Elevation-driven variations in soil-plant stoichiometry and heavy metal dynamics in coniferous and Oak Forests of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Pakistan
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Forestry, Range & Wildlife Management, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
- 2Land Resources Research institute-NARC, PARC, Islamabad, Pakistan
- 3Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padua, Via Università, Legnaro, Padua, Italy
- 4Department of Forestry, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- 5Department of Economics, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- 6Department of Forestry & Wildlife Management, The University of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
- 7GIS and Space Applications in Geosciences Lab (GSAG-L), National Center of GIS and Space Application (NCGSA), Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Abstract
This study examined the effects of elevation gradients on on soil and plant stoichiometry and heavy metals distribution in Mixed Coniferous Forests (MCF) and Oak Forests (OF). Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were significantly higher at the 10 cm soil depth at elevation EL-2, followed by EL-3, in both forests; whereas the lowest values were observed at EL-1. MCF exhibited significantly higher SOC, TN, and TP concentrations than OF. Similarly, leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were highest EL-2. In oak forests, leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations reached 458.4 mg kg − ¹, 4.42 mg kg − ¹, and 2.54 mg kg − ¹, respectively. The Corresponding values in MCF were 472 mg kg − ¹, 16.1 mg kg − ¹, and 1.9 mg kg − ¹, respectively, indicating greater nutrient accumulation at the mid-elevation site (EL-2). The leaf C:N ratio was significantly higher at EL-2, whereas the C:P and N:P ratios did not differ significantly among elevations. A similar pattern was observed in branches, bark, and litter. At EL-2 site, soil nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) concentrations at the 10 cm soil depth were significantly lower in MCF than in OF. Conversely, plant tissues in MCF exhibited higher concentrations of Ni, Pb, zinc (Zn), Cd, Cu, and Fe than those in OF at EL-1. Soil and plant stoichiometry are fundamental components of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, and elevation gradients also play a critical role in regulating these processes. These findings offer valuable insights for developing sustainable forest management strategies that aim to mitigate heavy metal pollution in high-altitude ecosystems.
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BibTeX
@article{jan2026elevationdriven,
title = {{Elevation-driven variations in soil-plant stoichiometry and heavy metal dynamics in coniferous and Oak Forests of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Pakistan}},
author = {Ahmad Jan and Muhammad Arshad and Muhammad Tayyab Khan and Shazia Khushdil and Fariha Rehman and Majid Hussain and Ashfaq Ali and Tufail Rahman and Faisal Khalid},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360614},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360614},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Elevation-driven variations in soil-plant stoichiometry and heavy metal dynamics in coniferous and Oak Forests of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), Pakistan
AU - Ahmad Jan
AU - Muhammad Arshad
AU - Muhammad Tayyab Khan
AU - Shazia Khushdil
AU - Fariha Rehman
AU - Majid Hussain
AU - Ashfaq Ali
AU - Tufail Rahman
AU - Faisal Khalid
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360614
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360614
AB - This study examined the effects of elevation gradients on on soil and plant stoichiometry and heavy metals distribution in Mixed Coniferous Forests (MCF) and Oak Forests (OF). Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) were significantly higher at the 10 cm soil depth at elevation EL-2, followed by EL-3, in both forests; whereas the lowest values were observed at EL-1. MCF exhibited significantly higher SOC, TN, and TP concentrations than OF. Similarly, leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations were highest EL-2. In oak forests, leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations reached 458.4 mg kg − ¹, 4.42 mg kg − ¹, and 2.54 mg kg − ¹, respectively. The Corresponding values in MCF were 472 mg kg − ¹, 16.1 mg kg − ¹, and 1.9 mg kg − ¹, respectively, indicating greater nutrient accumulation at the mid-elevation site (EL-2). The leaf C:N ratio was significantly higher at EL-2, whereas the C:P and N:P ratios did not differ significantly among elevations. A similar pattern was observed in branches, bark, and litter. At EL-2 site, soil nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) concentrations at the 10 cm soil depth were significantly lower in MCF than in OF. Conversely, plant tissues in MCF exhibited higher concentrations of Ni, Pb, zinc (Zn), Cd, Cu, and Fe than those in OF at EL-1. Soil and plant stoichiometry are fundamental components of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, and elevation gradients also play a critical role in regulating these processes. These findings offer valuable insights for developing sustainable forest management strategies that aim to mitigate heavy metal pollution in high-altitude ecosystems.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -