Vegetation structure, floristic composition and species diversity of woody plant communities in sub-tropical Kandi Siwaliks of Jammu, J & K, India

  • Authors

    • Neeraj Sharma Institute of Mountain Environment University of Jammu
    • Shashi Kant
    2014-09-16
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijbas.v3i4.3323

  • Abstract

    The study was conducted on sub-tropical forest of districts Jammu and Samba of Jammu province of Jammu and Kashmir state, India with the objective of determining floristic composition, species diversity and structure of woody vegetation in drier Kandi Siwaliks. The forests of Kandi belt represent typical subtropical vegetation with distinct vertical zonation of three forest types i.e., Northern dry mixed deciduous forests (5B/C2), Himalayan subtropical scrub (9/C1/DSI) and Himalayan subtropical Pine forest (9/C1a) in an altitudinal range of 300 m asl to 990 m asl. The community analysis was performed using stratified random sampling involving 0.01 % of the total area for each community. Accordingly, 750 quadrats of 400 m2 and 100 m2 were laid for trees and shrubs respectively after attaining their species area curve. Various phytosociological parameters and diversity indices have been used to reveal the community structure, species richness, diversity and evenness for the phanerophytes in different forest types. A total of 112 species comprising 65 trees and 47 shrubs belonging to 92 genera and 48 families were recorded from the forest. The vegetation analysis revealed the dominance of Mallotus philippensis (SIV %, 6.4), Acacia modesta (10.44 %) and Pinus roxburghii (24.27%) as over storey elements in northern dry mixed deciduous forests, Himalayan subtropical scrub and Himalayan subtropical Pine forest respectively. The northern dry mixed deciduous forests occupying 27.3 % of the study area revealed maximum species richness and diversity as indicated by the higher values obtained for Shannon-Wienner’s index and Simpson’s index of dominance. Most of the forest landscapes are influenced by human disturbances and thus necessitates the need for immediate conservation action plan to ensure sustainable utilization and better management of forest.

    Keywords: Community Analysis; Subtropical Vegetation; Phanerophytes; Deciduous Forests; Species Area Curve; Phytosociological Parameters; Human Disturbances.

