonging to 52 families in Pakistan's tropical deciduous dry forests using a broad phytosociological survey. The results showed that, in addition to the natural factors such as precipitation, temperature and altitude, which are the most important factors affecting the distribution and composition of the tropical deciduous dry forests along the Himalayan foothills, tree cutting, Overgrazing, and fuel wood consumption are the main threats to the regeneration and protection of dry deciduous forests. It also proposes to immediately take management intervention and on-site protection strategies in areas under high level anthropogenic disturbances to prohibit the above human activities. The research conclusion of this manuscript is of great significance to the biodiversity conservation of Pakistan's tropical dry deciduous forests.

The conception of manuscript, quadrat setting and method selection are feasible. However, the manuscript still has the some drawbacks, which need to be paid attention to by the authors.

 

Abstract Part:

1. Line 24: the regeneration rate was lower at what exactly level? Please give the accurate number here.

2. Line 25: Community level differences? Distribution and composition differences? Please state clearly.

3. Line 29: delete the “and protected”, According to the author's intention, the conclusion suggests that the first measure has already said “conservation strategy”, and the second measure should be “prohibited”. It is suggested to delete the “protected” of the second measure.

 

Introduction Part:

4. Line 37: delete the full stop after the first sentence.

 

Materials and Methods part:

 

5. It is suggested that this part (Line 74-81) should be moved to the introduction section of the previous paragraph yet.

6. It is not recommended to list phytosociology (line 52-62) in the introduction, because it has been described in Materials and Methods (line 95-101).

7. Add how the grazing pressure, fuel wood consumption data acquired, and the seeding experiment method as well.

8. Line 95-96, Please determine the standard of visual evaluation, which is important for controlling errors of each quadrat value.

 

Result part:

9. Line 117-126:  Put these mentions in the method data analysis section (2.2). And give the direct results by these statistic method here.

10. In the CCA and DCA analysis (Fig 4-Fig.7), if you can divided the species point by the each quadrat using different colors, which may clarify your work.

11. Line 197-198: the ratio of fuel wood consumption is significantly lower than that in other tropical deciduous forest sites. Please add relevant references to this sentence.

12. Please perform a significance test on Figure 9 and Figure 10 and add an error line.

 

Discussion part:

13. Please move Line 236-244 to the end of Line 115 sentence.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The author investigated and analyzed the ecological variables and human activities of 140 species of woody plants belonging to 52 families in Pakistan's tropical deciduous dry forests using a broad phytosociological survey. The results showed that, in addition to the natural factors such as precipitation, temperature and altitude, which are the most important factors affecting the distribution and composition of the tropical deciduous dry forests along the Himalayan foothills, tree cutting, Overgrazing, and fuel wood consumption are the main threats to the regeneration and protection of dry deciduous forests. It also proposes to immediately take management intervention and on-site protection strategies in areas under high level anthropogenic disturbances to prohibit the above human activities. The research conclusion of this manuscript is of great significance to the biodiversity conservation of Pakistan's tropical dry deciduous forests.

The conception of manuscript, quadrat setting and method selection are feasible. However, the manuscript still has the some drawbacks, which need to be paid attention to by the authors.

 Thank you, Dear Sir, for your precious time and comments, it would be your great contribution and will improve our paper quality, following are the responses to your comments, which we made in our revised manuscript version.

Abstract Part:

1. Line 24: the regeneration rate was lower at what exactly level? Please give the accurate number here.

Check the lines 23-24, we have added the accurate figures i.e., 4.5 to 4.8 seedlings/quadrat

2. Line 25: Community level differences? Distribution and composition differences? Please state clearly.

Check the lines 25-25, thanks for your valuable comments the study focus is on anthropogenic pressure and disturbances i.e., fuel wood consumption and grazing pressure, we have made correction that “Remarkable differences in the anthropogenic pressure and disturbances ware found in the protected and unprotected forests”

3. Line 29: delete the “and protected”, According to the author's intention, the conclusion suggests that the first measure has already said “conservation strategy”, and the second measure should be “prohibited”. It is suggested to delete the “protected” of the second measure.

