Northwest Pakistan Research Articles

Introgression and Mapping of Cotton Leaf Curl Disease (CLCuD) Resistance from Wild Gossypium armourianum Kearney into Upland Cotton (G. hirsutum L.).

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD), caused by the whitefly transmitted geminivirus complex (Cotton leaf curl virus - CLCuV and their satellite molecules), is a serious threat to successful upland cotton production in northwest India, Pakistan, and China. The disease causes significant losses in fibre yield and the quality of cotton. Owing to the regular emergence of resistance breaking strains of CLCuV, all the previously available CLCuD resistant germplasms of upland cotton have become compromised and none of the extant upland cotton cultivars is resistant to this disease. Therefore, alternate sources of CLCuD resistance need to be explored, as genetic resistance is the only pragmatic and tenable management strategy to combat this malady. Here, we report for the first time the introgression and mapping of CLCuD resistance from a related non-progenitor wild diploid D-genome cotton species, G. armourianum into upland cotton. A backcross population (G. hirsutum/G. armourianum/G. hirsutum) was developed for this purpose. A single major QTL was found to be associated with resistance to CLCuD and was located on chromosome D01 through the genotyping-by-sequencing technique.

Metabolomic changes in tear fluid following zinc biofortification in the BiZiFED nutritional study: a feasibility study.

Biofortified Zinc Flour to Eliminate Deficiency in Pakistan (BiZiFED) is a nutritional research program that evaluates the impact of consuming zinc biofortified wheat flour on zinc status and associated health outcomes of vulnerable communities in northwest Pakistan. Measuring zinc status from blood samples is fraught with problems. This feasibility study evaluated whether metabolite changes in tear biofluids could be used to understand zinc status. Zinc deficiency is particularly prevalent amongst the female population in Pakistan. Therefore, a crossover trial was developed in which 25 women of reproductive age received standard, wheat flour, and another 25 received zinc-biofortified wheat flour for 8 weeks. At the end of this period, the nutritional intervention was switched between the groups for another 8 weeks. Tear biofluid was collected using Schirmer strips at baseline and after 8 and 16 weeks. Metabolomic analysis was conducted using the MxP® Quant 500 kit on the tear biofluid from a subset of the study participants. Two metabolites had a significantly negative correlation with plasma zinc concentration: tiglylcarnitine and valine. Compared to baseline metabolite concentrations, acetylcarnitine, glutamine, two lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPC a C16:0 and lysoPC a C18:1), and four sphingomyelins (SM (OH) C16:1, SM C16:0, SM C16:1, and SM C24:0) were all significantly decreased post-zinc intervention, whilst a ceramide (Cer(d18:1/18:0) was significantly increased. These results highlight the potential of using tear biofluids as an alternative source for metabolomic biomarkers, both for the assessment of the zinc status of individuals enrolled in nutritional studies and for indicating physiological changes that arise from nutritional supplementation.

Reproducing poverty through participation: examining the constraints of community development strategies in fostering empowerment and social change

Abstract Community participation is often heralded as a remedy to the disadvantages faced by marginalized people, with the assumption that it catalyses empowerment and social change. However, in development practice, this view may overlook the intricate power dynamics that reinforce marginalization and how they interplay within local communities and with external developers. This paper seeks to examine how power relations in and beyond the local level influence participatory community development initiatives and their potential to challenge or reinforce disadvantage. It focuses on the Rural Support Programmes Network’s much-touted ‘three-tier social mobilization strategy’ in Northwest Pakistan as a qualitative case study, using participant and non-participant observation, document analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that active participation by local people in community development processes does not always catalyse empowerment and social change. Without a deliberate reconfiguration of traditional exclusionary power relations, participation in community initiatives may simply perpetuate social exclusion for disadvantaged groups. Existing social structures allow traditionally powerful people to use participatory processes to reproduce and/or further reinforce their power and control via ‘strategic compliance’. The study concludes that community development programmes require a nuanced understanding of power dynamics and a deliberate effort to reconfigure those dynamics to foster meaningful engagement and empowerment of disadvantaged groups.