  • References

    1. Gairola, S., R.S. Rawal and N.P Todaria, "Forest vegetation patterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone of west Himalaya, India," African Journal of Plant Science, 2, 6, (2008), 42-48.
    2. Timilsina, N., M.S. Ross and J.T. Heinen., "A community analysis of Sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai of Nepal", Forest Ecology and Management, 241, (2007), 223-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.01.012.
    3. Ahmad I, M.S.A Ahmad, M. Hussain, M. Ashraf, M.Y. Ashraf & M. Hameed, "Spatiotemporal aspects of plant community structure in open scrub rangelands of sub mountainous Himalayan plateaus", Pakistan J. Bot. 42, 5, (2010),3431- 3440.
    4. Hall, J.B. and M.D Swaine, "Classification and ecology of closed-canopy forest in Ghana", Journal of Ecology 64 (1976), 913-951. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2258816.
    5. Huang, W, V. Pohjonen, S. Johanson, M.I.L. Katigula & O. Lukkanen, "Species diversity, Forest structure and species composition in Tanzanina tropical forests", Forest Ecology and Management, 173 (2003), 11-24 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1127 (01)00820-9.
    6. May, R.M. & M.P.H. Stumpf, "Species-area relations in tropical forests", Science, 290, (2000), 2084-2086. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.290.5499.2084.
    7. Kaul, O.N. & D.C. Sharma. "Forest type Statistics", Indian Forester, 97, (1971), 432-436.
    8. Singh, K.P. & C.P. Kushwaha, "Emerging paradigms of tree phenology in dry tropics", Current Science 89, (2005), 964-975.
    9. Hubbell, S.P., R.B. Foster, S.T. O'brien, K.E. Harms, R. Condit, B. Wechsler, S.J. Wright and S. Loo De Lao, "Light-gap disturbances, recruitment limitation, and tree diversity in a neotropical forests", Science, 283, (1999), 554-557. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.283.5401.554.
    10. Kharkwal, G., P. Mehrotra & Y.S. Pangtey, "Comparative studies on species richness, diversity and composition of oak forests in Nainital district, Uttaranchal", Current Science 89, (2005), 668-672.
    11. Murphy, P.G. & A.E. Lugo, "Structure and biomass of subtropical dry forest in Puerto Rico", Biotropica 18, (1986), 89-96 http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2388750.
    12. Hare M.A, D.O. Lantagne, P.G. Murphy & H. Chero, "Structure and tree species composition in a subtropical dry forest in the Dominican Republic: comparison with a dry forest in Puerto Rico", Tropical Ecology, 38, 1, (1997), 1-17.
    13. Raghubanshi A.S & A. Tripathi, "Effect of disturbance, habitat fragmentation, and alien invasive plants on floral diversity in dry tropical forests of Vindhyan Highlands: a review", Tropical Ecology 50, 1, (2009), 57-69.
    14. Whitmore, T.C, An introduction to tropical rain forests. Oxford University Press, New York, 1998.
    15. Ralhan P.K., A.K. Saxena & J.S. Singh, "Analysis of forest vegetation at and around Nainital in Kumaon Himalayas", Proc. Indian Nat. Sci. Acad., 48, 1, (1982), 121-137
    16. Saxena A.K. & J.S. Singh, A phytosociological analysis of woody plant species in forest communities of a part of Kumaon Himalaya, Vegetatio 50, (1982), 3-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00120674.
    17. Singh, S.P & J.S Singh, "Structure and function of the central Himalayan Oak forests. Proceedings Indian Academy of Science", Plant Science 96, (1986), 159-189.
    18. Singh R.S, P.K. Ralhan & S.P. Singh, "Phytosociology and population structure of Oak mixed conifer forest in a part of Kumaon Himalayas", Environment and Ecology, 5, (1987), 475-487.
    19. Rao P, S.K. Barik, H.N. Pandey & R.S. Tripathi, "Community composition and tree population structure in sub-tropical broadleaved forest along a disturbance gradient" Vegetatio, 88 (1990), 151-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00044832.
    20. Sharma C.M. & A. Kumar, "Community structure of some natural forest stands in Lansdowne Forest range of Garhwal Himalayas", J. Trop. For. Sci., 5, (1992), 8-12.
    21. Varghese A.O. & A.R.R. Menon, "Vegetation characteristics of southern secondary moist mixed deciduous forests of Agasthyamalai region of Kerala", Indian Journal of Forester 21,4, (1998), 337-344.
