Some Aspects of Bioecology of Ayubia National Park, Pakistan

Ayubia National Park, Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa Province, Pakistan is one of the 14 national parks in Pakistan. It is internationally known as a hot spot in the moist temperate West-Himalyan mountainous range. Many endangered (threatened) species are inhabited in the Park. The park is enriched with coniferous forests mixed with broad-leaved evergreen and deciduous trees. A total of 420 species of plants (9 species of fungi, 5 of lichens, 5 of gymnosperms, 65 of monocotyledons and 309 of dicotyledons were recorded. A total of 22 species of mammals(10 families),154 species of birds(42 families) and 8 species of Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians; 5 families) were recorded. ANP has now become a permanent breeding territory of leopard. Of the bird species 12.9% were permanent resident, 12.3% were resident altitudinal migrant, 18.9% were passage migrant, 29.2% were summer migrant, 4.5% were winter migrant, 10.4% were occasional, 10.4% were vagrant and 2.6% just take the aerial route. Complete description along with the current status, feeding habits, limiting factors, calling, nesting, gliding, breeding etc of two flying squirrels (Petaurista albiventer & Hylopetes fimbriatus) were also included.