Enviro-economic and optimal hybrid energy system: Photovoltaic–biogas–hydro–battery system in rural areas of Pakistan

To satisfy the electricity needs of a village in Tangi, northwest Pakistan, the present research can design and evaluate the environmental and economical aspects of an optimal hybrid photovoltaic-biogas-hydropower-battery energy sustainable system (PV-BG-HP-BESS). This framework integrates various renewable energy sources, delivering a modern, efficient approach to sustainable energy solutions. The HOMER Pro software is utilized to optimize the most economical and effective hybrid energy system. The results showed that the proposed hybrid system comprising 91.4 kWp PV modules, 19.6 kW hydropower, a 50 kW biogas generator (BG), 36 batteries, and a 60.6 kW converter was the most economical choice. This system, which used the cyclic charging (CC) method, had a cost of energy (COE) of 0.0728 $/kWh and a total net present cost (NPC) of $152,242. The suggested hybrid energy system for rural areas of Pakistan includes photovoltaic (PV), biogas (BG), hydro, and battery components to provide a dependable and sustainable power supply. This system minimizes the need for expensive fossil fuels while simultaneously minimizing environmental impact by lowering pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. The system's annual electricity production is 294,782 kWh, with PV leads at 59.4%, BG at 6.02%, and hydro at 34.6%, ensuring uninterrupted power generation even in remote areas. The unmet load, extra electricity, and capacity shortage illustrate the reliability of the system and make it possible to address rural electrification challenges while supporting sustainable development and economic growth. Moreover, the outcomes of the proposed hybrid system dominate the previous studies in multiple objectives, including cost and sensitivity analysis, when compared.

Women academics’ motivation for higher education and empowerment: a qualitative case study in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Women’s empowerment is an important goal of the educational processes around the world. Women in developing countries need support and motivation for attaining higher education and empowerment. This qualitative-exploratory study sought to explore the perceptions of Pakistani female university academics living inside predominantly patriarchal social structures regarding their motivation for and issues in attaining higher education and empowerment. The study also aimed at understanding the notion of empowerment and areas where women academics have achieved empowered status. The study also investigated women academics’ access to higher education, and its impact on their current social positioning in a traditional social setup. A total of 30 purposefully selected women academics from public sector universities in Northwest Pakistan constituted the study sample. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that patriarchal social structures in and outside workplaces influence women academics’ motivation for higher education and empowerment. However, some motivational factors, including economic stability, professional identity in society, intellectual fulfilment and support of fathers and husbands seemed instrumental in contributing to women academics’ pursuits of higher education and attainment of positions in academia.

The COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH AND PETROGRAPHIC FEATURES OF ANDESITE AND BASALT FROM SAWABI AREA, N-W PAKISTAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

This study delves into a comparative analysis of the mechanical properties and petrographic characteristics of andesite and basalt from the Sawabi area in North-West Pakistan, with a focus on uniaxial tensile strength (UTS) and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS). Mega-porphyritic and badinage textures, as well as a huge, fine-grained structure, define the basaltic rocks of Swabi. These rocks are mostly composed of ferro-magnesium minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and amphibole; as accessory minerals, they also include quartz, plagioclase, and alkali feldspar. On the other hand, the andesitic rocks in the area have anhedral structures that are extremely fine-grained and have a variety of textures, including trachytic, porphyritic, dendritic, and graphic. These rocks are mostly composed of orthoclase and fine- to medium-grained amphibole, with other features including quartz phenocrysts and altered perthitic alkali feldspar. A thorough examination of the samples' mechanical and physical characteristics, such as their porosity, specific gravity, and water absorption, was conducted. The results showed that andesite, with its better mechanical strength and good petrographic features, was the better option than basalt for construction. When choosing suitable rock materials for regional infrastructure projects, engineers and construction professionals can benefit greatly from the insights provided by this research.