    22. Pande P.K., J.D.S. Negi, C. Sharma, "Plant species diversity, composition, gradient analysis and regeneration behavior of some tree species in a moist temperate Western Himalayan Forest ecosystem", Indian Forester, 8, (2002), 869-886.
    23. Ilorkar V.M. & P.K. Khatri, "Phytosociological study of Navegaon national Park, Maharashtra", Ind. For. 129, 3, (2003), 377-387.
    24. Negi SC & S Nautyial, "Phytosociological studies of a traditional reserve forests Thal-ke-Dhar, Pithoragarh, Central Himalayas, India", Indian Forester,131, 4, (2005), 519-532.
    25. Naithani H.B., R.C. Pal & R.K. Srivastava, "Vegetation analysis of the Trimula hills, Andhra Pradesh", Indian Forester, 132, 9, (2006),1110-1130.
    26. Sanjeev M, P.L .Gera & Sankhyan, "Phytosocilogical analysis of Arnigad micro-watershed in Mussoorie hills of Garhwal Himalayas", Indian Forester, 132, 1, (2006), 19-30.
    27. Sahu S.C, N.K. Dhal, C.S. Reddy, C. Pattanaik & M. Brahmam, "Phytosociological study of tropical dry deciduous forest of Boudh district, Orissa, India", Research Journal of Forestry, 1, (2007), 66-72. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/rjf.2007.66.72.
    28. Tynsong H. & B.K. Tiwari, "Diversity and population characteristics of woody species in natural forests and arecanut agroforests of south Meghalaya, Northeast India", Tropical Ecology 52, 3, (2011), 243-252
    29. Kunwar, R.M. & S.P. Sharma, "Quantitative analysis of tree species in two community forests of Dolpa district, mid-west Nepal", Him J Sci., 2, 3, (2004), 23-28.
    30. Sharma N, "Biodiversity characterization at landscape level in Jammu district of J & K (Western Himalayas) using remote sensing and GIS", Ph.D Thesis, University of Jammu, (J & K), India, 2003.
    31. Kharkwal, G, "Qualitative analysis of tree species in evergreen forests of Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India", African Journal of Plant Science, 3, 3, (2009), 49-52.
    32. Todaria, N.P., Prerna Pokhriyal, Pooja Uniyal & D.S. Chauhan, "Regeneration status of tree species in forest of Phakot and Pathri Rao watersheds in Garhwal Himalaya", Current Science, 98, 2, (2010), 171-175.
    33. Tripathi, O.P., K. Upadhaya, R.S. Tripathi & H.N. Pandey, "Diversity, dominance and population structure of tree species along fragment- size gradient of a sub-tropical humid forest of northeast India", Research journal of Environmental and Earth sciences 2, 2, (2010), 97-105.
    34. Shaheen, H., R.A. Qureshi & Z.A. Shinwari, "Structural diversity, vegetation dynamics and anthropogenic impact on lesser Himalayan sub-tropical forests of Bagh district, Kashmir", Pak.J.Bota., 43,4, (2011), 1861-1866.
    35. Tiwari, G.B.G. Pananjay & S.C. Tiwari, "Species diversity and environmental Regeneration potential of tree species along an altitudinal gradient in subtropical montane forests of a central Himalaya, India", International Journal of basic and Applied sciences 1, 1, (2012), 27-37.
    36. Bargali, K., P. Bisht, A. Khan, & Y.S. Rawat, "Diversity and regeneration status of tree species at Nainital catchment, Uttarkhand, India", International Journal of Biodiversity and conservation, 5, 5, (2013), 270-280.
    37. Kumar A, "Phytosociological and productivity studies of Bhaderwah forests, Jammu (J & K)", Ph.D Thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu (J&K), India, 1987.
    38. Kumar K., "Studies on plant diversity of Patnitop and adjoining area and impact of biotic activities", Ph.D Thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu (J & K), India, 1997.
    39. Kour, I., "Phytodiversity and impact of tourism on the vegetation of Trikuta Hills (J&K)", Ph.D. Thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu, (J&K), India, 2001.
    40. Singh J, "Phytodiversity of Kalakote range (Rajouri, J&K) and impact of mining and nomadism on the vegetation", Ph.D thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu (J&K), India. 2002
    41. Kesar, R.K., "Phytosociological and community studies of Patnitop forests and their management", Ph.D. Thesis. University of Jammu, Jammu, (J&K), India, 2002.
    42. Jhangir M, "Phytodiversity characterisation using remote sensing and GIS of district Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir", Ph.D thesis, University of Jammu (J&K), Jammu, India, 2004.
