Composition and diversity of five major forest types in moist temperate climate of the western Himalayas

The present study was undertaken in five major forest types (dominated by Quercus semecarpifolia, Quercus floribunda, Acer acuminatum, Abies pindrow and Aesculus indica, respectively) between 2400 and 2850 m a.s.l. in a moist temperate forest of the Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim was to assess the variation in composition and diversity in different vegetation layers, i.e., herb, shrub and tree, among these five forest types. Diversity indices, such as the Shannon-Wiener diversity index, density, total basal cover, Simpson’s concentration of dominance index, Simpson’s diversity index, Pielou’s equitability, species richness, species heterogeneity and β-diversity, were calculated to understand community structures. Dominance-diversity curves were drawn to ascertain resource apportionment among various species in different forest types.     

Regeneration of tree species in the sub-tropical forest of Alaknanda Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India

We studied the regeneration of tree species in the sub-tropical forest of Alaknanda Valley in Garhwal Himalaya, India. The overall regeneration status was fairly good in the study area. Seedling density ranged between 520 and 1,240 seedlings per ha while the density of saplings varied between 400 and 800 saplings per ha. Out of eight sites studied, five sites, viz., A1 , A2 , B1 , B2and C2contained the highest number of seedlings (280-480 per ha) and saplings (200-440 per ha) for Pinus roxburghii and remaining three sites viz., C1, D1and D2represented the highest number of seedlings (240-400 per ha) and saplings (200-240 per ha) for Anogeissus latifolius. The DBH class distribution of the tree species revealed that the highest number of individuals was concentrated in the lower diameter classes while smallest numbers were found in the higher diameter classes. Species such as Acacia catechu, Anogeissus latifolius, Dalbergia sissoo, Engelhardtia spicata, Lannea coromandelica, Mallotus philippensis and Pinus roxburghii have the largest number of saplings and seedlings in the lower DBH classes, suggesting that they have good regeneration potential. Other species such as Aegle marmelos, Bauhinia variegata, Bombax ceiba, Cassia fistula, Erythrina variegata, Haldinia cordifolia, Mangifera indica, Ougeinia oojeinensis, Phyllanthus emblica, Syzygium cumini, Terminalia alata and Toona hexandra have either no or very small number of saplings in the lower DBH classes, which indicates that the status of these species implies poor regeneration.     

Agroforestry systems in the Garhwal Himalayas of India

Agroforestry systems, though at subsistence level are well established in Garhwal Himalayas. The farmers undertake cultivation of various crops, seasonal and biennials crops with trees all in mixtures on the same piece of land. Farm animals and poultry form an essential component of the systems. The intimate association of different species provides both subsistence and commercial products which give additional income to the farmer. The paper describes the general scenario of socio-economic condition and existing agroforestry practices and some suggestions for their improvement in the Garhwal Himalayas.     

Variation in vegetation composition,biomass production,and carbon storage in ridge top forests of high mountains of Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

The present study was aimed to anticipate how forest composition, regeneration, biomass production, and carbon storage vary in the ridge top forests of the high mountains of Garhwal Himalaya. For this purpose five major forest types—(a) Pinus wallichiana, (b) Quercus semecarpifolia, (c) Cedrus deodara, (d) Abies spectabilis, and (e) Betula utilis mixed forests—were selected on different ridge tops in the Bhagirathi Catchment Area of the Uttarkashi District of Garhwal Himalaya. The highest species richness (10 species) and stand density (804 ± 184.5 stems ha^?1) were recorded in Abies spectabilis forests, whereas lowest species richness (4 species) and species density (428 ± 144.7 stems ha^?1) were found in Quercus semecarpifolia forests. The total basal cover (TBC) values were maximum (91.1 ± 24.4 m² ha^?1) in Cedrus deodara forests and minimum (26.5 ± 11.7 m² ha^?1) in Pinus wallichiana forests. The highest total biomass density (TBD) (464.2 ± 152.5 Mg ha^?1) and total carbon density (TCD; 208.9 ± 68.6 Mg C ha^?1) values were recorded for Cedrus deodara forests; however, lowest TBD (283.4 ± 74.8 Mg ha^?1) and TCD (127.5 ± 33.7 Mg C ha^?1) values for Quercus semecarpifolia forests. Our study suggests that Abies spectabilis-dominated forests should be encouraged for biodiversity enrichment and reducing carbon emissions on ridge top forests of high mountains.     

