Abstract
The present study was done in sub-tropical and temperate Himalayan Forest of Saikot Reserve Forest, Kedarnath forest division in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand to understand the community structure and effect of altitudinal variation on structure and composition of the vegetation and to record the floristic diversity of the plants in the study area. The study area was categorized into four forest types on the basis of vegetation analysis, plant association or plant composition surveys, viz (1) Chir-Pine forest, (2) pine-oak forest (3) oak-pine-forest (4) oak-mixed forest. In the floristic study, a total of 58 species were recorded. Of the 58 plant species, 21 were tree, 11 shrubs and 26 herbs. The Quercus leucotrichophora forest was experiencing serious threat owing to human pressure and severe invasion of Pinus roxburghii which leads to loss of oak forest and development of pine forest. Key words: Community structure, Saikot Reserve Forest, Garhwal Himalaya, altitudinal gradient, Montane Forest, aspects.
Highlights
Vegetation is a key factor in determining the structure of any ecosystem (Gaur, 1999; Bhatt and Purohit, 2009).Within a plant community, it determines microclimate, energy budget, photosynthesis, water regimes, surface runoff and soil temperature (Yadav and Gupta, 2006).The plant community of a region is a function of time and altitude
The Himalayan vegetation ranges from sub-montane dry-deciduous forest in the foothills to alpine pasture above the timberline (Gaur, 1999; Bhatt and Purohit, 2009)
A total of 58 plant species were recorded from the entire study area (Saikot Reserve Forest area Kedarnath forest division)
Summary
Vegetation is a key factor in determining the structure of any ecosystem (Gaur, 1999; Bhatt and Purohit, 2009).Within a plant community, it determines microclimate, energy budget, photosynthesis, water regimes, surface runoff and soil temperature (Yadav and Gupta, 2006).The plant community of a region is a function of time and altitude. Vegetation is a key factor in determining the structure of any ecosystem (Gaur, 1999; Bhatt and Purohit, 2009). It determines microclimate, energy budget, photosynthesis, water regimes, surface runoff and soil temperature (Yadav and Gupta, 2006). Latitude, aspect, rainfall and humidity play an important role in the formation of plant communities and their composition (Kharkwal et al, 2005). The Himalayan vegetation ranges from sub-montane dry-deciduous forest in the foothills to alpine pasture above the timberline (Gaur, 1999; Bhatt and Purohit, 2009). Phytosociological characters differ among aspects and position, even in the same vegetation type
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