• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2008

Forty-eight taxa of desmids belonging to Class Chlorophyceae (Order - Conjugales, Family - Desmidiaceae), collected from different aquatic habitats of Lalkuan, Kathgodam and Pantnagar areas of Uttaranchal state and Pilibheet district of Uttar Pradesh, which are regions of foothills of Western Himalaya, have been described. These taxa belongs to 5 genera viz. Closterium Nitzsch (6 spp., 5 var., and 2 forma), Euastrum Ehrenberg (1 var.), Staurastrum Meyen (2 spp., 1 var., 1 forma), Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs (19 spp. and 10 var.), Pleurotaenium Naegeli (1 sp.). Staurastrum pseudopachyrhyncum Wolle (1884) is new record for desmid flora of India.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.95-102
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• 1997

Ring width chronologies of blue pine (pinus wallichiana) from two mesic sites, Kanasar(2, 400 m) and Gangotri(3, 000 m), in the western Himalayan region. India were developed to understand tree growth-climate relationship and its applicability in proxy climate studies. The resoponse function analyses of the two chronologies show that the site conditions play an important role in modulating the effect of climatic variables on tree growth. Winter temperature, prior to the growth year, has been found to play positive influence on blue pine growth at both sites. Summer temperature also has very similar response except for June and August. June temperature has negative influence at the lower in contrary to at the higher site. Low August temperature favors tree growth to precipitation has been found to vary which could be due to different precipitation regime at the two sites. Winter precipitation is important for tree growth at the higher, whereas summer at the lower sits. The present study suggests that the tree ring materials of blue pine from the temperate Himalayan regions could be used to develop chronologies for the reconstruction of seasonal climatic variables.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2018

Quantification of Carbon stock has become in the contest of changing climate and mitigation potential of forests. Two different forest types, Dry Shiwalik Sal Forest and Moist Shiwalik Sal Forest in Barkot and Lachchiwala of Doon Valley, Western Himalaya are selected for the study. Volume equations, destructive sampling and laboratory analysis are done to estimate the carbon stock in different carbon pools like trees, shrubs, herbs and soils. Considerable variations are observed in terms of carbon stocks in different forest types. In Dry Shiwalik Sal Forest, carbon stock density varied between 129.81 and $136.00MgCha^{-1}$ while in Moist Shiwalik Sal Forest, carbon stock density ranged from 222.29 to $271.67MgCha^{-1}$. Tree species like Shorea robusta, Syzigium cumini, Miliusa velutina, Acacia catechu, and Mallotus philippensis had significant role in carbon sequestration. Shorea robusta had contributed highest in carbon stock due to highest density. Total of 2,338,280.165 Mg carbon stock was estimated in all the forest types.

• The Korean Journal of Quaternary Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2007

A wide tree-ring data network from Western Himalayan region as well as from Central and Peninsular India have been established by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, India. This includes several ring width and density chronologies of Himalayan conifers (Pinus, Picea, Cedrus, Abies)covering entire area of Western Himalaya and teak (Tectona grandis L.F.) from central and peninsular India. Many of these chronologies go back to $15^{th}$ century. Tree-ring based reconstructed pre-monsoon (March-April-May) summer climate of Western Himalaya do not show any significant increasing or decreasing trend since past several centuries. High altitude tree-ring chronologies near tree line-glacier boundary are sensitive to the winter temperature. Unprecedented higher growth in recent decades is closely associated with the warming trend over the Himalayan region. Dendroclimatic analysis of teak (Tectona grandis) from Central and Peninsular India show significant relationship with pre-monsoon and monsoon climate. Moisture index over the region indicates strong association with tree-ring variations rather than the direct influence of rainfall. It is evident that, two to three consecutive good monsoon years are capable of maintaining normal or above normal tree growth, even though the following year is low precipitation year.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.149-163
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• 2015

The aim of the present study was to assess the variation in species composition and diversity of woody species at different altitudes (900 to 2600 m asl) in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and its adjoining areas in Garhwal Himalaya, India. A total of 94 woody plant species (including 44 tree and 50 shrub species) belonging to 72 genera and 44 families were reported. Density varied from $235{\pm}9$ to $505{\pm}21trees\;ha^{-1}$ and $4,730{\pm}474$ to $9,530{\pm}700shrubs\;ha^{-1}$. Total basal cover varied from $10.49{\pm}0.66$ to $42.92{\pm}2.57m^2ha^{-1}$ (trees) and $0.36{\pm}0.024$ to $0.62{\pm}0.047m^2ha^{-1}$ (shrubs). Shannon-Wiener Index fluctuated between 2.30 to 3.53 (trees) and 2.74 to 3.78 (shrubs). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that altitude and aspect had significant effect on the distribution of woody species. Taxonomically, Rosaceae with 15 species emerged as the dominant family. Low value of maturity index and contiguous distribution of species denoted the early successional status of the studied forests. The conservation assessment based on altitudinal regimes and the information on species structure and function can provide baseline information for monitoring and sustaining the biodiversity.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2011

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.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.6-24
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• 2019