    43. Dutt H, "Ecological studies and conservation of medicinal plants of Neeru watershed J & K", Ph.D thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu (J & K), India, 2005.
    44. Kumar V., "Studies on plant diversity of spermatophytes of Parnai watershed, Poonch", Ph.D thesis, University of Jammu, Jammu (J &K), India, 2007.
    45. Raina, A & N. Sharma, "Species composition and diversity of tree species along an altitudinal gradient in Sewa catchment of north-western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India", Env. Cons. J, 13, 1 & 2, (2012), 173-179.
    46. Sharma N., and A. Raina, "Composition, structure and diversity of tree species along an altitudinal gradient in Jammu province of north-western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India", Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences 3, 10, (2013), 12-23.
    47. Champion H.G & S.K. Seth, "A revised survey of the forest types of India", Manager of publication, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India, 404, (1968).
    48. Ganesh,T.R, M. Ganesan, S. Devy, P. Davidar & K.Bawa, "Assessment of plant biodiversity at a mid-elevation evergreen forest of Kalakad-Mandanthurai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India", Current Science, 71, (1996), 379-392.
    49. Margalef D.R, "Information theory in ecology", Genetics and systematic, 3, (1958), 36-71.
    50. Whittaker R.H, "Evolution of species diversity in land plant communities", Evolutionary biology, 10, (1977), 1-67.
    51. Shanon C.E & W. Weaver, The mathematical theory of communication, University of Illinois Press, Urbana, USA, 1963
    52. Simpson E.H, "Measurement of diversity", Nature, (1949), 163-168
    53. Pielou, E.C, Ecological diversity, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1975.
    54. Sheldon. A. L, "Equitability indices: Dependence on the species count", Ecology, 50, (1969), 466-467. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1933900.
    55. Connell, J.H, "Some processes affecting the species composition in forest gaps", Ecology, 70, (1989), 560-562. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1940205.
    56. Dalling, J.W., H.C. Muller-Landau, S.J. Wright and S.P. Hubbell, "Role of dispersal in the recruitment limitation of neo-tropical pioneer species", J. Ecol., 90, (2002), 714-727. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2745.2002.00706.x.
    57. Behera M.D & P.S. Roy, "Assessment of biological richness in different altitudinal zones in eastern Himalayas Arunachal Pradesh, India", Current Science, 88, 2, (2005), 25.
    58. Krishnamurthy Y.L., H.M. Prakasha, A. Nanda, M. Krishnappa, H.S. Dattaraja & H.S. Suresh, "Vegetation structure and floristic composition of a tropical dry deciduous forest in Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, India", Tropical Ecology, 51, 2, (2010), 235-246.
    59. Pande, P.K, "Quantitative vegetation analysis as per aspect and altitude, and regeneration behaviour of tree species in Garhwal Himalayan forest", A For., 9, 1, (2001), 39-52.
    60. Mishra, C., H.T. Prins & Van Wieren, "Diversity, Risk Mediation, and Change in a Trans-Himalayan Agropastoral System", Human Ecology, 31, 4, (2003), 595-609.
    61. Sharma D., Pham V. Hoa, T.V. Cuong, T. Tuyen & N. Sharma. Forest fire risk zonation for Jammu district forest division using Remote Sensing and GIS. Proc. 7th FIG regional conference: Spatial data serving people land governance and the environment, Hanoi, Veitnam (2009), 1-12.
    62. Ram J, A. Kumar &, J. Bhatt, "Plant diversity in six forest types of Uttarakhand Central Himalayas, India", Current Science, 87, 7, (2004), 975-978.
    63. Singh J.S., S.P. Singh, A.K. Saxena & Y.S. Rawat, "The forest vegetation of Silent Valley in India", In: Tropical Rain Forest: The Leeds Symposium (eds. Chadwick AC and Sutton SL), Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, Leeds, U.K, (1985), 25-52.
    64. Pande, P.K., J.D.S Negi, & S.C Sharma, "Plant species diversity, composition, gradient analysis and regeneration behavior of some tree species in a moist temperate western Himalayan forest ecosystem", Indian Forester, 128, 8, (2002), 869-889.
