Diversity of plant species in riverine forest at Balloki

          Balloki is situated in District Kasur, Punjab, Pakistan. Its geographical coordinates are 31° 11' 25" North, 73° 52' 40" East. Ravi River flows from India to Pakistan, in urban areas of Lahore. Balloki Headwork’s on River Ravi is located at a distance of about 42 miles from Lahore in the South-West direction. Ecological analysis of plant species of Balloki will be done in order to understand the plant species diversity and spatial distribution along environmental gradients. The sampling site will be determined by using random quadrate method. The size of the quadrate will be 1×1 m. All plant species will be identified and recorded. A detailed survey will be performed to record the density, diversity, frequency, cover, relative cover, importance value and density indices along with various soil analysis like soil texture, saturation percent, nutrients (Na, Ca, K, N).

        Balloki lies between 31° 11' 25" N latitude and 73° 52' 40" E longitude. It is located at a distance of 42 miles from Lahore in district Kasur. The surface altitude of the district is 195 meters above the sea level, having a slope ranging from north-east towards south- west. Whereas the east and west ends of the district comprises the flood plains of the rivers characterized by breaching of looping river channels intertwined around meander bars.The flow of River Ravi is regulated at Balloki. The area contains diverse vegetation. Riverine systems are intermediate areas among land and aquatic ecosystems associated along landscape which include a wide rangim of socio-biological and thrifty value. These zones extend from stream networks to low/high water mark line of the adjacent banks where vegetation maybe subjected to either drought or flooding The flora of riverine ecosystem is an expression of ecological conditions of the vegetation and other resources of the area. Vegetation composition depends upon the preeominating environmental condition

         The plant species diversity and spatial distribution to environmental gradient depicts the riverine forest ecosystems. Riverine forests are typically more useful and biologically diverse than adjoining uplands and are organized by the distinct fluvial geomorphic processes and hydro logic settings that appear in botomlands. The plant species adopt different strategies to survive in such conditions including morphological, structural and physiological adaptations and also phenological timing for reproductive and vegetative phases resulting in increase in diversity of the plant species. Ecosystem practices are greatly influenced by biodiversity, but their functional relationship resides on the system under observation. However, in all circumstances, progressions should be sustained to facilitate the existence of ecosystem in either a constant or an altering environment. Functional redundancy of related species may even out ecosystem progressions throughout irregular species extinctions. Although, variations in ecosystem progressions might result in decline in biodiversity and therefore leading to reductions in ecosystem function.