We have investigated the impact of anthropogenic and natural disturbances on regeneration, composition and diversity in some temperate forests of Bhagirathi Catchment Area of Garhwal Himalaya. The forests were categorized on the basis of canopy cover and magnitude of disturbance into highly, moderately and least disturbed classes. The dominant tree species at lower elevation were Pinus roxburghii and Quercus leucotrichophora, while Abies pindrow, Q. semecarpifolia and Rhododenron arboreum were the dominant species at the upper elevational forests. Cythula tomentosa and Indegophera heterentha were the dominant shrub species present in all the forests. Similarly, Circium wallichii and Oxalis corniculata were the dominant herb species found in all forests (except Q. leucotrichophora forest), whereas Thalictrum foliolosum and Viola pilosa were noticed in each forest (except P. roxburghii forest). The tree density values oscillated between $400{\pm}10\;trees\;ha^{-1}$ to $750{\pm}89.1\;trees\;ha^{-1}$ which generally decreased from lower to higher disturbance regimes however, the total basal cover value was highest ($88.1{\pm}23.6m^2\;ha^{-1}$) in highly disturbed forest and lowest ($25.8{\pm}2.2m^2\;ha^{-1}$) in moderately disturbed forest. The shrub and herb densities were maximum in least disturbed forest, while the young regenerating individuals i.e., sapling and seedling were observed increasing from high to low disturbed forests which reflected that the forest fragmentation adversely affected the regeneration. However, A. pindrow and P. roxburghii were found invariably encroaching the habitats of R. arboreum and Q. leucotrichophora at various altitudes, respectively. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis clearly indicated that the elevation and lopping intensity have more impact on trees, while shrub and herbs were more influenced by elevation, canopy cover, light attenuation and soil erosion. Pinus roxburghii was the only species which was affected by heavy litter removal and forest fire.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.21-37
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• 2022

The present study was carried out to evaluate the chemical properties of soil in relation to forest structure and composition at different altitudes (900-2,600 m asl) in a part of Western Himalaya. The composite soil samples were taken from three (viz. upper, middle and lower) depths. The soils of the whole study area were acidic in nature (pH=4.90-5.51). Contents of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Carbon (C) and soil organic matter (SOM) showed much fluctuation during different seasons of year. Nitrogen content showed significant positive correlations with altitude (r=0.924, p<0.05) and different community parameters like species diversity (r=0.892, p<0.01) and species richness (r=0.941, p<0.05). Phosphorus exhibited direct correlations with carbon (r=0.637) while weak negative correlations with different community parameters like species richness & diversity, total basal cover (TBC), density and canopy cover. Carbon content and hence SOM showed direct correlations with Nitrogen (r=0.821, p<0.01); Phosphorus (r=0.637, ns) and Potassium (r=0.540, ns). But no significant relationship was observed between K content and species richness (p=0.30, r=-0.504); between K content and species diversity (p=0.14, r=-0.672); between P content and species diversity (p=0.29, r=-0.513) and species richness (p=0.23, r=-0.575). Among the different soil nutrients, only N showed a significant positive correlation with altitude while all others exhibited negative (but non-significant) correlation with it. The study revealed that the chemical properties affect and are reciprocally affected by forest structure and composition and that N rich soils of higher altitudes are best for the growth and development of forests.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

Background: Plant species of the alpine treeline ecotone are highly sensitive to climate change and may adjust their population dynamics, and functional traits in response to changing climate. This study examined regeneration patterns and leaf traits variations in an important treeline ecotone element Rhododendron campanulatum along the elevation gradient in western Nepal to assess its potential adaptive responses to climate change. The distribution range of R. campanulatum (3,400-3,800 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) was divided into five horizontal bands, each with a 100 m elevational range. Eight plots (10 m × 10 m) were sampled in each band, resulting into a total of 40 plots. In each plot, all R. campanulatum individuals and co-occurring tree species were counted. From each elevation, R. campanulatum leaf samples were collected to determine leaf dimensions, leaf density, specific leaf area (SLA), and stomatal density (SD). Results: The density-diameter curve indicated that R. campanulatum was regenerating well, with enhanced regeneration at higher elevation (3,800 m a.s.l.) than at lower. Tree canopy cover appeared to be the major determinant of R. campanulatum regeneration, as indicated by a higher number of seedlings in treeless stands. With increasing elevation, the leaf length, width, SLA, and stomata length decreased but leaf thickness and SD increased. Conclusions: Overall, a higher regeneration and lower SLA with the high SD in the leaves at the upper limit of the species distribution suggested that R. campanulatum is well adapted at its upper distribution range with the possibility of upslope range shift as temperature increases.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.39-48
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• 2017

With the growing global concern about climate change, relationship between carbon stock density and tree species has become important for international climate change mitigation programmes. In this study, 150 Quadrats were laid down to assess the diversity, biomass and carbon stocks in each of the forest ranges (Barkot Range, Lachchiwala Range and Thano Range) of Dehra Dun Forest Division in Doon Valley, Western Himalaya, India. Community level carbon stock density was analyzed using Two Way Indicator Species Analysis. Species Richness and Shannon Weiner index was correlated with the carbon stocks of Doon Valley. Positive and weak relationship was found between the carbon stock density and Shannon Weiner Index, and between carbon stock density and Species Richness.