    65. Rasingam L., & N. Parthasarthy, "Tree species diversity and population structure across major forest formations and disturbance categories in Little Andaman Island, India", Tropical Ecology 50, 1, (2009), 89-102.
    66. Shukla R.P, "Patterns of plant diversity across Terai landscape in north-eastern Uttar Pradesh, India", Tropical Ecology 50, 1, (2009), 111-123.
    67. Tripathi K.P. & B. Singh, "Species diversity and vegetation structure across various strata in natural and plantation forests in Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, North India", Tropical Ecology 50, 1, (2009), 191-200.
    68. Joshi H.G, "Vegetation structure, floristic composition and soil nutrient status in three sites of tropical dry deciduous forest of West Bengal, India", Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Sciences, 2, 2, (2012), 355-364.
    69. Sahu S.C, N.K. Dhal, R.C Mohanty, "Tree species diversity, distribution and population structure in tropical dry deciduous forest of Malygiri hill ranges, Eastern India", Tropical Ecology, 53, 2, (2012), 163-168
    70. Gunaga, S., N. Rajeshwari & R Vasudeva, "Tree diversity and disturbance of Kaan forests: relics of a community protected climax vegetation in the central Western Ghats", Tropical Ecology 54, 1, 2013, 117-131.
    71. Visalakshi N, "Vegetation analysis of two tropical dry evergreen forests in southern India", Tropical Ecology 36, 1, (1995), 117-127.
    72. Kumar J.I.N, R.N. Kumar, R.K. Bhoi & P.R. Sajish, "Tree species diversity and soil nutrient status in three sites of tropical dry deciduous forest of western India", Tropical Ecology 51, 2, (2010), 273-279.
    73. Behera, M.D, S.P.S. Kushwara, P.S. Roy, S. Srivastava, T.P. Singh & R.C. Dubey, "Comparing structure and composition of coniferous forests in Subansiri district, Arunachal Pradesh", Current Science, 82, 1, (2002), 70-75.
    74. Feroz, S.M., K.Yoshimura & A. Hagihara, "Architectural stratification and woody species diversity of a subtropical forest frown in a limestone habitat in Okinawa island, Japan", World academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 2, (2008), 11-20.
    75. Sharma, C.M., S.K. Ghildiyal, S. Gairola and S. Suyal, "Vegetation structure, composition and diversity in relation to the soil characteristics of temperate mixed broad-leaved forest along an altitudinal gradient in Garhwal Himalaya", Ind. J. Sci. Technol., 2, 7, (2009), 39-45
    76. Ahmed, M., T. Husain, A.H.S. Heikh, S.S. Hussain and M Siddiqui, "Phytosociology and structure of Himalayan forests from different climatic zones of Pakistan", Pak. J. Bot., 8, 2, (2006), 361-383
    77. Sharma, R.K., P.L. Sankhayan and Ole Hofstad, "Forest biomass density, utilization and production dynamics in a western Himalayan watershed", Journal of Forestry Research, 19 3, (2008), 171-180.
    78. Sundriyal, R.C., E. Sharma, L.K. Rai and S.C. Rai, "Tree structure, regeneration and woody biomass removal in a sub-tropical forest of Mamlay watershed in the Sikkim Himalaya", Vegetatio, 11,3, (1994), 53-63.
    79. Hussain, M.S., A. Sultana, J.A. Khan and A. Khan, "Species composition and community structure of forest stands in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India", Tropical Ecology, 49,2, (2008), 167-181.
    80. Kusumlata and N.S. Bisht, "Quantitative analysis and regeneration potential of moist temperate forest in Garhwal Himalaya", Indian Journal of Forestry, 14, 2, (1991), 98-106.
    81. Subedi, M.N. and P.R. Shakya, "Above ground biomass and productivity studies of Quercus semecarpifolia forest in Nepal", presented in CHEA, INTACH workshop on Biomass, production and utilization strategies, Nainital, India. (1988), 381-385.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Sharma, N., & Kant, S. (2014). Vegetation structure, floristic composition and species diversity of woody plant communities in sub-tropical Kandi Siwaliks of Jammu, J & K, India. International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 3(4), 382-391. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijbas.v3i4.3323

    Received date: 2014-08-12

    Accepted date: 2014-09-14

    Published date: 2014-09-16