Floristic diversity of arboreal communities in the high altitude deserts of Ladakh

Abstract

Analysis of woody components of 4 communities in Nubra valley of Ladakh revealed that Hippophae rhamnoides was the most dominant species sharing 31 per cent of total importance value. Across the communities within landscape relative dominance of this species decreased from 77.76 per cent on most hydric sites (along river bank) to merely 0.27 per cent on most xeric sites (dry rocks). On the other hand, relative dominance of Ephedra gerardiana and Berberis ulicina increased with increasing aridity of sites. Productivity-diversity relationship followed unimodal curve which peaked at sites along streams. Maximum species turnover rate was found across the sites along steams while the most xeric sites were more uniform within.