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Research ArticleFloristic Diversity and Distribution Pattern of PlantCommunities along Altitudinal Gradient in Sangla ValleyNorthwest Himalaya
Pankaj Sharma1 J C Rana1 Usha Devi1 S S Randhawa2 and Rajesh Kumar3
1 National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources Regional Station Phagli Shimla 171 004 India2 State Council for Science Technology and Environment Shimla 171 009 India3 School of Basic Sciences and Research Sharda University Knowledge Park III Greater Noida Gautam Budh Nagar 201306 India
Correspondence should be addressed to J C Rana ranajc2003yahoocom
Received 30 June 2014 Revised 22 August 2014 Accepted 22 August 2014 Published 14 October 2014
Academic Editor Shixiong Cao
Copyright copy 2014 Pankaj Sharma et alThis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licensewhich permits unrestricted use distribution and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited
Himalayas are globally important biodiversity hotspots and are facing rapid loss in floristic diversity and changing pattern ofvegetation due to various biotic and abiotic factors This has necessitated the qualitative and quantitative assessment of vegetationhere The present study was conducted in Sangla Valley of northwest Himalaya aiming to assess the structure of vegetation andits trend in the valley along the altitudinal gradient In the forest and alpine zones of the valley 15 communities were recordedStudy revealed 320 species belonging to 199 genera and 75 families Asteraceae Rosaceae Apiaceae and Ranunculaceae weredominant Among genera Artemisia followed by Polygonum Saussurea Berberis andThalictrum were dominant Tree and shrubrsquosdensity ranged from 205 to 600 and from 105 to 1030 individual per hectare respectively whereas herbs ranged from 2208 to 7895individualm2 Nearly 182 species were native to the Himalaya Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climate sensitivespecies was found to be highest in northeast and north aspectsThis study gives an insight into the floristic diversity and communitystructure of the fragile Sangla Valley which was hitherto not available
1 Introduction
Himalayas comprised of earthrsquos most multifaceted anddiverse montane ecosystems characterized by a harsh cli-mate a strong degree of seasonality and a high diversityof both plant communities and species [1 2] These aregeodynamic young mountains and have been recognized asone of the globally important biodiversity hotspots [3 4]In these mountains presence of often sharp environmentalgradients due to rapid geoclimatic variations generate diversevegetation and community types having high plant speciesdiversity [5] Here a wide range of altitude rainfall climategeological conditions river systems and topography havegiven rise to an immense diversity of ecosystems and ulti-mately to immense biological diversity
The structure composition and vegetative functions aremost significant ecological attributes of a particular ecosys-tem which show variations in response to environmental
as well as anthropogenic variables [6ndash8] Major threats toecosystems and biodiversity are habitat loss and fragmenta-tion overexploitation pollution invasions of alien speciesand global climate change [9] with disruption of communitystructure
The vegetation distribution pattern communities andpopulation dynamics in high altitude arid areas of the fragileHimalaya have seldom given the due attention by researchersand are hence poorly understood Furthermore altitude andaspect are the major topographic factors that control thedistribution patterns of vegetation in mountain areas Thesefactors determine the microclimate and thus the distributionof vegetation in the mountain areas [10] The anthropogenicpressures heavy grazing and the natural calamities haveled to degradation of natural habitats of many species Suchpractices are discouraging the moisture loving native speciesand promoting the hardy nonnative exotic species havinglittle value for the local ecosystem [11]
Hindawi Publishing Corporatione Scientific World JournalVolume 2014 Article ID 264878 11 pageshttpdxdoiorg1011552014264878
2 The Scientific World Journal
The rapid loss in floristic diversity and changing patternof vegetation due to various biotic and abiotic factors havenecessitated the qualitative and quantitative assessment ofvegetation However numbers of studies on communitydynamics and phytogeographic affinities have been con-ducted qualitatively [12ndash17] as well as quantitatively [5 18ndash24] and in northwest Himalaya [4 6 25ndash27] in particu-lar as well Nevertheless a very few studies incorporatingcomposition structural and functional diversity and nativityof the biodiversity have been carried out in northwestHimalaya [28ndash31] But not many studies that give detailedaccount of floristic diversity of Kinnaur [5] which forms atypical geographical entity of Himachal Pradesh and SanglaValley in particular are available till now Therefore thiswork is emphasized to study floristic composition to assessthe community structure of the vegetation by differentphytosociological methods and phytogeographic affinitiesof the species and to study the vegetation pattern inthe different aspects of the SV along an altitudinal gradi-ent
2 Materials and Methods
21 Physiographic Features of the Study Area The study areais commonly known as Sangla Valley (hereafter SV) andsituated at 31∘311015840ndash 361015840N and 77∘201015840minus271015840E along the BaspaRiver that flows through the middle of valley (Figure 1) Thevalley is oriented from southeast to northwest directionsThis is one of the most ecologically fragile biogeographicalzones [32] and inhabited by indigenous tribal communitieshavingMongolian features and Buddhist religion and cultureIt is surrounded by high mountains with elevation rangingfrom 1800 to 5480m above mean sea level The upper rangesof the valley are highly glaciered and receive most of itswater through dry precipitation (snow) in winters fromNovember to April The vegetation of the valley is temperatesubalpine and alpine types and forests are dominated byPinuswallichiana Betula utilis Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodaracommunities The livelihood of communities is based onagrihorticultural activities which are generally performedafter snow melt in April to October The communities haveclose affinity with plant resources not only to meet theirbasic requirements like food fodder fuel health and shelterbut also to perform several religious and cultural ritualsThough the environment of the valley is very close to natureseveral anthropogenic activities have successfully altered thenatural and traditional agroecosystem of the valley Severalnew climatic events such as increasing frequency of rainsin July-August (150ndash200mm in 1980s to 465mm in 2012)rising temperature frost and fog are being witnessed morefrequently than two decades ago
22 Sampling Plot and Estimation Design Representativeplots of 50 times 50m were selected in different aspects andhabitats 10 quadrats of 10 times 10m for trees 20 quadrats of 5times 5m for shrubs and 20 quadrats of 1 times 1m for herbs wererandomly laid within the plot Plots were selected based ondifferent topographical features such as habitat types altitude
aspects slope and different vegetation types (Table 1) Thehabitats were identified based on the physical charactersand dominance of the vegetation The plots facing highanthropogenic pressure were considered as degraded habitatsand sites having closed canopy with high percent of humusand moisture were considered as moist habitat whereas thoseof low percent of the same were considered as dry habitatThe site having gt50 boulders of the ground cover wereconsidered as bouldery habitat Geographical coordinatesof the sites were taken with the help of Global PositioningSystem (GPS) Slope was measured with the help of Abneyrsquoslevel
Sites were selected in each and every aspect between1950 and 4500m for the field study and analysis of floristicdiversity In various representative ecoclimatic zones of SV34 plots were sampled