Removed 

Introduction Part:

4. Line 37: delete the full stop after the first sentence.

Deleted

 

Materials and Methods part:

 

5. It is suggested that this part (Line 74-81) should be moved to the introduction section of the previous paragraph yet.

Moved to introduction section

6. It is not recommended to list phytosociology (line 52-62) in the introduction, because it has been described in Materials and Methods (line 95-101).

In introduction section (from 67-81) we introduce Phyto sociology as a quantitative study and discipline  for interpretation of vegetation dynamics, while in material and method portion we described various tools of phytosociology been applied in our study

7. Add how the grazing pressure, fuel wood consumption data acquired, and the seeding experiment method as well.

We have made correction from 189-200 lines for acquiring data about Fuel wood consumption, regeneration and browsing pressure.

8. Line 95-96, Please determine the standard of visual evaluation, which is important for controlling errors of each quadrat value.

Correction have been made see line 178-180

 

Result part:

9. Line 117-126:  Put these mentions in the method data analysis section (2.2). And give the direct results by these statistic method here.

Line 181-182 describe the method and software version used for Cluster analysis and indicator species analysis while the desults are directly mentioned in line 208-224 with figure 8 and figure 2

10. In the CCA and DCA analysis (Fig 4-Fig.7), if you can divided the species point by the each quadrat using different colors, which may clarify your work.

The resultant diagrams (Fig 4- Fig,7) are computer generated by using program CANOCO Version 4.55 line 185, DCA diagram show association of plant communities and vegetational similarities of different sampled areas while CCA diagram show distribution of plant communities and sampled areas in relation to the environmental variables. The diagram cannot be manually edited in order to avoid the biasness.

11. Line 197-198: the ratio of fuel wood consumption is significantly lower than that in other tropical deciduous forest sites. Please add relevant references to this sentence.

Line 393-396 added with reference in discussion section

12. Please perform a significance test on Figure 9 and Figure 10 and add an error line.

Thank for your kind suggestion, we search-out to make a significant test and to add error line. But the data of grazing pressure classes (Fig.10) and fuel wood consumption rate (Fig.9) were linked to cluster analysis (Fig.8) in which five major clusters of the sampled area were obtained based on the characteristics of species i.e., clusters A, B, C, D, and E, which shows more better presentation in the current form, that is why we prefer to link Fig. 9 and 10 with the Figure 8 for more elaboration and graphical presentation instead of another significant test.

 

Discussion part:

13. Please move Line 236-244 to the end of Line 115 sentence.

The sentence moved to lines 213-217 to results section of cluster analysis, and the remaining sentence edited properly.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The manuscript Impact of Anthropogenic Threats on Species Diversity: A case study of the Sub-Himalayan Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Pakistan, is a descriptive investigation about this kind of forests and its relationships with local population’s uses. Although the authors rely on a descriptive/interpretative methodology of vegetation and its associations (phytosociology), in this work they opt for statistical methods relatives to samples classification and ordination, including the study of the relationships between vegetation distribution and environmental variables. Surprisingly, there is not a single paragraph describing not only main species and forests structure but also extension, patchiness degree, main uses, or any variables that could be illustrative for one reader that is not aware of this local knowledge. As I have not been able to find supplementary tables with species typologies, associations, meaning of each vegetation group, etc., I think that I have not learned much about the dry forests of Pakistan and their threat situation. Just below I indicate, in a non-exhaustive way, some paragraphs that must be explained and/or modified from my point of view

Hypothesis /objectives.

Using multivariate statistical analysis, the current study evaluated vegetation structure in relation to ecological variables such as temperature, altitude, and precipitation, anthropogenic threats such as grazing pressure and deforestation, and the resultant regeneration pattern in the study area.

Material and methods.

Tropical dry deciduous forests of Pakistan have rich floral diversity and are located in a narrow belt along with Himalayan and sub-Himalayan foothills extending to Hindukush mountains (Fig. 1).