The Position of Khatak in Pashto Dialectology

AbstractPashto is a major language of the Iranian family with multiple dialects spoken in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In this paper, I examine the phonological inventory of the previously little known Khatak Pashto by a comparison with the well‐known Yusufzai, of the Northeast dialect of the language. I use primary data collected from Karak and Mardan districts of northwest Pakistan. In my analysis, I identify the similarities between these two varieties and the differences, based on at least eleven phonological isoglosses including the feature of vowel nasality, which split the two. I conclude by supporting the case for a distinct Central dialect area to represent the position of Khatak Pashto.

Improved diagnosis of the carbonate reservoirs: a case study from the Potwar Basin, northwest Pakistan

Improved diagnosis of the carbonate reservoirs: a case study from the Potwar Basin, northwest Pakistan

Interdecadal variability of the pre-monsoon cyclone characteristics over the Bay of Bengal

The low-pressure systems intensified to cyclones prior to the onset of the Indian summer monsoon season over the North Indian Ocean are referred to as pre-monsoon season (PMS) cyclones. Climate change is amplifying the pre-monsoon cyclone landscape, fostering more frequent and intense storms with altered tracks, resulting in heightened risks for coastal communities and economies. This study investigates the interdecadal variations in tropical cyclone and key large-scale atmospheric parameters that influence the characteristics of cyclones, including track, frequency over the Bay of Bengal (BoB) during the pre-monsoon season from 60 years of data. The large-scale atmospheric parameters are analyzed by calculating climatological anomalies. It is noted that the frequency of cyclones making landfall over the eastern Indian coastal landmass has increased in the recent decade compared to the past five decades. Compared to the past fifty years, the percentage frequency has increased in the recent ten years by 50%. At the low level, stronger easterlies are dominant and upper-level jet streams shift to lower latitudes, indicating that the path of cyclones has shifted from the north (N)-northeast (NE) to the northwest (NW), i.e. towards the east Indian coastal landmass, over the recent decade. In contrast to the previous five decades, an unusual low-pressure region has emerged over the NW India and Pakistan regions, creating a favorable path for cyclones moving towards the Indian region in recent decade. Cyclones have been more intense in the recent decade than they were in the previous five decades, according to the rise in low- and mid-level specific humidity and temperature over the BoB.

Ethnobotanical, ecological and health risk assessment of some selected wild medicinal plants collected along mafic and Ultra Mafic rocks of Northwest Pakistan.

The current study investigated wild plant resources and health risk assessment along with northern Pakistan's mafic and ultramafic regions. Ethnobotanical data was collected through field visits and semi-structured questionnaire surveys conducted from local inhabitants and healers. Six potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were extracted with acids and analyzed using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS, Perkin Elmer-7000) in nine selected wild medicinal plants. Contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were used to determine the health risk assessment of the studied medicinal plants. The results showed that the selected medicinal plants were used for the treatments of cough, joint swelling, cardiovascular disorders, toothaches, diabetes, and skin pimples by the local inhabitants due to their low-cost and easy accessibility. The concentrations of Pb (3.4-53mgkg-1), Cd (0.03-0.39mgkg-1), Ni (17.5-82mgkg-1), Cr (29-315mgkg-1), Mn (20-142mgkg-1), and Zn (7.4-64mgkg-1) in the studied medicinal plants were found above the safe limits (except Zn) set by WHO/FAO/USEPA (1984/2010). The Pb contamination factor was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in A. modesta (7.84) and D. viscosa (6.81), and Cd contamination factor was significantly higher in C. officinalis (26.67),followed by A. modesta (8.0) mg kg-1. Based on PTE concentrations, the studied plants are considered not suitable for human consumption purposes. Pollution load index values for A. modesta, A. barbadensis, A. caudatus, A. indica, C. procera (2.93), D. viscosa (2.79), and C. officinalis (2.83), R. hastatus (3.12), and Z. armatum were observed as 1.00, 2.80, 2.29, 2.29, 2.93, 2.79, 2.83, 3.12 and 2.19, respectively. Hazard index values were in order of R. hastatus (1.32 × 10-1) ˃ C. procera (1.21 × 10-1) ˃ D. viscosa (1.10 × 10-1) ˃ A. caudatus (9.11 × 10-2) ˃ A. barbadensis (8.66 × 10-2) ˃ Z. armatum (7.99 × 10-2) ˃ A. indica (6.87 × 10-2) ˃ A. modesta (5.6 × 10-2) ˃ C. officinalis (5.42 × 10-2). The health risk index values suggested that consumption of these plants individually or in combination would cause severe health problems in the consumers. Pearson's correlation results showed a significant correlation (p ≤ 0.001) between Zn and Mn in the studied medicinal plants. The current study suggests that wild medicinal plants should be adequately addressed for PTEs and other carcinogenic pollutants before their uses in the study area. Open dumping of mining waste should be banned and eco-friendly technology like organic amendments application should be used to mitigate PTEs in the study area.