23 Data Analysis The SV which falls under cold aridzone of Himachal Pradesh is diverse and rich in speciesCommunities were identified based on the importance valueindex and calculated as the sum of relative frequency relativedensity and relative basal arearelative abundance For diver-sity index Shannon-Wiener information index [33] was usedSpecies richnesswas considered as the total number of speciesin a growth form For the collection and analysis of datastandard ecological methods [20 24 34ndash39] were followedVegetation was analytically computed following [39 40] Thetaxa of Himalayan origin were considered as native and allothers as nonnative During qualitative assessment rapidsurveys and samplings were done in each season and taxaidentified on spot and with the help of floras and researchpapers [12ndash14 40ndash43]
3 Results and Discussion
Plots accessed were 34 in number and a total 15 communities(9 tree 5 shrub and 1 herb communities) were delineatedbased on importance value index for the tree communitiesand relative density for the shrub and herb communities
31 Vegetational Analysis Thedifferent habitats covered dur-ing the study were shady moist rocky bouldery dry alpinemeadow riverine moraines and so forth Among theseshady moist (12) followed by dry habitats (9) representedmaximum sites Because of unique topography and differentaltitudinal zones of western Himalaya vegetation varies fromaspect to aspect The sites were selected in every accessiblehabitat and aspect along an altitudinal gradient North andnortheastern aspects represented maximum sites (8 each)followed by southwest and northwest (5 each) (Table 1)
Within the communities so delineated we recorded 320species of plants belonging to 199 genera and 75 familiesDominant group reported was angiosperms (68 families190 genera and 302 species) gymnosperms represented by4 families 7 genera and 13 species and pteridophytes by 4families 3 genera and 5 species They were distributed indifferent life forms that is trees (29 spp) shrubs (43 spp)and herbs (248 spp) (Table 2)
The Scientific World Journal 3
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
9 45 0 9 18 27 36
(km)
EN
SW
Figure 1 Map of the study area
Among the angiosperm families Asteraceae (49 spp)Rosaceae (21 spp) Apiaceae (20 spp) and Ranunculaceae(18 spp) were dominant Among genera Artemisia and Poly-gonum (7 spp) Saussurea (6 spp) Berberis and Thalictrum(5 spp) and Geranium Juniperus Nepeta Potentilla PoaRosa and Salix (4 spp each) were dominant genera Twenty-eight (28) families were monotypic and represented only byone species The occurrence of 320 species in the quantifiedarea indicates that its environmental conditions particularlyshady moist and forest habitats are suitable for the growthand development of species Amongst the communities Pwallichiana community represented maximum sites (6 sites)followed by B utilis (5 sites) B utilis-P wallichiana mixed(4 sites) C deodara and P gerardiana (3 sites each) Ranthopogon H salicifolia and R anthopogon-S caliculatamixed (2 sites each) and the rest of the communities wererepresented by one site only Dominance of the Asteraceaein SV is also validated by floras of Lahaul-Spiti HimachalPradesh in high altitude regions ofwesternHimalaya [13 42]The affinity of vegetation towards the flora of the Lahaul-SpitiValley and Bhaba Valley [5 42] is apparent by the presenceof similar dominant families Moreover the major part ofthe valley is covered with snow throughout the year Pres-ence of number of herbaceous families (namely ApiaceaeBrassicaceae Ranunculaceae Rosaceae Polygonaceae andScrophulariaceae) is attributed to the temperate and alpinenature of the area Lesser Pteridophytes in the area maybe attributed to the more exposed arid nature of the valleywith low broad leaf forest cover and moisture Nonethelessas a whole the high diversity and richness of the speciesin the SV indicate the high conservation value of the areaOccurrences of 320 species in the 15 identified communitiesof 34 quantified plots validate this
32 Communities Composition and Structure Total tree den-sity ranged from 205 to 600 noha (number per hectare) andtotal basal area from 870 to 4241m2ha Shrubs and herbsdensities ranged from 1050 to 103000 noha and from 2208to 4873 nom2
respectively Shrub density is maximum in C
deodara-P smithianamixed community and herbs density ismaximum in Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum community Among five major shrubcommunities Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedcommunity has highest shrub and herb density that is54000 noha and 4873 nom2 respectively (Table 3) Treedensity range is comparable to the other Himalayan studies[40 44] and European temperate forests [45] Similarlyshrub and herbrsquos density ranges (105ndash1030 noha and 2208ndash7895 nom2 resp) are in compliance with the earlier studiesof the Himalayan regions [46] However the lower range ofshrub densities in R anthopogon communities (105 nohaand 230 noha) in the valley is due to the presence of itsscanty patches near the subalpine areas and often the ruggedand arid and moraine topography
33 Species Richness and Diversity Index (H1015840) Species rich-ness in identified communities ranged from 19 to 96Among the communities it was highest in P wallichiana(96 spp) followed by B utilis-P wallichiana mixed (80spp) R anthopogon-S caliculata mixed (52 spp) and Pgerardiana (47 spp) communities Species diversity indexfor trees is maximum (128) for C deodara-P smithianamixed community and minimum (00) for Q floribunda andP wallichiana communities among shrubs it is maximum(238) for P wallichiana community and minimum (040) forQ floribunda community and for herbs it is maximum (401)
4 The Scientific World Journal
Table 1 Physical Characteristics of the plots assessed in Sangla Valley
S No Altitude (m) Habitat Slope Aspect Latitude Longitude1 1950 Degraded 35∘ S 31∘ 28040 N 78∘ 11209 E2 2000 Dry 60∘ NW 31∘ 28853 N 78∘ 10892 E3 2100 Dry 60∘ SW 31∘ 28823 N 78∘ 10962 E4 2250 Dry 50∘ S 31∘ 28045 N 78∘ 11111 E5 2550 Shady Moist 20∘ N 31∘ 25025 N 78∘ 16103 E6 2625 Riverine 50∘ NE 31∘ 24854 N 78∘ 16828 E7 2675 Bouldery 40∘ N 31∘ 25061 N 78∘ 16368 E8 2690 Dry 15∘ NE 31∘ 24913 N 78∘ 16085 E9 2750 Shady Moist 10∘ SW 31∘ 25758 N 78∘ 16746 E10 2770 Shady Moist 45∘ NE 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E11 3120 Bouldery 20∘ NE 31∘ 23039 N 78∘ 21614 E12 3185 Dry 30∘ SW 31∘ 23631 N 78∘ 21370 E13 3250 Dry 45∘ S 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E14 3320 Dry 35∘ SW 31∘ 21286 N 78∘ 24438 E15 3340 Shady Moist 55∘ SW 31∘ 23840 N 78∘ 21340 E16 3350 Rocky 60∘ S 31∘ 21756 N 78∘ 24029 E17 3385 Dry 45∘ N 31∘ 20992 N 78∘ 26287 E18 3399 Dry 40∘ N 31∘ 23640 N 78∘ 21558 E19 3400 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20955 N 78∘ 26135 E20 3420 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23209 N 78∘ 25577 E21 3450 Bouldery 50∘ W 31∘ 23881 N 78∘ 21441 E22 3480 Shady Moist 50∘ NW 31∘ 20886 N 78∘ 26179 E23 3500 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23959 N 78∘ 21554 E24 3501 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 20967 N 78∘ 27303 E25 3516 Rocky 40∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27381 E26 3527 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27374 E27 3650 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20636 N 78∘ 26224 E28 3700 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20515 N 78∘ 26267 E29 3770 Shady Moist 35∘ NW 31∘ 20389 N 78∘ 26334 E30 3850 Shady Moist 30∘ NE 31∘ 20167 N 78∘ 26411 E31 4129 Alpine meadow 45∘ NE 31∘ 19310 N 78∘ 26151 E32 4205 Alpine meadow 25∘ N 31∘ 19242 N 78∘ 26049 E33 4330 Moraine 30∘ NE 31∘ 18831 N 78∘ 25888 E34 4500 Alpine meadow 20∘ NE 31∘ 18347 N 78∘ 25648 E
Table 2 Taxonomic account of floristic diversity
Taxonomic group Families Genera Species Herbs Shrubs TreesAngiosperms 68 190 302 243 39 20Gymnosperms 4 7 13 mdash 4 9Pteridophytes 3 3 5 5 mdash mdashTotal 75 200 320 248 43 29
for P wallichiana community and minimum (249) for Qfloribunda community (Table 3)
The species richness (19ndash96) in the communities washigher than the earlier reported values [47 48] but compa-rable to the [24 49] from high altitude areas of HimalayaThe high richness of trees and shrubs may be due to diversehabitats and suitable edaphic and climatic factors supporting
growth and survival of the species The diversity indexfor trees (00ndash128) is within the reported value from theother Himalayan areas [40 47 49 50] In P gerardianacommunity it is the only tree species which is present so itsdiversity index value is zero The diversity of shrubs (040ndash238) is comparable to the previous records from the higherHimalaya and also from the lower parts (051ndash133) [46 48
The Scientific World Journal 5
Table 3 Identified communities showing TBA species richness densities and diversity in Sangla Valley
Communities SR TBA (m2ha) Species richness Density Species diversity index (1198671015840)Trees (noha) Shrubs (noha) Herbs (nom2) Trees Shrubs Herbs
