Tree Species Richness, Dominance and Regeneration Status in Western Ramganga Valley, Uttarakhand Himalaya, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2018/v144i7/130914Keywords:
Tree Species, Seedlings, Density-Diameter Classes, Regeneration, Himalayan Forests.Abstract
The present study deals with the community structure and regeneration status of tree species in Western Ramganga Valley, between altitudes 1200–3100m asl. Six forest stands (three on each flank of river Ramganga) were selected at three altitude viz. lower, middle and upper temperate. Composition of trees, saplings and seedlings were assessed through quadrat method. A total 120 quadrats (10m×10m size) for trees, 240 quadrats (size 5m×5m) for saplings and 480 quadrats (size 1×1 m) for seedling laid in the study area. We used circumference (C) to differentiate three layers of a species into adult (C ≥ 30 cm), sapling (C 10–30 cm) and seedling (C< 10 cm). We also observed the distribution of tree individuals into successive diameter classes i.e., 10–20, 21–30, 31–40 cm, etc. to assess the regeneration of tree layer at various sites. A total of 42 species of trees belongs to 33 genera and 19 families from six forest stands, trees were represented by 39 species, 37 seedlings and saplings by 34 species. Out of total 42 tree species, good regeneration status recorded for 10 species, fair for 22 species and poor regeneration status for 4 species. Three species (Cornus macrophylla, Taxus wallichiana and Toona ciliata) revealed as not regenerating species while four species (Acer caesium, Albizia julibrissin, Betula alnoides, Carpinus viminea) as poorly regenerating from the study area. Thus, species with poor and not regeneration status needs proper to check their degradation from the area in future.References
Austin M.P. (1977). Use of ordination and other multivariate descriptive methods to study succession. Vegetatio, 3: 165–175.
Ballabha R., Tiwari J.K. and Tiwari P. (2013). Regeneration of tree species in the sub-tropical forest of Alaknanda Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India. Forest Science and Practice, 15(2): 89–97.
Bankoti N.S. (1990). Woody Vegetation along Altitudinal Gradient (2000–3600 m) of Pindari Catchment (Kumaun Himalaya). Ph.D. Thesis. Kumaun University, Nainital, India.
Bargali K., Usman S. and Joshi M. (1998). Effect of forest covers on certain site and soil characteristics in Kumaun Himalaya. Indian J. Forestry, 21(3): 224–227.
Bargali S.S., Tiwari L.C., Rawat Y.S. and Singh S.P. (1987). Woody vegetation of blue pine-mixed oak forest of Kumaon Himalaya, India. pp. 121–135. In: Western Himalaya Problem and Development (Y.P.S. Pangtey and S.C. Joshi eds). Gyanodaya Prakashan, Nainital.
Campbell D.G., Stone J.L., and Rosas Jr. A. (1992). A comparison of the phytosociology and dynamics of three floodplain (Varzea) forests of known ages, Rio Jurua, western Brazilian Amazon. Botanical J. Linnean Society, 108(3): 213- 237.
Chandra A., Saradhi P., Maikhuri R.K., Saxena K.G. and Rao K.S. (2011). Traditional agro diversity management: a case study of Central Himalayan village ecosystem. J. Mountain Science, 8: 62- 74.
Curtis J.J. (1959). The Vegetation of Wisconsin: An Ordination of Plant Communities. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, Wisconsin. 660 pp.
Curtis J.T. and Cottam G. (1956). Plant Ecology Work Book. Laboratory Field References Manual, Burgus. Publ. Co., Minnesota. 193 pp.
Curtis J.T. and McIntosh R.P. (1950). The interrelationship of certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ecology, 31: 434–455.
Dalling J.W., Hubbel S.P. and Silvera K. (1998). Seed dispersal, seedling establishment and gap partitioning among tropical pioneer trees. J. Ecology, 86: 674–689.
Denslow J.S. (1980). Gap partitioning among tropical rain forest trees. Biotropica, 12:47-55 DOI: 10.2307/2388156.
Dhaulakhandi M., Dobhal A., Bhatt S. and Kumar. (2008). Community structure and regeneration potential of natural forest sites in Gangotri. Indian J. Basic and Applied Sciences, 4: 49–52.
