Berberis species medicinal plants in Pakistan are endangered, high-value with important eco-cultural, commercial and livelihood roles in mountain communities. To assess the geographical distribution of Berberis specie...Berberis species medicinal plants in Pakistan are endangered, high-value with important eco-cultural, commercial and livelihood roles in mountain communities. To assess the geographical distribution of Berberis species across the Karakoram Mountain Ranges in Pakistan, we used IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria （2001） to calculate the extent of occurrence （EOO, 〈100 km^2） and the area of occupancy （AOO, 〈10 km^2） of Berberis pseudumbellata subsp, pseudumbellata and B. pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica. Overgrazing and habitat loss were key population- limiting factors. The two subspecies had contrasting responses to temperature, elevation, precipitation and insect susceptibility. B. pseudumbellata subsp, gilgitica is endemic to Gilgit-Baltistan and grows in single-cropping zone （ar- eas 〉 200 m a.s.1.）. Status evaluation revealed that both subspecies meet the criteria set for critically endangered species. Prolonged disregard of its declining population trend might lead to its extinction; therefore, integrated con- servation efforts are necessary.展开更多
基金supported by Social Economic Environment Development(SEED)Project funded by Everest Karakoram 2 National Research Centre(EvK2CNR)through Karakoram International University(KIU),Gilgit,Pakistan
文摘Berberis species medicinal plants in Pakistan are endangered, high-value with important eco-cultural, commercial and livelihood roles in mountain communities. To assess the geographical distribution of Berberis species across the Karakoram Mountain Ranges in Pakistan, we used IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria （2001） to calculate the extent of occurrence （EOO, 〈100 km^2） and the area of occupancy （AOO, 〈10 km^2） of Berberis pseudumbellata subsp, pseudumbellata and B. pseudumbellata subsp. gilgitica. Overgrazing and habitat loss were key population- limiting factors. The two subspecies had contrasting responses to temperature, elevation, precipitation and insect susceptibility. B. pseudumbellata subsp, gilgitica is endemic to Gilgit-Baltistan and grows in single-cropping zone （ar- eas 〉 200 m a.s.1.）. Status evaluation revealed that both subspecies meet the criteria set for critically endangered species. Prolonged disregard of its declining population trend might lead to its extinction; therefore, integrated con- servation efforts are necessary.