TreesBU 5 1117 47 480 330 3516 073 212 317CD 3 4241 38 40333 67333 3344 057 168 362QF 1 1417 19 340 290 2208 0 04 249PG 3 1209 47 490 60629 3520 082 116 311PW 6 8702 96 205 62583 3634 0 238 401BU-AP 1 1416 35 440 770 2503 102 152 316BU-PW 4 1228 80 420 3275 4036 093 222 369CD-PS 1 1798 41 600 1030 4240 128 207 298CD-PW 1 2199 29 400 420 3820 069 095 307
ShrubsHS 2 mdash 41 mdash 370 4539 mdash 163 321RA 2 mdash 40 mdash 105 3256 mdash 096 345RA-SC 2 mdash 52 mdash 230 3480 mdash 115 355SCa-CB-BJ 1 mdash 34 mdash 540 4873 mdash 153 287SCa-LH 1 mdash 33 mdash 630 2770 mdash 143 31
HerbsPA-AS-BA-AV 1 mdash 34 mdash mdash 7895 mdash mdash 291
SR = site represented TBA total basal area Ind = individual BU = Betula utilis CD = Cedrus deodara QF = Quercus floribunda PG = Pinus gerardiana PW= Pinus wallichiana BU-AP = Betula utilis-Abies pindrow mixed BU-PW = Betula utilis-Pinus wallichiana mixed CD-PS = Cedrus deodara-Picea smithianaCD-PW = Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana mixed HS = Hippophae salicifolia RA = Rhododendron anthopogon RA-SC = Rhododendron anthopogon-Salixcaliculata mixed SCa-CB-BL = Spiraea canescens-Cotoneaster bacillaris-Berberis jaeschkeana mixed SCa-LH = Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedand PA-AS-BA-AV = Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum
50] and (074ndash314) reported by [40 51] for subtropical andtemperate forests However for herbs diversity (249ndash401) itwas higher than earlier records The value of the total basalarea was found to bemaximum inC deodara andC deodara-P wallichiana mixed communities (4241 and 2199m2haresp) and average basal area is 1723m2ha which is very lowas compared to the other parts of the Himalaya where it isabove 70m2ha [52ndash54] This may be due to unscrupuloustree felling and logging pressure on the forest resources inaddition to the other natural causes like heavy erratic rainfallswhich leads to the massive landslides in the region
34 Species Dominance in the Identified CommunitiesAmong the various communities identified in SV we figuredout the maximum values of dominant species as 745 (Butilis) and 199 (P wallichiana) in B utilis community802 (C deodara) and 174 (P wallichiana) in C deodaracommunity 100 (Q floribunda) in Q floribunda commu-nity as it was the only tree species present in the community5714 (Pinus gerardiana) and 388(Quercus floribunda)in Pinus gerardiana community 909 (P wallichiana) and81 (C deodara) in P wallichiana community 431 (Butilis) and 409 (A pindrow) in B utilis-A pindrow mixedcommunity 625 (B utilis) and 298 (P wallichiana)in Butilis-P wallichiana mixed community 383 (C deodara)and 316 (Picea smithiana ) in C deodara-P smithianamixed community and 525 (C deodara) and 425
(P wallichiana) in C deodara-P wallichiana mixed commu-nity (Table 4)
Among shrubs maximum density percentages were ofthe species Berberis aristata Berberis jaeschkeana Cas-siope fastigiata Cotoneaster bacillaris Cotoneaster micro-phyllus Desmodium elegans Hippophae salicifolia Lonicerahypoleuca Rhododendron campanulatum Rabdosia rugosaRhododendron anthopogon Rubus ellipticus Salix calyculataSorbaria tomentosa Spiraea canescens and so forth Rabdosiarugosa (801) and Cotoneaster bacillaris (75) were hav-ing maximum and minimum density percentages in Quer-cus floribunda and Cedrus deodara communities respec-tively Among herbs assessed Aconogonum molle AgrostisstoloniferaBistorta affinisBromus japonicasCannabis sativaConyza sumatrensis CynoglossumwallichiiDelphinium cash-merianum Euphrasia officinalis Fragaria nubicola Impa-tiens thomsonii Morina longifolia Nepeta erecta Origanumvulgare Persicaria vivipara Poa alpina Polygonatum verti-cillatum Thalictrum cultratum Trifolium pratense and soforth were in abundance hence showing comparativelymore densities Herbs having maximum density recordedwere Poa alpina (253) followed by Cynoglossum wallichii(234) and Fragaria nubicola (195) in Poa alpina-Agrostisstolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum mixed Butilis-A pindrowmixed andRhododendron anthopogon-Salixcalyculatamixed communities respectively (Table 4)
Tree shrub and herb percentage covers within thecommunities showed a typical composition of theHimalayan
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
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Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Genetics Research International
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Advances in
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Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
2 The Scientific World Journal
The rapid loss in floristic diversity and changing patternof vegetation due to various biotic and abiotic factors havenecessitated the qualitative and quantitative assessment ofvegetation However numbers of studies on communitydynamics and phytogeographic affinities have been con-ducted qualitatively [12ndash17] as well as quantitatively [5 18ndash24] and in northwest Himalaya [4 6 25ndash27] in particu-lar as well Nevertheless a very few studies incorporatingcomposition structural and functional diversity and nativityof the biodiversity have been carried out in northwestHimalaya [28ndash31] But not many studies that give detailedaccount of floristic diversity of Kinnaur [5] which forms atypical geographical entity of Himachal Pradesh and SanglaValley in particular are available till now Therefore thiswork is emphasized to study floristic composition to assessthe community structure of the vegetation by differentphytosociological methods and phytogeographic affinitiesof the species and to study the vegetation pattern inthe different aspects of the SV along an altitudinal gradi-ent
2 Materials and Methods
21 Physiographic Features of the Study Area The study areais commonly known as Sangla Valley (hereafter SV) andsituated at 31∘311015840ndash 361015840N and 77∘201015840minus271015840E along the BaspaRiver that flows through the middle of valley (Figure 1) Thevalley is oriented from southeast to northwest directionsThis is one of the most ecologically fragile biogeographicalzones [32] and inhabited by indigenous tribal communitieshavingMongolian features and Buddhist religion and cultureIt is surrounded by high mountains with elevation rangingfrom 1800 to 5480m above mean sea level The upper rangesof the valley are highly glaciered and receive most of itswater through dry precipitation (snow) in winters fromNovember to April The vegetation of the valley is temperatesubalpine and alpine types and forests are dominated byPinuswallichiana Betula utilis Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodaracommunities The livelihood of communities is based onagrihorticultural activities which are generally performedafter snow melt in April to October The communities haveclose affinity with plant resources not only to meet theirbasic requirements like food fodder fuel health and shelterbut also to perform several religious and cultural ritualsThough the environment of the valley is very close to natureseveral anthropogenic activities have successfully altered thenatural and traditional agroecosystem of the valley Severalnew climatic events such as increasing frequency of rainsin July-August (150ndash200mm in 1980s to 465mm in 2012)rising temperature frost and fog are being witnessed morefrequently than two decades ago
22 Sampling Plot and Estimation Design Representativeplots of 50 times 50m were selected in different aspects andhabitats 10 quadrats of 10 times 10m for trees 20 quadrats of 5times 5m for shrubs and 20 quadrats of 1 times 1m for herbs wererandomly laid within the plot Plots were selected based ondifferent topographical features such as habitat types altitude
aspects slope and different vegetation types (Table 1) Thehabitats were identified based on the physical charactersand dominance of the vegetation The plots facing highanthropogenic pressure were considered as degraded habitatsand sites having closed canopy with high percent of humusand moisture were considered as moist habitat whereas thoseof low percent of the same were considered as dry habitatThe site having gt50 boulders of the ground cover wereconsidered as bouldery habitat Geographical coordinatesof the sites were taken with the help of Global PositioningSystem (GPS) Slope was measured with the help of Abneyrsquoslevel
Sites were selected in each and every aspect between1950 and 4500m for the field study and analysis of floristicdiversity In various representative ecoclimatic zones of SV34 plots were sampled