Duvigneaud P. and Denaeyer-Desmet S. (1970). Biological cycling of minerals in temperate deciduous forests. In: Analysis of Forest Ecosystems (Reichle, D.E. ed.), Springer-Verlag, New York. 199- 255 pp.
Eilu G. and Obua J. (2005). Ecology Tree condition and natural regeneration in disturbed sites of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, South Western Uganda. Tropical Ecology, 46(1): 99–111.
FSI. (2011). State of Forest Report 2011. Forest Survey of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests Government of India, Dehra Dun, India.
Gairola S., Rawal R.S. and Todaria N.P. (2008). Forest vegetation patterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone of west Himalaya, India. African J Plant Science, 2(6): 42–48.
Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Ghildiyal S.K. and Suyal S. (2012). Regeneration dynamics of dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya. J. Forestry Research, 23(1): 53- 63.
Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Suyal S. and Ghildiyal S.K. (2011). Composition and diversity of five major forest types in moist temperate climate of the western Himalayas. Forest Study in China, 13(2): 139–153.
Gaur R.D. (1982). Dynamics of vegetation of Garhwal Himalaya. In: Vegetationl Wealth of the Himalayas (Paliwal, G.S. ed.),. Puja Publishers, Delhi.
Ghildiyal S., Baduni N.P., Khanduri V.P. and Sharma C.M. (1998). Community structure and composition of oak forests along altitudinal gradient in Garhwal Himalaya. Indian J.Forestry, 21(3): 242–247.
Hussain M.S., Sultana A., Khan J.A. and Khan A. (2008). Species composition and community structure of forest stands in Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Tropical Ecology, 49(2): 167–181.
Joshi H.C. and Samant S.S. (2004). Assessment of forest vegetation and conservation priorities of communities in a part of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, West Himalaya. Part 1. Inter. J. Sustainable Development and World Ecology, 11: 326–336.
Kennedy D.N. and Swaine M.D. (1991). Germination and growth of colonizing species in artificial gaps of different sizes in Dipterocarp rain forest. In: Tropical Rain Forest: Disturbance and Recovery Marshall, A.G. and M.D. Swain eds.). Royal Society, London. 357–367 pp.
Khan M.L. and Tripathi R.S. (1987). Tree regeneration in disturbed subtropical wet hill forest of northeast India: effect of stumps diameter and height on sprouting of four tree species. Forest Ecology and Management, 17(2-3): 199–209.
Khan M.L., Rai J.P.N. and Tripathi R.S. (1987). Population structure of some tree species in disturbed and protected subtropical forests of north-east India. Acta Oceologia, 8: 247–255.
Kharakwal G., Mehrortra P., Rawat Y.S. and Pangtey Y.P.S. (2005). Phytodiversity and growth form in relation to altitudinal gradient in the Central Himalayan (Kumaun) region of India. Current Science, 89(5): 873–878.
Knight D.H. (1963). A distance method for constructing forest profile diagrams and obtaining structural data. Tropical Ecology, 4: 89–94.
Krauchii N., Brang P. and Schonenberger W. (2000). Forests of mountainous regions: Gaps in knowledge and research needs. Forest Ecology and Management, 132: 73–82.
Maikhuri R.K., Rao K.S. and Semwal L.R. (2011). Changing scenario of Himalayan agroecosystem: Loss of agrobiodiversity, an indicator of environmrntal change in Central Himalaya, India. The Environmentalist, 20: 23–39.
Misra R. (1968). Ecology Workbook. Oxford and IBH Publication Co., Culcutta. 242 pp.
Mueller-Dombois D. and Ellenberg H. (1974). Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Mwavu E.N. and Witkowski T.F. (2009). Population structure and regeneration of multiple-use tree species in a semi-deciduous African tropical rainforest: Implications for primate conservation. Forest Ecology and Management, 258: 840–849.
Negi B.S., Chauhan D.S. and Todaria N.P. (2008). Coparative plant diversity between Panchayat and adjoining Reserve Forest in Garhwal Himalaya. Indian J. Forestry, 31(4): 585–593.
Odum E.P. (1971). Fundamentals of Ecology. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, USA. 574 pp.