Occurrence of selected antibiotics in urban rivers in northwest Pakistan and assessment of ecotoxicological and antimicrobial resistance risks

Antibiotics in aquatic systems of developing countries are a growing concern, particularly with the potential ecological risks and emergence of antimicrobial resistance. In Pakistan, antibiotics are widely consumed and released untreated into rivers, however, there is little information on their occurrence and potential risks. In this study, the concentrations and risk assessment of three commonly consumed antibiotics, ciprofloxacin (CIP), amoxicillin (AMX), and cefixime (CFM) belonging to different classes of fluoroquinolone, penicillin, and cephalosporin respectively were investigated in the Kabul River and its two tributaries, Bara River and Shah Alam River in the northwest region of the country. Composite samples were collected in different sampling campaigns and analyzed using the LC-ESI-MS/MS technique. All three antibiotics were found in higher concentrations ranging from 410 to 1810 ng/L, 180–850 ng/L, and 120–600 ng/L for CIP, AMX, and CFM respectively. The Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-ranked tests revealed insignificant differences in average concentrations of each antibiotic in the three rivers and the Pearson Correlation showed a significant positive correlation of CIP with both AMX and CFM indicating their similar pollution sources. Ecotoxicological risk assessment showed a higher risk to algae and bacteria (P. putida) in the rivers with CIP posing a greater risk. The potential risk of antimicrobial resistance development (ARD) was higher in all the three rivers, particularly in Kabul River where maximum risk quotients (RQARD) of 28.3, 9.4 and 3.4 were noted for CIP, CFM and AMX respectively. The human health (HH) risk was insignificant, though the RQHH was higher for the lower age groups (0–3 months). In addition, the combined flux of the antibiotics in the Kabul River was estimated as 59 tons/year with CIP having a significant flux relative to the other antibiotics.

Consanguinity in northwest Pakistan: evidence of temporal decline.

Pakistan has a high burden of hereditary and congenital anomalies and their incidence rate almost doubles against the background of parental consanguinity. Consanguineous unions (CU) are customary in Pakistan and deeply rooted socio-cultural norms favour CU. This study aimed to elucidate the determinants and temporal change in CU in four northwestern populations of Pakistan. In a cross-sectional study, data on marital union types, bio-demographic factors, and paternal consanguinity were collected from 6,323 ever-married individuals in four districts of northwest Pakistan: Haripur, Muzaffarabad, Mansehra, and Shangla. We used descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The CU were calculated to be 55%, and inbreeding coefficient F (ICF) was estimated to be 0.029. Eight factors, including district, rural origin, age of husband, occupational group of husband, literacy of husband, parental consanguinity, exchange marriage, and extended family type, were found to be significant predictors of consanguinity in the multivariable logistic regression analysis. The rate of consanguinity decreased significantly in the younger age categories of individuals. The rate of CU was seen to be declining over time and in marriages that started 'before 1980' and 'after 2010', respectively, and there was a decline in ICF from 0.030 to 0.027. These analyses also showed that the literacy rate improved, the average age at marriage increased, and the frequency of exchange marriages decreased over time. This study employs a sizable first-hand dataset to demonstrate a lowering CU rate in northwest Pakistan. It is anticipated that the burden of inherited and congenital anomalies may likely to diminish in the study populations along with the fall in ICF.