23 Data Analysis The SV which falls under cold aridzone of Himachal Pradesh is diverse and rich in speciesCommunities were identified based on the importance valueindex and calculated as the sum of relative frequency relativedensity and relative basal arearelative abundance For diver-sity index Shannon-Wiener information index [33] was usedSpecies richnesswas considered as the total number of speciesin a growth form For the collection and analysis of datastandard ecological methods [20 24 34ndash39] were followedVegetation was analytically computed following [39 40] Thetaxa of Himalayan origin were considered as native and allothers as nonnative During qualitative assessment rapidsurveys and samplings were done in each season and taxaidentified on spot and with the help of floras and researchpapers [12ndash14 40ndash43]
3 Results and Discussion
Plots accessed were 34 in number and a total 15 communities(9 tree 5 shrub and 1 herb communities) were delineatedbased on importance value index for the tree communitiesand relative density for the shrub and herb communities
31 Vegetational Analysis Thedifferent habitats covered dur-ing the study were shady moist rocky bouldery dry alpinemeadow riverine moraines and so forth Among theseshady moist (12) followed by dry habitats (9) representedmaximum sites Because of unique topography and differentaltitudinal zones of western Himalaya vegetation varies fromaspect to aspect The sites were selected in every accessiblehabitat and aspect along an altitudinal gradient North andnortheastern aspects represented maximum sites (8 each)followed by southwest and northwest (5 each) (Table 1)
Within the communities so delineated we recorded 320species of plants belonging to 199 genera and 75 familiesDominant group reported was angiosperms (68 families190 genera and 302 species) gymnosperms represented by4 families 7 genera and 13 species and pteridophytes by 4families 3 genera and 5 species They were distributed indifferent life forms that is trees (29 spp) shrubs (43 spp)and herbs (248 spp) (Table 2)
The Scientific World Journal 3
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
9 45 0 9 18 27 36
(km)
EN
SW
Figure 1 Map of the study area
Among the angiosperm families Asteraceae (49 spp)Rosaceae (21 spp) Apiaceae (20 spp) and Ranunculaceae(18 spp) were dominant Among genera Artemisia and Poly-gonum (7 spp) Saussurea (6 spp) Berberis and Thalictrum(5 spp) and Geranium Juniperus Nepeta Potentilla PoaRosa and Salix (4 spp each) were dominant genera Twenty-eight (28) families were monotypic and represented only byone species The occurrence of 320 species in the quantifiedarea indicates that its environmental conditions particularlyshady moist and forest habitats are suitable for the growthand development of species Amongst the communities Pwallichiana community represented maximum sites (6 sites)followed by B utilis (5 sites) B utilis-P wallichiana mixed(4 sites) C deodara and P gerardiana (3 sites each) Ranthopogon H salicifolia and R anthopogon-S caliculatamixed (2 sites each) and the rest of the communities wererepresented by one site only Dominance of the Asteraceaein SV is also validated by floras of Lahaul-Spiti HimachalPradesh in high altitude regions ofwesternHimalaya [13 42]The affinity of vegetation towards the flora of the Lahaul-SpitiValley and Bhaba Valley [5 42] is apparent by the presenceof similar dominant families Moreover the major part ofthe valley is covered with snow throughout the year Pres-ence of number of herbaceous families (namely ApiaceaeBrassicaceae Ranunculaceae Rosaceae Polygonaceae andScrophulariaceae) is attributed to the temperate and alpinenature of the area Lesser Pteridophytes in the area maybe attributed to the more exposed arid nature of the valleywith low broad leaf forest cover and moisture Nonethelessas a whole the high diversity and richness of the speciesin the SV indicate the high conservation value of the areaOccurrences of 320 species in the 15 identified communitiesof 34 quantified plots validate this
32 Communities Composition and Structure Total tree den-sity ranged from 205 to 600 noha (number per hectare) andtotal basal area from 870 to 4241m2ha Shrubs and herbsdensities ranged from 1050 to 103000 noha and from 2208to 4873 nom2
respectively Shrub density is maximum in C
deodara-P smithianamixed community and herbs density ismaximum in Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum community Among five major shrubcommunities Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedcommunity has highest shrub and herb density that is54000 noha and 4873 nom2 respectively (Table 3) Treedensity range is comparable to the other Himalayan studies[40 44] and European temperate forests [45] Similarlyshrub and herbrsquos density ranges (105ndash1030 noha and 2208ndash7895 nom2 resp) are in compliance with the earlier studiesof the Himalayan regions [46] However the lower range ofshrub densities in R anthopogon communities (105 nohaand 230 noha) in the valley is due to the presence of itsscanty patches near the subalpine areas and often the ruggedand arid and moraine topography
33 Species Richness and Diversity Index (H1015840) Species rich-ness in identified communities ranged from 19 to 96Among the communities it was highest in P wallichiana(96 spp) followed by B utilis-P wallichiana mixed (80spp) R anthopogon-S caliculata mixed (52 spp) and Pgerardiana (47 spp) communities Species diversity indexfor trees is maximum (128) for C deodara-P smithianamixed community and minimum (00) for Q floribunda andP wallichiana communities among shrubs it is maximum(238) for P wallichiana community and minimum (040) forQ floribunda community and for herbs it is maximum (401)
4 The Scientific World Journal
Table 1 Physical Characteristics of the plots assessed in Sangla Valley
S No Altitude (m) Habitat Slope Aspect Latitude Longitude1 1950 Degraded 35∘ S 31∘ 28040 N 78∘ 11209 E2 2000 Dry 60∘ NW 31∘ 28853 N 78∘ 10892 E3 2100 Dry 60∘ SW 31∘ 28823 N 78∘ 10962 E4 2250 Dry 50∘ S 31∘ 28045 N 78∘ 11111 E5 2550 Shady Moist 20∘ N 31∘ 25025 N 78∘ 16103 E6 2625 Riverine 50∘ NE 31∘ 24854 N 78∘ 16828 E7 2675 Bouldery 40∘ N 31∘ 25061 N 78∘ 16368 E8 2690 Dry 15∘ NE 31∘ 24913 N 78∘ 16085 E9 2750 Shady Moist 10∘ SW 31∘ 25758 N 78∘ 16746 E10 2770 Shady Moist 45∘ NE 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E11 3120 Bouldery 20∘ NE 31∘ 23039 N 78∘ 21614 E12 3185 Dry 30∘ SW 31∘ 23631 N 78∘ 21370 E13 3250 Dry 45∘ S 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E14 3320 Dry 35∘ SW 31∘ 21286 N 78∘ 24438 E15 3340 Shady Moist 55∘ SW 31∘ 23840 N 78∘ 21340 E16 3350 Rocky 60∘ S 31∘ 21756 N 78∘ 24029 E17 3385 Dry 45∘ N 31∘ 20992 N 78∘ 26287 E18 3399 Dry 40∘ N 31∘ 23640 N 78∘ 21558 E19 3400 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20955 N 78∘ 26135 E20 3420 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23209 N 78∘ 25577 E21 3450 Bouldery 50∘ W 31∘ 23881 N 78∘ 21441 E22 3480 Shady Moist 50∘ NW 31∘ 20886 N 78∘ 26179 E23 3500 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23959 N 78∘ 21554 E24 3501 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 20967 N 78∘ 27303 E25 3516 Rocky 40∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27381 E26 3527 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27374 E27 3650 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20636 N 78∘ 26224 E28 3700 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20515 N 78∘ 26267 E29 3770 Shady Moist 35∘ NW 31∘ 20389 N 78∘ 26334 E30 3850 Shady Moist 30∘ NE 31∘ 20167 N 78∘ 26411 E31 4129 Alpine meadow 45∘ NE 31∘ 19310 N 78∘ 26151 E32 4205 Alpine meadow 25∘ N 31∘ 19242 N 78∘ 26049 E33 4330 Moraine 30∘ NE 31∘ 18831 N 78∘ 25888 E34 4500 Alpine meadow 20∘ NE 31∘ 18347 N 78∘ 25648 E
Table 2 Taxonomic account of floristic diversity
Taxonomic group Families Genera Species Herbs Shrubs TreesAngiosperms 68 190 302 243 39 20Gymnosperms 4 7 13 mdash 4 9Pteridophytes 3 3 5 5 mdash mdashTotal 75 200 320 248 43 29
for P wallichiana community and minimum (249) for Qfloribunda community (Table 3)
The species richness (19ndash96) in the communities washigher than the earlier reported values [47 48] but compa-rable to the [24 49] from high altitude areas of HimalayaThe high richness of trees and shrubs may be due to diversehabitats and suitable edaphic and climatic factors supporting
