Composition, structure and diversity of tree species along an elevational gradient in Jammu province of north-western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Journal Title: Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 10
Abstract
Community structure and composition are important factors affecting diversity patterns in plant communities. Pertinently, species diversity along altitudinal and latitudinal gradient differs in different layers at different scales. Thirteen community groups characterized by different dominants in the tree layer were distinguished. These include Himalayan subtropical scrub (580-850 m asl), Northern dry mixed deciduous forest (600-1100 m asl), Himalayan subtropical pine forest (780-1450 m asl), Lyonia / Alnus / Rhododendron forest (1250-1500 m asl), Mixed Oak forest (1300-2150 m asl), Rhododendron - Oak mixed forest (1600-2200 m asl), Pine / Oak mixed forest (1400-1750 m asl), Pure Cedrus deodara forest (1450-1700 m asl), Taxus wallichiana forest (2000- 2580 masl), Deodar / blue pine mixed forest (1900-2600 m asl), Fir / Spruce mixed forest (2700-3250 m asl), pure Betula forest (3100-3500 m asl), and alpine scrub (above 3500 m asl). Distribution of importance values of dominants explicitly indicated a vertical pattern of these forest types. The sub-tropical and temperate elements of vegetation reveal predominance of closed canopy forests, wherein the sub-tropical tree species outnumber the temperate tree flora. The community analysis was performed using stratified random sampling involving 0.01 % of the total area for each community. The pattern of plant diversity as observed by the values of species richness and diversity indices show a decreasing trend from lower to higher altitudes. The study suggests that distribution and species richness are largely regulated by physiography (altitude, latitude, slope, aspect etc.) and climatic factors.
Authors and Affiliations
Neeraj Sharma, Anil K Raina
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP37399
- DOI -
- Views 167
- Downloads 0
Phenotypic diversity and taxonomic relationship of Rhizophora species based on morphological markers
The phenotypic diversity and taxonomic relatedness of Indo-West Pacific (IWP) Rhizophora species in Pagapas Bay, Calatagan, Batangas, Philippines was investigated based on morphometric markers. Comparative analysis of c...
Parasites gastrointestinal on population rekrekan (Presbytis Fredericae) in forest slopes of Mount Slamet, Central Java, Indonesia
Research was conducted to identify the species of gastrointestinal helminthes of Javan Fuscous Monkey (Presbytis fraederica) which occupied in the rainforest of slope of mount Slamet. It is important step on the early de...
Psychological restoration experience through the impact of green environments: the effects of perception of stress and stressors.
University students have been demonstrated to be in a great need for restoration because of experiencing high amount of stress in their academic life. Immediate contact with nature and restoration experience is a solutio...
Biodegradation performance of sequencing batch biofilm reactor for Polychlorinated Biphenyls in transformer oil
In order that the biodegradability of oil contain PCBs (aroclor 1242 and 1254) from electrical transformer, two pilot - scale sequencing batch biofilm reactor were used with polyurethane foam as an inert and growth medi...
Resistin response to a short time cycling in asthma patients
The role of peptide hormones in modulating systemic inflammation are of increasing interest and importance in studies of respiratory diseases. The purpose of this study was to compare serum resistin between asthma and...