Fig 1 is a political map with district division but without the geographic references that has been mentioned in the paragraph above. The Figure must be redrawn with information about dry deciduous forests distribution and the all 41 studied sites location.

41 distinct tropical dry deciduous forest sites. How has been selected these sites? Which is the real extension of each site and the area sampled on it?

Data was collected in accordance with specific area methods [37]. Could you explain this sentence?

The study area was divided into 20-kilometer grids (Figure 1), and the simple quadrate technique was used to record data within each grid. What is the meaning of simple quadrate technique? What data were recorded in each grid?

In tropical dry deciduous forests, 20x20-km quadrates were used to analyze woody vegetation for indicator species. How did you do the 20x20 km quadrate sampling?

The regeneration rate in the same quadrates was determined by counting the number of seedlings in each quadrate. Really did you counted each 20x20 km quadrate?

In each quadrat, sprout seedlings and the intensity of grazing and browsing were estimated visually per hectare. Could you explain this sentence in relation with extension sampled, scales used for the measurement of intensity of grazing and browsing, year period in which this variables were measured?

Cover, frequency, and density, as well as their relative values, were calculated to determine IVIs values [37, 39]. There are missing references to plot size and shape, and a general table showing the main results of the measurements at the 41 sites.

A weight overview strategy was utilized for the estimation of fuel wood consumption [41]. By weighing the wood in three distinct seasons — summer, monsoon, and winter — the total amount of wood used during the year was calculated [42]. 123 families provided information on their annual wood consumption. Is this a 3 families per site proportion?

Communities were asked to only use fuel wood from a designated experimental area, with weight being the primary metric used to determine consumption rates 24 hours after initial requests were made. For each selected site, the consumption of fuel wood was calculated in kilogram/capita/day.

For the estimation of browsing and grazing pressure, three browsing classes were recorded through visual estimations: (i) class X, unbrowsed or without visible browsing impacts; ii) class Y, moderately browsed or with noticeable browsing impacts; and (iii) class Z, overbrowsed or with intense brushing impacts and vegetation disturbances. Which is the extension for the estimation of this variable at each site?

Figure 3. Species area curve for 140 plant species in 41 stations. What is the meaning in the x axe of figures greater than 200 subplot? How do you defined each subplot?

The average number of species in the study area ranged from 0 at station 1 to 65 at station 41, covering an average distance of 8.5 km. This shows the continuation of the average sørensen distance. Please, could you explain this sentence?

Species in the center show strong association, while those far away have rare distribution (Fig.4).  Is this all the information that justifies the analysis represented in figure 4?

Different forest sites demonstrate close association by clumping together, whereas a few forest sites exhibit a small distance that delineates the limits of tropical dry deciduous forests in Pakistan (Fig. 5). The same comment about Fig 4. There are many unknown names referencing unknown places but any explanation relative the objectives of the manuscript.

Figures 6 and 7. Environmental or structural Variables are not described in the text.

Finally I think that much of the discussion section are results, and must be described in the proper section.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript Impact of Anthropogenic Threats on Species Diversity: A case study of the Sub-Himalayan Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Pakistan, is a descriptive investigation about this kind of forests and its relationships with local population’s uses. Although the authors rely on a descriptive/interpretative methodology of vegetation and its associations (phytosociology), in this work they opt for statistical methods relatives to samples classification and ordination, including the study of the relationships between vegetation distribution and environmental variables. Surprisingly, there is not a single paragraph describing not only main species and forests structure but also extension, patchiness degree, main uses, or any variables that could be illustrative for one reader that is not aware of this local knowledge. As I have not been able to find supplementary tables with species typologies, associations, meaning of each vegetation group, etc., I think that I have not learned much about the dry forests of Pakistan and their threat situation. Just below I indicate, in a non-exhaustive way, some paragraphs that must be explained and/or modified from my point of view

Hypothesis /objectives.