growth and survival of the species The diversity indexfor trees (00ndash128) is within the reported value from theother Himalayan areas [40 47 49 50] In P gerardianacommunity it is the only tree species which is present so itsdiversity index value is zero The diversity of shrubs (040ndash238) is comparable to the previous records from the higherHimalaya and also from the lower parts (051ndash133) [46 48
The Scientific World Journal 5
Table 3 Identified communities showing TBA species richness densities and diversity in Sangla Valley
Communities SR TBA (m2ha) Species richness Density Species diversity index (1198671015840)Trees (noha) Shrubs (noha) Herbs (nom2) Trees Shrubs Herbs
TreesBU 5 1117 47 480 330 3516 073 212 317CD 3 4241 38 40333 67333 3344 057 168 362QF 1 1417 19 340 290 2208 0 04 249PG 3 1209 47 490 60629 3520 082 116 311PW 6 8702 96 205 62583 3634 0 238 401BU-AP 1 1416 35 440 770 2503 102 152 316BU-PW 4 1228 80 420 3275 4036 093 222 369CD-PS 1 1798 41 600 1030 4240 128 207 298CD-PW 1 2199 29 400 420 3820 069 095 307
ShrubsHS 2 mdash 41 mdash 370 4539 mdash 163 321RA 2 mdash 40 mdash 105 3256 mdash 096 345RA-SC 2 mdash 52 mdash 230 3480 mdash 115 355SCa-CB-BJ 1 mdash 34 mdash 540 4873 mdash 153 287SCa-LH 1 mdash 33 mdash 630 2770 mdash 143 31
HerbsPA-AS-BA-AV 1 mdash 34 mdash mdash 7895 mdash mdash 291
SR = site represented TBA total basal area Ind = individual BU = Betula utilis CD = Cedrus deodara QF = Quercus floribunda PG = Pinus gerardiana PW= Pinus wallichiana BU-AP = Betula utilis-Abies pindrow mixed BU-PW = Betula utilis-Pinus wallichiana mixed CD-PS = Cedrus deodara-Picea smithianaCD-PW = Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana mixed HS = Hippophae salicifolia RA = Rhododendron anthopogon RA-SC = Rhododendron anthopogon-Salixcaliculata mixed SCa-CB-BL = Spiraea canescens-Cotoneaster bacillaris-Berberis jaeschkeana mixed SCa-LH = Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedand PA-AS-BA-AV = Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum
50] and (074ndash314) reported by [40 51] for subtropical andtemperate forests However for herbs diversity (249ndash401) itwas higher than earlier records The value of the total basalarea was found to bemaximum inC deodara andC deodara-P wallichiana mixed communities (4241 and 2199m2haresp) and average basal area is 1723m2ha which is very lowas compared to the other parts of the Himalaya where it isabove 70m2ha [52ndash54] This may be due to unscrupuloustree felling and logging pressure on the forest resources inaddition to the other natural causes like heavy erratic rainfallswhich leads to the massive landslides in the region
34 Species Dominance in the Identified CommunitiesAmong the various communities identified in SV we figuredout the maximum values of dominant species as 745 (Butilis) and 199 (P wallichiana) in B utilis community802 (C deodara) and 174 (P wallichiana) in C deodaracommunity 100 (Q floribunda) in Q floribunda commu-nity as it was the only tree species present in the community5714 (Pinus gerardiana) and 388(Quercus floribunda)in Pinus gerardiana community 909 (P wallichiana) and81 (C deodara) in P wallichiana community 431 (Butilis) and 409 (A pindrow) in B utilis-A pindrow mixedcommunity 625 (B utilis) and 298 (P wallichiana)in Butilis-P wallichiana mixed community 383 (C deodara)and 316 (Picea smithiana ) in C deodara-P smithianamixed community and 525 (C deodara) and 425
(P wallichiana) in C deodara-P wallichiana mixed commu-nity (Table 4)
Among shrubs maximum density percentages were ofthe species Berberis aristata Berberis jaeschkeana Cas-siope fastigiata Cotoneaster bacillaris Cotoneaster micro-phyllus Desmodium elegans Hippophae salicifolia Lonicerahypoleuca Rhododendron campanulatum Rabdosia rugosaRhododendron anthopogon Rubus ellipticus Salix calyculataSorbaria tomentosa Spiraea canescens and so forth Rabdosiarugosa (801) and Cotoneaster bacillaris (75) were hav-ing maximum and minimum density percentages in Quer-cus floribunda and Cedrus deodara communities respec-tively Among herbs assessed Aconogonum molle AgrostisstoloniferaBistorta affinisBromus japonicasCannabis sativaConyza sumatrensis CynoglossumwallichiiDelphinium cash-merianum Euphrasia officinalis Fragaria nubicola Impa-tiens thomsonii Morina longifolia Nepeta erecta Origanumvulgare Persicaria vivipara Poa alpina Polygonatum verti-cillatum Thalictrum cultratum Trifolium pratense and soforth were in abundance hence showing comparativelymore densities Herbs having maximum density recordedwere Poa alpina (253) followed by Cynoglossum wallichii(234) and Fragaria nubicola (195) in Poa alpina-Agrostisstolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum mixed Butilis-A pindrowmixed andRhododendron anthopogon-Salixcalyculatamixed communities respectively (Table 4)
Tree shrub and herb percentage covers within thecommunities showed a typical composition of theHimalayan
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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PeptidesInternational Journal of
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International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
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BioinformaticsAdvances in
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Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Signal TransductionJournal of
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ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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International Journal of
Microbiology
The Scientific World Journal 3
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
31∘159984000998400998400
N31∘309984000998400998400
N31∘459984000998400998400
N32∘09984000998400998400
N
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
77∘459984000998400998400E 77∘159984000998400998400E78∘09984000998400998400E 78∘309984000998400998400E 79∘309984000998400998400E78∘459984000998400998400E
9 45 0 9 18 27 36
(km)
EN
SW
Figure 1 Map of the study area
Among the angiosperm families Asteraceae (49 spp)Rosaceae (21 spp) Apiaceae (20 spp) and Ranunculaceae(18 spp) were dominant Among genera Artemisia and Poly-gonum (7 spp) Saussurea (6 spp) Berberis and Thalictrum(5 spp) and Geranium Juniperus Nepeta Potentilla PoaRosa and Salix (4 spp each) were dominant genera Twenty-eight (28) families were monotypic and represented only byone species The occurrence of 320 species in the quantifiedarea indicates that its environmental conditions particularlyshady moist and forest habitats are suitable for the growthand development of species Amongst the communities Pwallichiana community represented maximum sites (6 sites)followed by B utilis (5 sites) B utilis-P wallichiana mixed(4 sites) C deodara and P gerardiana (3 sites each) Ranthopogon H salicifolia and R anthopogon-S caliculatamixed (2 sites each) and the rest of the communities wererepresented by one site only Dominance of the Asteraceaein SV is also validated by floras of Lahaul-Spiti HimachalPradesh in high altitude regions ofwesternHimalaya [13 42]The affinity of vegetation towards the flora of the Lahaul-SpitiValley and Bhaba Valley [5 42] is apparent by the presenceof similar dominant families Moreover the major part ofthe valley is covered with snow throughout the year Pres-ence of number of herbaceous families (namely ApiaceaeBrassicaceae Ranunculaceae Rosaceae Polygonaceae andScrophulariaceae) is attributed to the temperate and alpinenature of the area Lesser Pteridophytes in the area maybe attributed to the more exposed arid nature of the valleywith low broad leaf forest cover and moisture Nonethelessas a whole the high diversity and richness of the speciesin the SV indicate the high conservation value of the areaOccurrences of 320 species in the 15 identified communitiesof 34 quantified plots validate this
32 Communities Composition and Structure Total tree den-sity ranged from 205 to 600 noha (number per hectare) andtotal basal area from 870 to 4241m2ha Shrubs and herbsdensities ranged from 1050 to 103000 noha and from 2208to 4873 nom2
respectively Shrub density is maximum in C
deodara-P smithianamixed community and herbs density ismaximum in Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum community Among five major shrubcommunities Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedcommunity has highest shrub and herb density that is54000 noha and 4873 nom2 respectively (Table 3) Treedensity range is comparable to the other Himalayan studies[40 44] and European temperate forests [45] Similarlyshrub and herbrsquos density ranges (105ndash1030 noha and 2208ndash7895 nom2 resp) are in compliance with the earlier studiesof the Himalayan regions [46] However the lower range ofshrub densities in R anthopogon communities (105 nohaand 230 noha) in the valley is due to the presence of itsscanty patches near the subalpine areas and often the ruggedand arid and moraine topography