Yield Production and Energy Budget of Traditional Agricultural Crops in Garhwal Himalaya

The yield production and energy budget of agroecosystem was carded out at three different climatic regions,i.e.,tropical,sub-tropical,and temperate in Garhwal Himalaya,India.The total human population was the highest(1 140)in tropical region,followed by 464 in temperate region,and 374 in sub-tropical region.Livestock population had also a similar trend with human population in each climatic region,which was 870,290,and 1 88 in the tropical,temperate,and sub-tropical regions,respectively.In winter season,the crop production was the highest(2 332 kg ha-1 yr-1)for Triticum aestivum in tropical region followed by 1 716 kg ha-1 yr-1 in sub-tropical region,and 1 473 kg ha-i yr-1 in temperate region.The associated crops were Hordeum vulgare,Brassica campestris,and Pisum sativa.However,in summer season,the most contributing crop was Oryza sativa,which had also the highest production in tropical region followed by sub-tropical region,and temperate region,i.e.,1 160,1 096,and 1 076 kg ha-1 yr-1,respectively.Other growing crops were Elusine coracana.Vigna mugo,Glycine soja,and Echnochlola frumentaceae.Brassica rugosa was the only crop grown in tropical region between the period of winter and summer season.The total root production of crops in each climatic region was the highest in tropical region(1 846.2 kg ha-1 yr-1),followed by temperate region(1 841.5 kg ha-1 yr-1)and sub-tropical region(1 442.5 kg ha-1 yr-1).However,shoot components of crops were 20 241.5,17 847.0,and 1 188.3 kg ha-1 yr-1,which recorded parallel to root in each climatic region.The root and shoot components of weed decreased with increasing altitudes,which were 105.39and 1 150.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 in tropical region,94.55 and 1 147.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 in sub-tropical region,and 73.33 and 871.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 in temperate region for root and shoot,respectively.In the energy inputs,the most contribution was of compost in each climatic region.Among the region,the highest input of compost was in temperate region followed by sub-tropical,and the lowest in temperate region.The fertilizer input was only recorded from tropical region because of its close connection with market and easy accessibility to the farmer compared to sub-tropical and temperate regions.The energy input ranged from 0.39×105 to 0.44×105 MJ ha-1(human labour),0.84×105 to 1.09×105 MJ ha-1(bullock labour).0.36×105 to 0.45×105 MJ ha-1(seed),16.65×105 to 32.65×105 MJ ha-1(compost),while output ranged from 8.44×105 to 11.01×105 MJ ha-1(agronomic yield),and 14.22×105 to 19.35×105 MJ ha-1(crop-residue).The total input was the highest in temperate region,followed by subtropical and tropical region,and the highest output was in tropical region and the lowest in sub-tropical region.     

Biodiversity,ecological status and conservation priority of the fish of the River Alaknanda,a parent stream of the River Ganges (India)

1. The River Alaknanda is a tributary of the River Ganges, originating from the Garhwal Himalaya in India and sustaining about 39 fish species from 15 genera and five families. 2. A diversity index has been calculated for the fish communities ranging from 0.407 to 0.593; no significant difference in diversity was noted at the three sampling sites which is attributed to the homogeneity of the ecological conditions. A similarity index was found to be high between the sampling sites and ranged from 93.47 to 100. 3. The categories of threats to the fish and priority for species conservation have been determined. Fourteen species were assigned as Abundant, seven species as Vulnerable, 15 species at Lower Risk, one species as Data Deficient while two species were assigned as Endangered. 4. The conservation of fish has been given little attention in India. The options for the conservation of the fish dwelling in the Alaknanda include ex situ and in situ conservation, habitat restoration, translocation and captive breeding. 5. The creation of fish sanctuaries and public awareness of the importance of fish species and their conservation will be critical for the proper conservation and management of the Garhwal Himalayan fish. Significantly, there are some parts of the river where fish are preserved out of religious sentiments. Careful nurturing of such sentiments may prove to be highly beneficial. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Specific gravity of some woody species in the Srinagar Valley of the Garhwal Himalayas, India

In this study, we investigated the specific gravity of wood samples collected from a total of 31 woody species, consisting of 20 trees, 10 shrubs and one species of bamboo from sub-tropical regions of Garhwal Himalayas, India. Results show that among these woody species, the specific gravity of trees ranged from 0.34 for Erythrina suberosa to 0.83 for Albizia procera. For shrub species the specific gravity of Ricinus communis was 0.39 and that of Dodonaea viscosa 0.93. The average specific gravity of trees was 0.58 and of shrubs 0.66.     

