Plant and Soil Fungal Diversity in Semi-Arid Urban Parks: Environmental Drivers from Hyderabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Semi-arid areas have urban green spaces that can be classified as hotspots for biodiversity, but studies on flora and soil fungi are limited. A study was conducted using stratified quadrats to evaluate the diversity of plants and fungi in seven urban parks located in Hyderabad Cantonment, Sindh, Pakistan. Research methods included quadrat sampling to collect all specimens, culture-based methods for isolating fungi, and the determination of soil physicochemical characteristics to assess environmental conditions. The results showed that there are 105 different vascular plant species in the parks (40 species of trees, 26 species of shrubs, and 39 species of herbs). The most common vascular species include Azadirachta indica, Jatropha curcas, Cynodon dactylon, and Conocarpus erectus, with Rani Bagh (H' = 3.47 and 1-D = 0.93) and Zia Uddin Park having the greatest levels of biodiversity among the parks studied. This is primarily due to tree canopies that reduce human foot traffic over time. The results of the soil study showed that these urban locations were characterized by: (1) sandy soils that were slightly alkaline (pH 8.3–8.6), (2) low levels of organic matter (0.35–0.60%), and (3) variable salinity (EC = 0.37–9.52 dS m⁻¹). Across the seven parks, several genera of fungi were identified, with Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Trichoderma being the most dominant in areas that still had vegetative cover. Based on our analyses, the established pattern of vegetation structure and soil texture were more important factors in determining patterns of plant and fungi diversity than park size. Conservation efforts for urban resilience and health can be enhanced by establishing trees in urban areas, increasing soil nutrients, and planting native vegetation.