33 Species Richness and Diversity Index (H1015840) Species rich-ness in identified communities ranged from 19 to 96Among the communities it was highest in P wallichiana(96 spp) followed by B utilis-P wallichiana mixed (80spp) R anthopogon-S caliculata mixed (52 spp) and Pgerardiana (47 spp) communities Species diversity indexfor trees is maximum (128) for C deodara-P smithianamixed community and minimum (00) for Q floribunda andP wallichiana communities among shrubs it is maximum(238) for P wallichiana community and minimum (040) forQ floribunda community and for herbs it is maximum (401)
4 The Scientific World Journal
Table 1 Physical Characteristics of the plots assessed in Sangla Valley
S No Altitude (m) Habitat Slope Aspect Latitude Longitude1 1950 Degraded 35∘ S 31∘ 28040 N 78∘ 11209 E2 2000 Dry 60∘ NW 31∘ 28853 N 78∘ 10892 E3 2100 Dry 60∘ SW 31∘ 28823 N 78∘ 10962 E4 2250 Dry 50∘ S 31∘ 28045 N 78∘ 11111 E5 2550 Shady Moist 20∘ N 31∘ 25025 N 78∘ 16103 E6 2625 Riverine 50∘ NE 31∘ 24854 N 78∘ 16828 E7 2675 Bouldery 40∘ N 31∘ 25061 N 78∘ 16368 E8 2690 Dry 15∘ NE 31∘ 24913 N 78∘ 16085 E9 2750 Shady Moist 10∘ SW 31∘ 25758 N 78∘ 16746 E10 2770 Shady Moist 45∘ NE 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E11 3120 Bouldery 20∘ NE 31∘ 23039 N 78∘ 21614 E12 3185 Dry 30∘ SW 31∘ 23631 N 78∘ 21370 E13 3250 Dry 45∘ S 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E14 3320 Dry 35∘ SW 31∘ 21286 N 78∘ 24438 E15 3340 Shady Moist 55∘ SW 31∘ 23840 N 78∘ 21340 E16 3350 Rocky 60∘ S 31∘ 21756 N 78∘ 24029 E17 3385 Dry 45∘ N 31∘ 20992 N 78∘ 26287 E18 3399 Dry 40∘ N 31∘ 23640 N 78∘ 21558 E19 3400 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20955 N 78∘ 26135 E20 3420 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23209 N 78∘ 25577 E21 3450 Bouldery 50∘ W 31∘ 23881 N 78∘ 21441 E22 3480 Shady Moist 50∘ NW 31∘ 20886 N 78∘ 26179 E23 3500 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23959 N 78∘ 21554 E24 3501 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 20967 N 78∘ 27303 E25 3516 Rocky 40∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27381 E26 3527 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27374 E27 3650 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20636 N 78∘ 26224 E28 3700 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20515 N 78∘ 26267 E29 3770 Shady Moist 35∘ NW 31∘ 20389 N 78∘ 26334 E30 3850 Shady Moist 30∘ NE 31∘ 20167 N 78∘ 26411 E31 4129 Alpine meadow 45∘ NE 31∘ 19310 N 78∘ 26151 E32 4205 Alpine meadow 25∘ N 31∘ 19242 N 78∘ 26049 E33 4330 Moraine 30∘ NE 31∘ 18831 N 78∘ 25888 E34 4500 Alpine meadow 20∘ NE 31∘ 18347 N 78∘ 25648 E
Table 2 Taxonomic account of floristic diversity
Taxonomic group Families Genera Species Herbs Shrubs TreesAngiosperms 68 190 302 243 39 20Gymnosperms 4 7 13 mdash 4 9Pteridophytes 3 3 5 5 mdash mdashTotal 75 200 320 248 43 29
for P wallichiana community and minimum (249) for Qfloribunda community (Table 3)
The species richness (19ndash96) in the communities washigher than the earlier reported values [47 48] but compa-rable to the [24 49] from high altitude areas of HimalayaThe high richness of trees and shrubs may be due to diversehabitats and suitable edaphic and climatic factors supporting
growth and survival of the species The diversity indexfor trees (00ndash128) is within the reported value from theother Himalayan areas [40 47 49 50] In P gerardianacommunity it is the only tree species which is present so itsdiversity index value is zero The diversity of shrubs (040ndash238) is comparable to the previous records from the higherHimalaya and also from the lower parts (051ndash133) [46 48
The Scientific World Journal 5
Table 3 Identified communities showing TBA species richness densities and diversity in Sangla Valley
Communities SR TBA (m2ha) Species richness Density Species diversity index (1198671015840)Trees (noha) Shrubs (noha) Herbs (nom2) Trees Shrubs Herbs
TreesBU 5 1117 47 480 330 3516 073 212 317CD 3 4241 38 40333 67333 3344 057 168 362QF 1 1417 19 340 290 2208 0 04 249PG 3 1209 47 490 60629 3520 082 116 311PW 6 8702 96 205 62583 3634 0 238 401BU-AP 1 1416 35 440 770 2503 102 152 316BU-PW 4 1228 80 420 3275 4036 093 222 369CD-PS 1 1798 41 600 1030 4240 128 207 298CD-PW 1 2199 29 400 420 3820 069 095 307
ShrubsHS 2 mdash 41 mdash 370 4539 mdash 163 321RA 2 mdash 40 mdash 105 3256 mdash 096 345RA-SC 2 mdash 52 mdash 230 3480 mdash 115 355SCa-CB-BJ 1 mdash 34 mdash 540 4873 mdash 153 287SCa-LH 1 mdash 33 mdash 630 2770 mdash 143 31
HerbsPA-AS-BA-AV 1 mdash 34 mdash mdash 7895 mdash mdash 291
SR = site represented TBA total basal area Ind = individual BU = Betula utilis CD = Cedrus deodara QF = Quercus floribunda PG = Pinus gerardiana PW= Pinus wallichiana BU-AP = Betula utilis-Abies pindrow mixed BU-PW = Betula utilis-Pinus wallichiana mixed CD-PS = Cedrus deodara-Picea smithianaCD-PW = Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana mixed HS = Hippophae salicifolia RA = Rhododendron anthopogon RA-SC = Rhododendron anthopogon-Salixcaliculata mixed SCa-CB-BL = Spiraea canescens-Cotoneaster bacillaris-Berberis jaeschkeana mixed SCa-LH = Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedand PA-AS-BA-AV = Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum
50] and (074ndash314) reported by [40 51] for subtropical andtemperate forests However for herbs diversity (249ndash401) itwas higher than earlier records The value of the total basalarea was found to bemaximum inC deodara andC deodara-P wallichiana mixed communities (4241 and 2199m2haresp) and average basal area is 1723m2ha which is very lowas compared to the other parts of the Himalaya where it isabove 70m2ha [52ndash54] This may be due to unscrupuloustree felling and logging pressure on the forest resources inaddition to the other natural causes like heavy erratic rainfallswhich leads to the massive landslides in the region
34 Species Dominance in the Identified CommunitiesAmong the various communities identified in SV we figuredout the maximum values of dominant species as 745 (Butilis) and 199 (P wallichiana) in B utilis community802 (C deodara) and 174 (P wallichiana) in C deodaracommunity 100 (Q floribunda) in Q floribunda commu-nity as it was the only tree species present in the community5714 (Pinus gerardiana) and 388(Quercus floribunda)in Pinus gerardiana community 909 (P wallichiana) and81 (C deodara) in P wallichiana community 431 (Butilis) and 409 (A pindrow) in B utilis-A pindrow mixedcommunity 625 (B utilis) and 298 (P wallichiana)in Butilis-P wallichiana mixed community 383 (C deodara)and 316 (Picea smithiana ) in C deodara-P smithianamixed community and 525 (C deodara) and 425
(P wallichiana) in C deodara-P wallichiana mixed commu-nity (Table 4)
Among shrubs maximum density percentages were ofthe species Berberis aristata Berberis jaeschkeana Cas-siope fastigiata Cotoneaster bacillaris Cotoneaster micro-phyllus Desmodium elegans Hippophae salicifolia Lonicerahypoleuca Rhododendron campanulatum Rabdosia rugosaRhododendron anthopogon Rubus ellipticus Salix calyculataSorbaria tomentosa Spiraea canescens and so forth Rabdosiarugosa (801) and Cotoneaster bacillaris (75) were hav-ing maximum and minimum density percentages in Quer-cus floribunda and Cedrus deodara communities respec-tively Among herbs assessed Aconogonum molle AgrostisstoloniferaBistorta affinisBromus japonicasCannabis sativaConyza sumatrensis CynoglossumwallichiiDelphinium cash-merianum Euphrasia officinalis Fragaria nubicola Impa-tiens thomsonii Morina longifolia Nepeta erecta Origanumvulgare Persicaria vivipara Poa alpina Polygonatum verti-cillatum Thalictrum cultratum Trifolium pratense and soforth were in abundance hence showing comparativelymore densities Herbs having maximum density recordedwere Poa alpina (253) followed by Cynoglossum wallichii(234) and Fragaria nubicola (195) in Poa alpina-Agrostisstolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum mixed Butilis-A pindrowmixed andRhododendron anthopogon-Salixcalyculatamixed communities respectively (Table 4)
Tree shrub and herb percentage covers within thecommunities showed a typical composition of theHimalayan
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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PeptidesInternational Journal of