Online Harassment, Psychological Stressors, and Occupational Dysfunction among Journalists Working in a Conflict Zone

Amid increasing threats and assaults against journalists across the globe, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in northwest Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Whereas online harassment is increasingly affecting journalists, experiences of online harassment of KP journalists have not been previously examined. This study explored the experiences of online harassment of regional KP journalists, the psychological ramifications of their exposure, and the association between online harassment and their ability to effectively perform their jobs in digital news environments. Of the recruited 299 journalists, nearly two-thirds reported experiencing online harassment. The experiences were generally infrequent, and were associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and occupational dysfunction. This study underscores the importance of understanding online harassment of journalists in conflicts zones, and how it may impact their ability to perform their professional duties, and proposes possible solutions and directions for future research and interventions.

Provenance of the lower Cretaceous Lumshiwal Formation, Surghar Range, northwestern Indian Plate, Pakistan: Insights from new petrographical and geochemical analysis

This paper documents the provenance and palaeoclimatic conditions of the Cretaceous Lumshiwal Formation near the western margin of the Indian plate in the Surghar Range, northwest Pakistan. The combined techniques of petrography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and bulk rock geochemistry were utilized to reveal the source and mineral-geochemical composition and sandstone type. The petrographic analysis of the sandstones confirms the dominance of quartz, feldspar, and rock fragments, with subordinate occurrences of muscovite, magnetite, and hematite. Heavy minerals consist of tourmaline, titanite (sphene), rutile, cassiterite, monazite, and zircon. The cementing material includes ferruginous clays, jarosite, glauconite, calcite, minor dolomite, gypsum, and silica. The modal composition plot of the sandstones falls into arkose to sub-arkose, with a few lithic arkose varieties. Lithic fragments mainly include granite, with a minor occurrence of granitic gneiss, chert, phyllite, and quartz mica schist. The discriminatory provenance diagram of the sandstones suggests a transitional continental provenance. The bulk rock geochemistry of the sandstones reveals the presence of SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, FeO, MnO, CaO, MgO, Na2O, K2O and P2O5. The petrographical mineral findings were corroborated with XRD, SEM, and bulk rock geochemistry analysis (major element concentrations and their ratios), which collectively all confirm a felsic igneous source. The tectonic discrimination diagram (SiO2-log K2O/Na2O wt %) implies a dominant influx of sediment sourced from the passive continental margin of the uplifted Gondwana Indian plate. Terrigenous sediments found in the Lumshiwal Formation are interpreted to have been derived from granites and granitic gneisses of the Indian Shield. The palaeo-weathering index, including the chemical index of alteration (CIA) and the chemical index of weathering (CIW) of the Lumshiwal Formation confirms a low to moderately weathered source area. The climate discrimination plot (SiO2 versus Al2O3 + Na2O + K2O) shows that humid to semi-humid climatic conditions during the deposition of the Lumshiwal Formation.