Diversity and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat in Garhwal Himalaya, India

We investigated the floristic composition, phytosociological and regeneration status of Sarkot Van Panchyat (community forest) in Chamoli district of Garhwal Himalaya. A total of 52 plant species of 46 genera and 26 families were recorded, which included 12 trees, 18 shrubs and 22 herb species. Quercus leucotrichophora was dominant tree species in sapling and seedling layers, followed by Lyonia ovalifolia and Rhododendron arboreum.Out of 12 tree species, 7 species in seedling stage and 8 species in sapling stage were recorded in the study area. The 44.41% species in the study area showed good regeneration status, 16.66% species were fairly regenerating,and 8.33% species showed poor regeneration status, while 33% species were not regenerating. Number of individuals from lower girth classes (0 10 cmand 10 30 cm) showed decreasing trend with the increase in size of girth class. Shannon index (H) for trees, shrubs and herbs was recorded as 1.82,2.24 and 2.41 respectively. Simpsons index (CD) was recorded as 0.21, 0.12and 0.12 for trees, shrubs and herbs respectively. The forest should be divided into compartments for better management purpose and each compartment should be closed for five years to assist regeneration and enrichment planting may also be carried out for sustainable management.     

Regeneration dynamics of dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya

The present study was undertaken in moist temperate forest of Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim of the present study was to understand the regeneration dynamics of the dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in naturally regenerating, restricted access forest. The overall regeneration status was fairly high in the study area. Most of the native canopy and undercanopy dominants had frequent reproduction and expanding populations, which suggests the stability of forest structure/composition and further expansion of dominant species. The overall regeneration of trees in the forest had a greater contribution of middle and understorey species. Because of infrequent reproduction and declining populations of some of the dominant native species viz., Abies pindrow, Alnus nepalensis and Betula alnoides, structural/compositional changes in the future are expected in respective forests dominated by them. Abies pindrow and Taxus baccata need immediate attention by forest managers for their survival in the area. Seedlings were found to be more prone to competition from herb and shrubs than saplings.     

Cross-taxon surrogacy of biodiversity in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya

Biodiversity surveys were conducted in 13, 10×50 m² plots located between 1400 to 3700 m above mean sea level in a range of habitats in temperate mixed Oak and Coniferous forests through sub-alpine to the alpine grasslands in Chamoli district of Uttaranchal state in the Indian Garhwal Himalaya. Cross-taxon congruence in biodiversity (α-diversity and β-diversity) across macrolichens, mosses, liverworts, woody plants (shrubs and trees) and ants was investigated, so as to examine the extent to which these groups of organisms can function as surrogates for each other. Although woody plants provided a major substrate for macrolichens and mosses, there was no species-specific association between them. Woody plant species richness was highly positively correlated with mosses (r²=0.63, P<0.001), but the relationship was not particularly very strong with lichens and liverworts. While there was a significant correlation in the species turnover (β-diversity) of macrolichens with mosses (r²=0.21, P<0.005), the relationship was relatively poor with the woody plants. On the other hand, negative correlations emerged in the species richness of ants with those of macrolichens, mosses and woody plants (r²=−0.44, P<0.05), but most of the complementarity (turnover) relationships among them were positive. Since diversity between taxonomic hierarchies within the group was consistently significantly positively correlated in all these taxa, the higher taxonomic categories such as genus and family may be employed as surrogates for rapid assessment and monitoring of species diversity. Although no single group other than macrolichens has emerged as a good indicator of changes in species richness in all other groups, some concordant relationships between them conform to the hypothesis that species assemblages of certain taxonomic groups could still be used as surrogates for efficient monitoring of species diversity in other groups whose distribution may further predict the importance of conserving overall biodiversity in landscapes such as the Garhwal Himalaya.