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International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
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The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
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Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Signal TransductionJournal of
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BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
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Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
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Advances in
Virolog y
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Nucleic AcidsJournal of
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Stem CellsInternational
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Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
4 The Scientific World Journal
Table 1 Physical Characteristics of the plots assessed in Sangla Valley
S No Altitude (m) Habitat Slope Aspect Latitude Longitude1 1950 Degraded 35∘ S 31∘ 28040 N 78∘ 11209 E2 2000 Dry 60∘ NW 31∘ 28853 N 78∘ 10892 E3 2100 Dry 60∘ SW 31∘ 28823 N 78∘ 10962 E4 2250 Dry 50∘ S 31∘ 28045 N 78∘ 11111 E5 2550 Shady Moist 20∘ N 31∘ 25025 N 78∘ 16103 E6 2625 Riverine 50∘ NE 31∘ 24854 N 78∘ 16828 E7 2675 Bouldery 40∘ N 31∘ 25061 N 78∘ 16368 E8 2690 Dry 15∘ NE 31∘ 24913 N 78∘ 16085 E9 2750 Shady Moist 10∘ SW 31∘ 25758 N 78∘ 16746 E10 2770 Shady Moist 45∘ NE 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E11 3120 Bouldery 20∘ NE 31∘ 23039 N 78∘ 21614 E12 3185 Dry 30∘ SW 31∘ 23631 N 78∘ 21370 E13 3250 Dry 45∘ S 31∘ 24342 N 78∘ 18038 E14 3320 Dry 35∘ SW 31∘ 21286 N 78∘ 24438 E15 3340 Shady Moist 55∘ SW 31∘ 23840 N 78∘ 21340 E16 3350 Rocky 60∘ S 31∘ 21756 N 78∘ 24029 E17 3385 Dry 45∘ N 31∘ 20992 N 78∘ 26287 E18 3399 Dry 40∘ N 31∘ 23640 N 78∘ 21558 E19 3400 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20955 N 78∘ 26135 E20 3420 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23209 N 78∘ 25577 E21 3450 Bouldery 50∘ W 31∘ 23881 N 78∘ 21441 E22 3480 Shady Moist 50∘ NW 31∘ 20886 N 78∘ 26179 E23 3500 Shady Moist 40∘ NW 31∘ 23959 N 78∘ 21554 E24 3501 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 20967 N 78∘ 27303 E25 3516 Rocky 40∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27381 E26 3527 Moraine 45∘ SE 31∘ 21002 N 78∘ 27374 E27 3650 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20636 N 78∘ 26224 E28 3700 Shady Moist 40∘ N 31∘ 20515 N 78∘ 26267 E29 3770 Shady Moist 35∘ NW 31∘ 20389 N 78∘ 26334 E30 3850 Shady Moist 30∘ NE 31∘ 20167 N 78∘ 26411 E31 4129 Alpine meadow 45∘ NE 31∘ 19310 N 78∘ 26151 E32 4205 Alpine meadow 25∘ N 31∘ 19242 N 78∘ 26049 E33 4330 Moraine 30∘ NE 31∘ 18831 N 78∘ 25888 E34 4500 Alpine meadow 20∘ NE 31∘ 18347 N 78∘ 25648 E
Table 2 Taxonomic account of floristic diversity
Taxonomic group Families Genera Species Herbs Shrubs TreesAngiosperms 68 190 302 243 39 20Gymnosperms 4 7 13 mdash 4 9Pteridophytes 3 3 5 5 mdash mdashTotal 75 200 320 248 43 29
for P wallichiana community and minimum (249) for Qfloribunda community (Table 3)
The species richness (19ndash96) in the communities washigher than the earlier reported values [47 48] but compa-rable to the [24 49] from high altitude areas of HimalayaThe high richness of trees and shrubs may be due to diversehabitats and suitable edaphic and climatic factors supporting
growth and survival of the species The diversity indexfor trees (00ndash128) is within the reported value from theother Himalayan areas [40 47 49 50] In P gerardianacommunity it is the only tree species which is present so itsdiversity index value is zero The diversity of shrubs (040ndash238) is comparable to the previous records from the higherHimalaya and also from the lower parts (051ndash133) [46 48
The Scientific World Journal 5
Table 3 Identified communities showing TBA species richness densities and diversity in Sangla Valley
Communities SR TBA (m2ha) Species richness Density Species diversity index (1198671015840)Trees (noha) Shrubs (noha) Herbs (nom2) Trees Shrubs Herbs
TreesBU 5 1117 47 480 330 3516 073 212 317CD 3 4241 38 40333 67333 3344 057 168 362QF 1 1417 19 340 290 2208 0 04 249PG 3 1209 47 490 60629 3520 082 116 311PW 6 8702 96 205 62583 3634 0 238 401BU-AP 1 1416 35 440 770 2503 102 152 316BU-PW 4 1228 80 420 3275 4036 093 222 369CD-PS 1 1798 41 600 1030 4240 128 207 298CD-PW 1 2199 29 400 420 3820 069 095 307
ShrubsHS 2 mdash 41 mdash 370 4539 mdash 163 321RA 2 mdash 40 mdash 105 3256 mdash 096 345RA-SC 2 mdash 52 mdash 230 3480 mdash 115 355SCa-CB-BJ 1 mdash 34 mdash 540 4873 mdash 153 287SCa-LH 1 mdash 33 mdash 630 2770 mdash 143 31
HerbsPA-AS-BA-AV 1 mdash 34 mdash mdash 7895 mdash mdash 291
SR = site represented TBA total basal area Ind = individual BU = Betula utilis CD = Cedrus deodara QF = Quercus floribunda PG = Pinus gerardiana PW= Pinus wallichiana BU-AP = Betula utilis-Abies pindrow mixed BU-PW = Betula utilis-Pinus wallichiana mixed CD-PS = Cedrus deodara-Picea smithianaCD-PW = Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana mixed HS = Hippophae salicifolia RA = Rhododendron anthopogon RA-SC = Rhododendron anthopogon-Salixcaliculata mixed SCa-CB-BL = Spiraea canescens-Cotoneaster bacillaris-Berberis jaeschkeana mixed SCa-LH = Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedand PA-AS-BA-AV = Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum
50] and (074ndash314) reported by [40 51] for subtropical andtemperate forests However for herbs diversity (249ndash401) itwas higher than earlier records The value of the total basalarea was found to bemaximum inC deodara andC deodara-P wallichiana mixed communities (4241 and 2199m2haresp) and average basal area is 1723m2ha which is very lowas compared to the other parts of the Himalaya where it isabove 70m2ha [52ndash54] This may be due to unscrupuloustree felling and logging pressure on the forest resources inaddition to the other natural causes like heavy erratic rainfallswhich leads to the massive landslides in the region
34 Species Dominance in the Identified CommunitiesAmong the various communities identified in SV we figuredout the maximum values of dominant species as 745 (Butilis) and 199 (P wallichiana) in B utilis community802 (C deodara) and 174 (P wallichiana) in C deodaracommunity 100 (Q floribunda) in Q floribunda commu-nity as it was the only tree species present in the community5714 (Pinus gerardiana) and 388(Quercus floribunda)in Pinus gerardiana community 909 (P wallichiana) and81 (C deodara) in P wallichiana community 431 (Butilis) and 409 (A pindrow) in B utilis-A pindrow mixedcommunity 625 (B utilis) and 298 (P wallichiana)in Butilis-P wallichiana mixed community 383 (C deodara)and 316 (Picea smithiana ) in C deodara-P smithianamixed community and 525 (C deodara) and 425
(P wallichiana) in C deodara-P wallichiana mixed commu-nity (Table 4)
Among shrubs maximum density percentages were ofthe species Berberis aristata Berberis jaeschkeana Cas-siope fastigiata Cotoneaster bacillaris Cotoneaster micro-phyllus Desmodium elegans Hippophae salicifolia Lonicerahypoleuca Rhododendron campanulatum Rabdosia rugosaRhododendron anthopogon Rubus ellipticus Salix calyculataSorbaria tomentosa Spiraea canescens and so forth Rabdosiarugosa (801) and Cotoneaster bacillaris (75) were hav-ing maximum and minimum density percentages in Quer-cus floribunda and Cedrus deodara communities respec-tively Among herbs assessed Aconogonum molle AgrostisstoloniferaBistorta affinisBromus japonicasCannabis sativaConyza sumatrensis CynoglossumwallichiiDelphinium cash-merianum Euphrasia officinalis Fragaria nubicola Impa-tiens thomsonii Morina longifolia Nepeta erecta Origanumvulgare Persicaria vivipara Poa alpina Polygonatum verti-cillatum Thalictrum cultratum Trifolium pratense and soforth were in abundance hence showing comparativelymore densities Herbs having maximum density recordedwere Poa alpina (253) followed by Cynoglossum wallichii(234) and Fragaria nubicola (195) in Poa alpina-Agrostisstolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum mixed Butilis-A pindrowmixed andRhododendron anthopogon-Salixcalyculatamixed communities respectively (Table 4)
Tree shrub and herb percentage covers within thecommunities showed a typical composition of theHimalayan
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Signal TransductionJournal of
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Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