Using multivariate statistical analysis, the current study evaluated vegetation structure in relation to ecological variables such as temperature, altitude, and precipitation, anthropogenic threats such as grazing pressure and deforestation, and the resultant regeneration pattern in the study area.

Thank you, Dear Sir, for your precious time and comments, it would be your great contribution and will improve our paper quality, following are the responses to your comments, which were made in our revised manuscript version.

Material and methods.

Tropical dry deciduous forests of Pakistan have rich floral diversity and are located in a narrow belt along with Himalayan and sub-Himalayan foothills extending to Hindukush mountains (Fig. 1).

Fig 1  Map is updated accordingly

legends of the map shows

1. The whole area was divided in 20 km grids with geographical locations
2. The research area is encircled by green line

• The green line encircles 41 stations / sites of the study area with geographical locations

1. The Himalayan foot hills extend from west to east along the Himalayas of northern Pakistan as encircled in the red box at the left corner

 

Fig 1 is a political map with district division but without the geographic references that has been mentioned in the paragraph above. The Figure must be redrawn with information about dry deciduous forests distribution and the all 41 studied sites location.

Based on the presence and distribution of indicator species, the study stations were selected within 20 km grid. Within each station, 20x20 m plot/ quadrate was used randomly to record woody vegetation data e.g. geographical position, cover, frequency, density, regeneration, grazing and altitude

We also corrected the mistake in the manuscript (the quorate size from 20 x 20 Km to 20 x20 meter)

41 distinct tropical dry deciduous forest sites. How has been selected these sites? Which is the real extension of each site and the area sampled on it?

Based on the distribution of indicator vegetation each study site was selected within 20 kilo meter grid, 10 to 15 quadrates of 20x20 meter were taken randomly at each study site

Data was collected in accordance with specific area methods [37]. Could you explain this sentence?

Tropical dry deciduous forests of Pakistan are scattered, Data was collected in Study sample / station Based on the presence of indicator species of tropical dry deciduous forest in a specific area within 20 km grid 

 

The study area was divided into 20-kilometer grids (Figure 1), and the simple quadrate technique was used to record data within each grid. What is the meaning of simple quadrate technique? What data were recorded in each grid?

The study area was divided in to 20-Kilometer grids (Figure 1), within each grid study station was selected randomly based on the presence of indicators species, there on 10-15 quadrates were sample-out. Simple quadrate method was used to record vegetation data within each grid. A quadrat delimits an area in which vegetation cover can be estimated, plants counted, or species listed. Quadrats were established randomly within the study site. For the estimation of woody vegetation quadrate size of 20x20 meter was used. Cover, density, and frequency were important aspects of the plant community which were measured by quadrat sampling. Cover is the percentage of quadrat area beneath the canopy of a given species. Density was determined by the number of plants rooted within each quadrat. Relative density is the density of one species as a percent of total plant density. Area per plant, or mean area, is plot area per density. Frequency is the percentage of total quadrats containing at least one rooted individual of a given species. Relative frequency of one species as a percentage of total plant frequency.

In tropical dry deciduous forests, 20x20-km quadrates were used to analyze woody vegetation for indicator species. How did you do the 20x20 km quadrate sampling?

The sentence was corrected i.e., quadrate size of 20x20 meter were used for the analysis of woody vegetation

The regeneration rate in the same quadrates was determined by counting the number of seedlings in e ach quadrate. Really did you counted each 20x20 km quadrate?

The sentence was corrected i-e quadrate size of 20x20 meter were used for the analysis of woody vegetation

In each quadrat, sprout seedlings and the intensity of grazing and browsing were estimated visually per hectare. Could you explain this sentence in relation with extension sampled, scales used for the measurement of intensity of grazing and browsing, year period in which this variables were measured?

In each sampled area browsing and grazing pressure were recorded through visual estimations i-e the extent of grazed foliage, based on browsing intensity each study site has been ranked a single category X, Y or Z.