Seismic data, cross-section balancing, and hydrocarbon prospectivity of the western Sulaiman fold belt, northwest Pakistan

Over the past few decades, hydrocarbon exploration has considerably improved our understanding of foreland deformation. This study used the interpretation of seismic reflection profiles and cross-section balancing techniques to understand the passive-roof duplex geometry of foreland structures in the Western Sulaiman Fold Belt (SFB), Pakistan. Seismic reflection profiles were interpreted to show the presence of hinterland-vergent fault-propagation and fault-bend folds as prospects over a detachment located at a depth of ∼6 km in the pelitic Triassic succession. Cross-section balancing showed intraplate deformation in the hanging-wall flat of the frontal duplex. Clear seismic reflectors above 3 s two-way travel time (TWT), estimates of stratigraphic and tectonic thicknesses with field geology and isopach mapping were used to locate the décollement in the pelitic Permo-Triassic strata at a depth of ∼11 km and interpret stacked duplexes at the mountain front. The foreland deformation of the western SFB was compared with that of the central/eastern SFB. The comparison shows the presence of discovered gas fields, with intraplate deformation of the duplex in the western, and pop-ups in the roof-sequence in eastern SFB depicting the complexity of deformation for the assessment of hydrocarbon prospectivity in the fold belt. The 33 km deformed balanced cross-section was restored to ∼71 km, with 38 km (54%) shortening in the foreland. Approximately 12 km (17%) of shortening was passively accommodated by the hinterland-vergent out-of-sequence passive backthrust in the frontal horse. This description of foreland deformation using the example of the SFB adds to our understanding of the structures of the mountain front that are recognized as zones of prolific hydrocarbon prospects.

Molecular identification of Leishmania tropica in mammals occurring in human-inhabited areas of a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic focus in North-West Pakistan.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is endemic in the tribal district of Khyber near the Pak-Afghan border and is caused by Leishmania tropica. In Pakistan, cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica is considered anthroponotic and is thought to be maintained by a human-sand fly-human transmission cycle. Along with humans, other mammals may also be acting as reservoir hosts of leishmaniasis in the study area. To investigate the role of non-human mammals in the transmission of leishmaniasis, blood samples were collected from 245 animals from the CL endemic district of Khyber, Pakistan. Leishmania parasite in these samples was detected by amplifying the species-specific sequences in minicircle kinetoplast DNA, using PCR. L. tropica DNA was detected in 18 (7.35%) samples, comprising 11 cows (Bos taurus), 6 goats (Capra hircus), and 1 dog (Canus lupus familiaris). Only a single cow and dog had a leishmaniasis-like lesion, and the remaining positive samples were asymptomatic. None of the tested sheep (Ovis aries) and rat (Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus) was positive. The present study reports the first instance of molecular detection of L. tropica in domestic animals. Our study indicates that along with humans' cows, goats and dogs may also be playing an important role in the transmission of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in district Khyber in particular and Pakistan in general.

Gandhara style of Art

The new style of art that emerged in the north-western regions of the country due to the influence of Greek art is called 'Gandhara style'. Gandhara is the ancient name of a region in present-day northwest Pakistan. Which is surrounded by the Hindu Kush mountain range and the Himalayan foothills to the north. Statues of Buddha and Bodhisattva were mainly made in Gandhara style. Gandhara art is male dominated and realistic art. In this, the physical physique of Buddha has been shown in relief. Buddha's hair is curly, he has a moustache, he has slippers on his feet, he is wearing transparent clothes and his body is clearly visible. That's why it is also called nude art. The statue of Buddha in penance is its best work. Gandharan style Buddha sculptures resemble the Greek god Apollo.

Heavy metal(loid)s contamination and ecotoxicological hazards in coal, dust, and soil adjacent to coal mining operations, Northwest Pakistan

