Adaptive response of rare mountain sedge (Carex Ecostata C.B. Clarke) to hyper-cold environments

Carex ecostata is essential in maintaining soil stability, water filtration, and biodiversity, and it often thrives in wetland ecosystems. This species occurs mainly in high-altitude regions. This study investigates the structural and functional traits of Rare Mountain Sedge (Carex ecostata) across subtropical and western Himalayan regions of Pakistan. The sample of Carex ecostata was collected at five different altitudes: 1800, 2000 2200, 2400 and 2600 m. Interdisciplinary statistical tests were used to measure the relationship between the structural and functional response of Carex ecostata to the environment and the physico-chemical properties of the soil at different altitudes. Results revealed that Functional traits such as total free amino acid and proline contents in Carex ecostata were the highest noted at 2800 m elevation. The inflorescence length, number of leaves per plant, fresh weight, and dry weight of plants remained constant at 2200 m altitude, demonstrating the exceptional ability of species to survive under extreme frost stress. The analysis showed increased plant height and soil P in Carex ecostata at high-elevation regions (2800 m). the study showed the highest metaxylem area, phloem area, and aerenchyma area at 2600 elevation and the lowest at 2200 m elevation. Carex ecostata showed a maximum sclerenchyma thickness at high altitude. Organic osmolytes such as proline, catalase, and total soluble sugar content were more pronounced at high altitudes, which helped them cope with unfavorable conditions under abiotic stress.