Abstract
Abstract 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±9 to 505±21 trees ha −1 and 4,730±474 to 9,530±700 shrubs ha −1 . Total basal cover varied from 10.49±0.66 to 42.92±2.57 m 2 ha −1 (trees) and 0.36±0.024 to 0.62±0.047 m 2 ha −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.Key Words: Himalaya, Altitude, Vegetation, Diversity, Woody species
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