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Abstract
Road corridor vegetation plays a vital role in maintaining ecosystem stability and providing essential ecological services, particularly in semi-arid regions where environmental conditions are challenging. In this study, we investigated the functional traits of native and non-native plant species along the N5 highway corridor in the semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan. The methodology involved extensive field surveys and systematic sampling of herbaceous vegetation, followed by detailed measurements of functional traits diversity. We classified 38 plant species into native and non-native categories and analyzed their distribution, life forms, leaf spectra, and flowering phenology. Our results revealed distinct patterns in the functional traits of native and non-native species, with non-native species exhibiting larger plant heights, leaf sizes, and leaf surface areas compared to native species. Additionally, native species displayed greater root and stem biomass, indicative of adaptations to nutrient-poor soils and water-limited environments. The findings suggest that non-native species possess traits associated with rapid growth and resource acquisition, enabling them to outcompete native vegetation and establish dominance in roadside ecosystems. These results provide valuable insights for understanding the ecological implications of non-native species and designing effective management strategies to mitigate their impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in semi-arid regions.
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1 University of Okara, Department of Botany, Okara, Pakistan (GRID:grid.508556.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 7674 8613)
2 Ilia State University, Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Tbilisi, Georgia (GRID:grid.428923.6) (ISNI:0000 0000 9489 2441)
3 University of Okara, Department of Botany, Okara, Pakistan (GRID:grid.508556.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 7674 8613); Ilia State University, Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Tbilisi, Georgia (GRID:grid.428923.6) (ISNI:0000 0000 9489 2441)
4 University of Education Lahore, Department of Zoology, Division of Science and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (GRID:grid.508556.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 7674 8613)
5 Ilia State University, Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Tbilisi, Georgia (GRID:grid.428923.6) (ISNI:0000 0000 9489 2441); State Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, Institute of Life Sciences, Karlsruhe, Germany (GRID:grid.461773.0) (ISNI:0000 0000 9585 2871)
6 King Saud University, Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.56302.32) (ISNI:0000 0004 1773 5396)
7 King Saud University, Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (GRID:grid.56302.32) (ISNI:0000 0004 1773 5396)