Pant S. and Samant S.S. 2012. Diversity and regeneration status of tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary, north-western Himalaya. Tropical Ecology, 53(3): 317–331.
Philips E.A. (1959). Method of Vegetation Study. Holt. Reinhart Winston Len., New York.
Pokhriyal P., Uniyal P., Chauhan D.S. and Todaria N.P. (2010). Regeneration status of tree species in Phakot and Pathri Rao watersheds in Garhwal Himalaya. Current Science, 98(2): 771–775.
Puhlick J.J., Laughlin D.C. and Moore M.M. (2012). Factors influencing ponderosa pine regeneration in the southwestern USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 264: 10–19.
Rajwar G.S. (1991). Structure and diversity of a montane forest in part of Bhagirathi valley, Garhwal Himalaya. pp. 13–19. In: Central Himalaya: Ecology, Environmental Resources and Development (Maithani, D.D. ed.), Daya Publishing House, New Delhi.
Rao P., Barik S.K., Pandey H.N. and Tripathi R.S. (1990). Community composition and tree population structure in a subtropical broad- leaved forest along a disturbance gradient. Vegetatio, 88: 151–162.
Rawat B., Gairola S., Sekar K.C. and Rawal R.S. (2014). Community structure, regeneration potential and future dynamics of natural forest sites in part of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Uttarakhand, India. African J. Plant Science, 8(7): 380–391.
Rawat D.S., Tiwari J.K., Tiwari P., Ballabha R. and Rana C.S. (2013). Plant Diversity in the Lohba Range of Kedarnath Forest Division in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Annals of Plant Sciences, 2(8): 302–320.
Rawat D.S., Tiwari P. and Uniyal P.L. (2017). Understanding plant community structure and regeneration dynamics for conservation of biodiversity in Uttarkhand region. The Botanica, 67: 106–114.
Rawat D.S., Dash S.S., Sinha B.K., Kumar V., Banerjee A. and Singh P. (2018). Community structure and regeneration status of tree species in Eastern Himalaya: A case study from Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal, India. Taiwania, 63(1): 16–24.
Sagar R. and Singh J.S. (2005). Structure, diversity, and regeneration of tropical dry deciduous forest of northern India. Biodiversity and Conservation, 14: 935–959.
Sagar R., Raghubansi A.S. and Singh J.S. (2008). Comparision of community composition and species diversity of understory and overstory tree species in a dry tropical forest of Northern India. J. Environmental Management, 88: 1037–1046.
Saxena A.K. and Singh J.S. (1982). A phytosociological analysis of woody species in forest communities of a part of Kumaun Himalaya. Vegetatio, 50: 3–32.
Semwal S., Nautiyal B.P. and Bhatt A.B. (2008). Dominance diversity patterns and regeneration status of moist temperate forests in Garhwal, part of north-west Himalaya, India. Taiwan J. Forest Science, 23(4): 351–364.
Shankar U. (2001). A case of high tree diversity in a Sal (Shorea robusta)-dominated lowland forest of Eastern Himalaya: Floristic composition, regeneration and conservation. Current Science, 81: 776–786.
Singh J. S. and Singh S.P. (1987). Forest vegetation of the Himalaya. Botanical Review, 53(1): 80–192.
Singh V. (1982). Fodder Trees of India. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co., New Delhi
Srivastava R.K., Khanduri V.P., Sharma C.M. and Kumar P. (2005). Structure, diversity and regeneration potential of Oak dominated conifer mixed forest along an altitudinal gradient of Garhwal Himalaya. Indian Forester, 131(12): 1537–1553.
Tripathi B.C., Rikhari H.C., Bargali S.S. and Rawat Y.S. (1991). Species composition and regeneration in disturbed forest sites in the oak zone in and around Nainital. Proceedings of Indian National Science Academy, 57: 381–390.
Vablen T.T., Ashton D.E. and Schlsgel F.J. (1979). Tree regeneration strategies in a lowland Nothofagus dominated forest in South-Central Chile. J. Biogeography, 6: 329–340.
Downloads
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Unless otherwise stated, copyright or similar rights in all materials presented on the site, including graphical images, are owned by Indian Forester.
