SPREAD OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA ON THE COASTAL WILD LIFE SANCTUARY, SANDSPIT / HAWKESBAY, KARACHI

Coastal areas of Pakistan are dry round the year, seasonally wet and generally meagre in species. Forty seven (47) halophytic, xeropytic, psammopytes were found collectively belonging to 19 families in this area. Approximately half of them were halophytes and a quarter belonged to psammophytes. Dominant life forms were herbaceous perennials, perennial grasses and shrubs. Suaeda fruticosa, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Halopyrum mucronatum were the most common and dominant species of the Sandspit / Hawkesbay, coastal line. Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, S. fruticosa and Cressa cretica were most abundant in the region of frequent tidal inundation; this region has correspondingly lower soil salinity and pH. Areas with infrequent inundation were dominated by Zygophyllum simplex and Salsola imbricata. Coastal dunes were dominated by Halopyrum mucronatum.