• class X, unbrowsed or without visible browsing impacts;
• class Y, moderately browsed or with noticeable browsing impacts; and
• class Z, overbrowsed or with intense brushing impacts and vegetation disturbances

The data of grazing pressure was recorded in summer season of the year 2019-2020 at each quadrate of the study station

Cover, frequency, and density, as well as their relative values, were calculated to determine IVIs values [37, 39]. There are missing references to plot size and shape, and a general table showing the main results of the measurements at the 41 sites.

Thank you, Sir, for your kind suggestion, refence is added for plot size and shape line No. 169, general table showing the main results of the measurements of the dominant plant community which shows cover, frequency, density, relative cover, relative frequency, relative density and their Importance Value Index (IVIs) was added in the manuscript table No.1. (Line 213 and 235)

A weight overview strategy was utilized for the estimation of fuel wood consumption [41]. By weighing the wood in three distinct seasons — summer, monsoon, and winter — the total amount of wood used during the year was calculated [42]. 123 families provided information on their annual wood consumption. Is this a 3 families per site proportion?

In cluster analysis, five major clusters of the sampled area were identified based on the characteristics of species in relation to environmental variables (Fig.8) i.e., clusters A, B, C, D, and E, data of fuelwood consumption was linked to cluster analysis and about 24 families were selected for the estimation of annual fuel wood consumption within each cluster. The study of fuel wood consumption was carried out in different seasons of the year 2020.

Communities were asked to only use fuel wood from a designated experimental area, with weight being the primary metric used to determine consumption rates 24 hours after initial requests were made. For each selected site, the consumption of fuel wood was calculated in kilogram/capita/day.

These sentences have been corrected and restructured See lines 190-199, for more understanding

For the estimation of browsing and grazing pressure, three browsing classes were recorded through visual estimations: (i) class X, unbrowsed or without visible browsing impacts; ii) class Y, moderately browsed or with noticeable browsing impacts; and (iii) class Z, over browsed or with intense brushing impacts and vegetation disturbances. Which is the extension for the estimation of this variable at each site?

In each sampled area browsing and grazing pressure were recorded through visual estimations i-e the extent of grazed foliage. Based on browsing class each study site has been ranked a single category X, Y or Z.

• class X, unbrowsed or without visible browsing impacts;
• class Y, moderately browsed or with noticeable browsing impacts; and
• class Z, overbrowsed or with intense brushing impacts and vegetation disturbances

Figure 3. Species area curve for 140 plant species in 41 stations. What is the meaning in the x axe of figures greater than 200 subplot? How do you defined each subplot?

Within each sampling station 10 to 15 quadrates were taken, each quadrate was regarded as sub plot of the sampled station

The average number of species in the study area ranged from 0 at station 1 to 65 at station 41, covering an average distance of 8.5 km. This shows the continuation of the average sørensen distance. Please, could you explain this sentence?

An accurate estimate of the necessary number of quadrats can be determined by plotting data for a given feature (i.e., percent cover) vs. number of quadrats. The appropriate quadrat number will correspond to the point at which the curve plateaus. The curve on a graph produced when plotting the cumulative number of plant species found in a series of quadrats against the cumulative number or area of those quadrats. More than 65 species were found in continuous distribution within 41 sampled stations. A continues species curve was attained after 50 sub plot of the sampled stations and were continued up till 200 sub-plots in three-dimensional graph generated by PCORD version 5.10. 

Species in the center show strong association, while those far away have rare distribution (Fig.4).  Is this all the information that justifies the analysis represented in figure 4?

Figure 4 explained further in the manuscript in lines 253-257.

Different forest sites demonstrate close association by clumping together, whereas a few forest sites exhibit a small distance that delineates the limits of tropical dry deciduous forests in Pakistan (Fig. 5). The same comment about Fig 4. There are many unknown names referencing unknown places but any explanation relative the objectives of the manuscript.

Figure 5 explained further in the manuscript in lines 257-264

Figures 6 and 7. Environmental or structural Variables are not described in the text.

Figure 6 and 7. Environmental variables are explained in the manuscript text lines 264-289

Finally I think that much of the discussion section are results, and must be described in the proper section.

Changes has been made and the results are explained in the proper section.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

-The manuscript correspond for scope of journals.

-Content of article appropriate to the title of article. 

- Key words are appropriate, but would be better if you use (choose) single word which associate to content of manuscript.

- The aim of study need clearly pointed out as last paragraph of chapter Introduction.

-Methods of investigation are adequately used.

-Results are clearly presented and explained in chapter of Discussion.

-Table, figure and pictures are clear.

-Conclusions are based on obtained results. 

I suggest that authors in chapter of Introduction note earlier studies which indices occurence that endangered plant species by direct and indirect influence of man activities or economic development or some other factors.

-What are the reason for more intense influence of peple on the use of forest and increasing pressure of grazing? Is it consequence of increase livestock production or decreasing of pastures or consequence of development of economy -industrialization, construction and urbanization.

-In conclusion (or in discussion) authors can add recommendation: What is the methods and measure for preserving plant biodiversity with respect of economic development and role goverment, education institutions, botanist, inhabitants ... stakeholders ?

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

-The manuscript correspond for scope of journals.

-Content of article appropriate to the title of article. 

- Key words are appropriate, but would be better if you use (choose) single word which associate to content of manuscript.

- The aim of study need clearly pointed out as last paragraph of chapter Introduction.

-Methods of investigation are adequately used.

-Results are clearly presented and explained in chapter of Discussion.

-Table, figure and pictures are clear.

-Conclusions are based on obtained results. 

Thank you dear Sir for your kind comments and your precious time to encourage and support our research work, following are responses made to your questions,

I suggest that authors in chapter of Introduction note earlier studies which indices occurence that endangered plant species by direct and indirect influence of man activities or economic development or some other factors.

Mainly Anthropogenic factors (man activities)

-What are the reason for more intense influence of peple on the use of forest and increasing pressure of grazing? Is it consequence of increase livestock production or decreasing of pastures or consequence of development of economy -industrialization, construction and urbanization.

Mainly due to Poverty elevation, population increase, no other alternatives specially fuel wood, wood for construction and furniture etc.

-In conclusion (or in discussion) authors can add recommendation: What is the methods and measure for preserving plant biodiversity with respect of economic development and role goverment, education institutions, botanist, inhabitants ... stakeholders ?

Government playing its especially in protected forest as well as in non-protected forest along with the support of stakeholder.

institutions, botanist, Foresters, inhabitants playing their role to create awareness about importance of these forest resources.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

I think your improvements to the text based on the comments of the other reviewers are appropriate. However, from my point of view, your manuscript still lacks the necessary elements to be a scientific publication of wide interest.

Author Response

Response to Reviewer Comments

 

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you so much for your thorough review; it has unquestionably enhanced the work to be published in a journal devoted to sustainability. Please see below for a complete response to your inquiry.

 

o The manuscript presents a large-scale vegetation analysis of tropical dry deciduous forests in Pakistan in connection to environmental variables, focusing on the influence of human activities on forest structure and variety.

 

o Pakistan's tropical dry deciduous forests are in the northern Pakistani foothills of the Himalayas, which are really an extension of the Himalayas. These forests are near human settlements and are subjected to intense anthropogenic pressure from the harvesting of firewood and the grazing of domesticated animals. In several unprotected areas, the structure and diversity of vegetation have been observed to be affected by human activity.

 

o Our manuscript proposes a variety of management strategies to safeguard the nation's important natural resources.

 

o Modern computing programs such as TWINSPAN, PC-ORD, and CANOCO were utilized to evaluate fundamental phytosociological data, such as cover, frequency, and density, in connection to environmental variables, thereby authenticating the research.

 

o For the first time, a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative investigation of tropical dry deciduous forests of Pakistan is presented.

 

The above arguments reveal the wide-ranging significance of the current study, which will supply policymakers, the county's forest department, and ecologists and biodiversity experts with vital information.