Forest structure, diversity and regeneration potential along altitudinal gradient in Dhanaulti of Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

Aim of the study: The aim of the present study was to understatnd the forest composition, structure, diversity and regeneration potential along altitudinal gradient.Area of study: The study was carried out in Dhanaulti forest which falls under temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand state, India.Material and methods: Vegetation analysis was carried out using 10 quadrats at each altitude using a quadrat size of 10×10 m 2 . In each quadrat, categories of trees >30 cm cbh were considered as trees, 10-30 cm cbh as saplings and <10 cm cbh as seedlings. The data were quantitatively analyzed.Main results: In upper and middle altitudes, Cedrus deodara was reported dominant tree whereas, in lower altitude Quercus leucotrichophora was reported dominant. Tree density was highest in lower altitude which reduced middle and upper altitudes whereas, total basal cover increased with increasing altitude. The increasing total basal cover with altitude could be because of the presence of Cedrus deodara trees having higher girth classes. In tree, sapling and seedling layers, diversity (H) and equitabiltiy (EC) decreased with increasing altitude. However, concentrations of dominace (CD) and beta diversity (BD have shown reverse trend with H and EC which increased with increasing altitudes, in each layer of tree, sapling and seedling.The distribution pattern of most species in all layers of trees, saplings and seedlings was contagious. The regeneration potential of the species has shown that some of the species in the absence of tree layer are still regenerating particularly, Rhododendron arboreum, Benthamidia capitata, Neolitsea pallens etc. It indicates that most of the species are shifting upward as they are getting suitable conditions.Research highlights: Altitude influences species composition, diversity and regeneration potential of species.

Species diversity, population structure, and regeneration status of trees in Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagaland, Northeast India

“…The dominance value (Ds) recorded in present study (0.93) corresponds well with that recorded from other temperate forests, which ranged from 0.135-0.97 (Saha et al 2016;Ndah et al 2013). The Pielou evenness index (e) recorded from the present study (0.92) revealed that there is an even distribution of species within the forest.…”

Birds in the Himalayas: What drives beta diversity patterns along an elevational gradient?

“…However, numerous studies in this area mainly focused on the elevational patterns of species richness (Acharya, Vetaas, & Birks, ; Grytnes & Vetaas, ; Hu et al, ; Joshi & Bhatt, ; Pan et al, ). Studies on beta diversity in the Himalayas have focused on plants in northwest Himalayan region (de Bello, Dolezal, Ricotta, & Klimesova, ; Saha, Rajwar, & Kumar, ) and trans‐Himalayan region (Paudel & Vetaas, ). To identify comprehensive beta diversity patterns, more rigorous studies in different regions for different taxa are needed.…”

Tree standing dynamics after 30 years in a secondary forest of Bali, Indonesia

“…In this study, at the altitude of 1250-1275 m above sea level, a sample plot of 0.5 ha may be considered adequate ( Figure 2). Referring to research results, elsewhere, it is possible that the cumulative number of species will increase sharply when the range altitude is widened (Aiba and Kitayama 1999;Grell et al 2005;Devlal and Sharma 2008;Baniya et al 2012;Saha et al 2016).…”