Heavy metal(loid)s (HM) are ascertained hazardous to the environment due to their toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent nature. Coal, dust, and surrounding soil near coal mines (n = 21) in each specimen were examined for HM in the districts of Hangu and Kurram. Samples were investigated for HM using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Iron (Fe) exhibited the highest mean concentrations, whilst molybdenum (Mo) showed the lowest in the selected coal, dust, and soil specimens were 62,100 and 1.14, 52,610 and 0.9, and 45,300 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively. HM in studied media was evaluated for ecotoxicological factors, namely contamination factor (CF), potential-ecological risk index (PERI), hazard index (HI), and cancer risk. CF values of dust were very-high and considerable due cadmium (Cd) in the districts of Hangu and Kurram, while that of soil were considerable in both districts. The ecological-risks (190 < PERI<380) were “considerable” due to dust and soil of the Hangu district, while the “moderate” ecological-risk (95 < PERI<190) was noted for the Kurram district. The HI values surpassed the limit of 1 for children due to soil and dust exposures. Higher HI values may pose chronic health risks to the locals. Among exposure routes, oral ingestion was noted as the primary pathway's. CR values were noted as less than the threshold set by the US EPA. This study recommended that HM contaminations be monitored periodically on a priority basis to develop strategies for combating the problem of health concerns.

Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) communities in char-lands and water channels across the Swat River Basin: implication for conservation planning.

Recent anthropogenic sources and excess usage have immensely threatened the communities and habitat ecology of this region's medicinally and economically significant crops. Therefore, our study aims to evaluate the community structure and related environmental characteristics sustaining Nasturtium officinale communities along the river basin (RB) in Northwest Pakistan, using the clustering procedure (Ward's method) and Redundancy analysis (RDA). From 340 phytosociological plots (34 × 10 = 340), we identified four ecologically distinct assemblages of N. officinale governed by different environmental and anthropogenic factors for the first time. The floristic structure shows the dominance of herbaceous (100%), native (77%), and annual (58.09%) species indicating relatively stable communities; however, the existence of the invasive plants (14%) is perturbing and may cause instability in the future, resulting in the replacement of herbaceous plant species. Likewise, we noticed apparent variations in the environmental factors, i.e., clay percentage (p = 3.1 × 10-5), silt and sand percentage (p< 0.05), organic matter (p< 0.001), phosphorus and potassium (p< 0.05), and heavy metals, i.e., Pb, Zn, and Cd (p< 0.05), indicating their dynamic role in maintaining the structure and composition of these ecologically distinct communities. RDA has also demonstrated the fundamental role of these factors in species-environment correlations and explained the geospatial variability and plants' ecological amplitudes in the Swat River wetland ecosystem. We concluded from this study that N. officinale communities are relatively stable due to their rapid colonization; however, most recent high anthropogenic interventions especially overharvesting and sand mining activities, apart from natural enemies, water deficit, mega-droughts, and recent flood intensification due to climate change scenario, are robust future threats to these communities. Our research highlights the dire need for the sustainable uses and conservation of these critical communities for aesthetics, as food for aquatic macrobiota and humans, enhancing water quality, breeding habitat, fodder crop, and its most promising medicinal properties in the region.

Lithological mapping of northern Kohat Plateau’s limestone outcrops using integrated remote sensing and reflectance spectroscopy techniques

ABSTRACT Remote sensing (RS) has emerged as a valuable technology for precisely demarcating the extent of lithological units in rugged terrains. It offers valuable insights into the spatial distribution and structural dynamics of complex topographies. In this study, RS technology manifested by Sentinel-2A and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery is used to discriminate carbonaceous strata in various parts of the Kohat Plateau region, northwest Pakistan. Various spectral image transformation techniques, including principal component analysis (PCA), minimum noise fraction (MNF), band ratio (BR), and carbonate index (CI), were utilized after atmospheric correction modules. The resultant red-green-blue (RGB) color composites obtained from Sentinel-2A, incorporating PCA (PC1, PC2, PC4) and MNF (MNF1, MNF2, MNF3), demonstrated its applicability to accurately discriminate the target features. The derived RGB color composites from the BR on ASTER data (BR5/1, BR5/7, BR3/4 × 5/4) and CI B13/B14 effectively identified the limestone bodies, providing a better approach to differentiate limestone from other lithological units. Also, the integration of spectroscopic field data with satellite-based resultant images represented a meaningful contribution to rectifying previous geological maps. The derived maps from aforementioned techniques exhibited a notable attribute to record the target units and enhance limestone differentiation from other lithologies.