Journal of Forest and Environmental Science

Institute of Forest Science, kangwon National University (강원대학교 산림과학연구소)
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Species Composition and Diversity in Mid-altitudinal Moist Temperate Forests of the Western Himalaya

  • Gairola, Sumeet (Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University)) ;
  • Sharma, C.M. (Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University)) ;
  • Suyal, Sarvesh (Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University)) ;
  • Ghildiya, S.K. (Department of Botany, HNB Garhwal University (A Central University))
  • Received : 2011.01.21
  • Accepted : 2011.04.13
  • Published : 2011.04.30
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Abstract

The present study was undertaken in middle altitudinal (1500 to 2500 masl) moist temperate forest of Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim of the present study was to assess the variation in species composition and diversity in different vegetation layers viz. herb, shrub and tree, at different altitudes. Shannon-Wiener diversity index ($\bar{H}$), $Nha^{-1}$, total basal cover per hectare (G), Simpson concentration of dominance, Pielou Equitability, species richness (SR), Margalef index, Menheink index of species richness and ${\beta}$-diversity were calculated to understand community composition. Tree G ranged from 84.25 to 35.08 $m^2ha^{-1}$ and total stem density varied from 990 to 1470 Nha-1. Total SR (herb, shrub and trees) among different forest types ranged between 31 and 58. Maximum G of herb and shrub layers was recorded at lower altitudes between 1500 and 1650 masl. ${\beta}$-diversity was higher in herb layers as compared to tree and shrub layers. Dominance-diversity curves were also drawn to ascertain resource apportionment among various species in different forest types. Values of species diversity, $\bar{H}$, $Nha^{-1}$ and G were higher in the study area as compared to similar forests growing in other parts of Uttarakhand Himalaya.

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References

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