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Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
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Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
The Scientific World Journal 5
Table 3 Identified communities showing TBA species richness densities and diversity in Sangla Valley
Communities SR TBA (m2ha) Species richness Density Species diversity index (1198671015840)Trees (noha) Shrubs (noha) Herbs (nom2) Trees Shrubs Herbs
TreesBU 5 1117 47 480 330 3516 073 212 317CD 3 4241 38 40333 67333 3344 057 168 362QF 1 1417 19 340 290 2208 0 04 249PG 3 1209 47 490 60629 3520 082 116 311PW 6 8702 96 205 62583 3634 0 238 401BU-AP 1 1416 35 440 770 2503 102 152 316BU-PW 4 1228 80 420 3275 4036 093 222 369CD-PS 1 1798 41 600 1030 4240 128 207 298CD-PW 1 2199 29 400 420 3820 069 095 307
ShrubsHS 2 mdash 41 mdash 370 4539 mdash 163 321RA 2 mdash 40 mdash 105 3256 mdash 096 345RA-SC 2 mdash 52 mdash 230 3480 mdash 115 355SCa-CB-BJ 1 mdash 34 mdash 540 4873 mdash 153 287SCa-LH 1 mdash 33 mdash 630 2770 mdash 143 31
HerbsPA-AS-BA-AV 1 mdash 34 mdash mdash 7895 mdash mdash 291
SR = site represented TBA total basal area Ind = individual BU = Betula utilis CD = Cedrus deodara QF = Quercus floribunda PG = Pinus gerardiana PW= Pinus wallichiana BU-AP = Betula utilis-Abies pindrow mixed BU-PW = Betula utilis-Pinus wallichiana mixed CD-PS = Cedrus deodara-Picea smithianaCD-PW = Cedrus deodara-Pinus wallichiana mixed HS = Hippophae salicifolia RA = Rhododendron anthopogon RA-SC = Rhododendron anthopogon-Salixcaliculata mixed SCa-CB-BL = Spiraea canescens-Cotoneaster bacillaris-Berberis jaeschkeana mixed SCa-LH = Spiraea canescens-Lonicera hypoleuca mixedand PA-AS-BA-AV = Poa alpina-Agrostis stolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum
50] and (074ndash314) reported by [40 51] for subtropical andtemperate forests However for herbs diversity (249ndash401) itwas higher than earlier records The value of the total basalarea was found to bemaximum inC deodara andC deodara-P wallichiana mixed communities (4241 and 2199m2haresp) and average basal area is 1723m2ha which is very lowas compared to the other parts of the Himalaya where it isabove 70m2ha [52ndash54] This may be due to unscrupuloustree felling and logging pressure on the forest resources inaddition to the other natural causes like heavy erratic rainfallswhich leads to the massive landslides in the region
34 Species Dominance in the Identified CommunitiesAmong the various communities identified in SV we figuredout the maximum values of dominant species as 745 (Butilis) and 199 (P wallichiana) in B utilis community802 (C deodara) and 174 (P wallichiana) in C deodaracommunity 100 (Q floribunda) in Q floribunda commu-nity as it was the only tree species present in the community5714 (Pinus gerardiana) and 388(Quercus floribunda)in Pinus gerardiana community 909 (P wallichiana) and81 (C deodara) in P wallichiana community 431 (Butilis) and 409 (A pindrow) in B utilis-A pindrow mixedcommunity 625 (B utilis) and 298 (P wallichiana)in Butilis-P wallichiana mixed community 383 (C deodara)and 316 (Picea smithiana ) in C deodara-P smithianamixed community and 525 (C deodara) and 425
(P wallichiana) in C deodara-P wallichiana mixed commu-nity (Table 4)
Among shrubs maximum density percentages were ofthe species Berberis aristata Berberis jaeschkeana Cas-siope fastigiata Cotoneaster bacillaris Cotoneaster micro-phyllus Desmodium elegans Hippophae salicifolia Lonicerahypoleuca Rhododendron campanulatum Rabdosia rugosaRhododendron anthopogon Rubus ellipticus Salix calyculataSorbaria tomentosa Spiraea canescens and so forth Rabdosiarugosa (801) and Cotoneaster bacillaris (75) were hav-ing maximum and minimum density percentages in Quer-cus floribunda and Cedrus deodara communities respec-tively Among herbs assessed Aconogonum molle AgrostisstoloniferaBistorta affinisBromus japonicasCannabis sativaConyza sumatrensis CynoglossumwallichiiDelphinium cash-merianum Euphrasia officinalis Fragaria nubicola Impa-tiens thomsonii Morina longifolia Nepeta erecta Origanumvulgare Persicaria vivipara Poa alpina Polygonatum verti-cillatum Thalictrum cultratum Trifolium pratense and soforth were in abundance hence showing comparativelymore densities Herbs having maximum density recordedwere Poa alpina (253) followed by Cynoglossum wallichii(234) and Fragaria nubicola (195) in Poa alpina-Agrostisstolonifera-Bistorta affinis-Aconitum violaceum mixed Butilis-A pindrowmixed andRhododendron anthopogon-Salixcalyculatamixed communities respectively (Table 4)
Tree shrub and herb percentage covers within thecommunities showed a typical composition of theHimalayan
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
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Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
6 The Scientific World Journal
Table4Re
latived
ensitieso
fdom
inantspecies
invario
uscommun
ities
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Trees
BetulautilisD
Don
ButilisD
Don
(745
)P
wallichiana
AB
Jacks(19
9)and
Apind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle
(50)
Cassiopefastigiata
(Wall)
DD
on(285
)Rh
ododendron
campanu
latum
D
Don
(176
)andRo
sawe
bbiana
Wallex
Royle(97
)
Polyg
onatum
verticillatum
(L)All(114
)Geranium
wallichianu
mDD
onex
Sweet(57
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(56)and
Aconogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
54
)
Cedrus
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(802
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(174
)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
D
Don
)Royle(25)
Rabdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
313)Berberisaristata(298
)
andCo
toneasterb
acillarisWallex
Lind
l(75
)
Thalictrum
cultratum
Wall(111)Fnu
bicola
(74
)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth(74
)
Quercus
florib
unda
Lind
lex
AC
amus
Qfloribun
daLind
lex
AC
amus
(100)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(801
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(91
)
Cann
abissativaL(14
3)Dysphaniabotrys
(L)
MosyakinampClem
ants(109
)andTagetesm
inutaL
(95)
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on
Pinu
sgerardianaWallex
DD
on(5714
)Qfloribun
daLind
lex
A
Camus
(388
)andOlea
europaea
L(41
)
Rrugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara
(559
)Desmodium
elegans
DC
(189
)andAr
temisiamaritimaL(132
)
Conyza
sumatrensis(SFB
lake)P
ruskiamp
GSancho
(94)C
sativ
aL(68)andCh
enopodium
album
L(54)
Pinu
swallichian
aAB
Jacks
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(909)C
deodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(81
)
Rosa
macrophyllaLind
l(174
)Berberis
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(14
4)and
Cotoneasterm
icrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(128
)
Orig
anum
vulga
reL(61
)Morinalongifolia
Wall
(36)andMedica
golupu
linaL(33)
ButilisD
Don
-Ap
indrow
Roylee
xDD
on)R
oylemixed
ButilisD
Don
(431
)A
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(409
)and
Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(159)
Cmicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(325
)R
macrophyllaLind
l(220
)andB
jaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(117
)
Cynoglo
ssum
wallichiiG
Don
(234
)Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(182
)Trigonellaem
odi
Benthand
LotuscorniculatusL
(46
each)
ButilisD
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksmixed
ButilisD
Don
(625
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks(298)andA
pind
row
(Royleex
DD
on)R
oyle(43)
Cfastigiata(W
all)
DD
on(333
)Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(100
)and
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(76
)
Persica
riavivipara
(L)Ro
nseD
ecr(68)Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle(45
)andLomatogonium
carin
thiacum
(Wulfen)
Rchb
(35
)
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pice
asmith
iana
(Wall)
Boiss
mixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(383
)Piceasm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(316
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(200
)andJugla
nsregiaL
(103)
Rubu
sellipticu
sSm(155)B
aristata
DC
(146)andD
elegans
DC
(136
)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(161
)Trifoliu
mpratenseL(52)Tcultratum
Walland
Chaerophyllum
villosum
WallampDC
(38each)
Cdeodara
(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
-Pw
allichianaAB
Jacksm
ixed
Cdeodara(Roxbex
Lamb)G
Don
(525
)Pwa
llichiana
AB
Jacks
(425
)andPsm
ithiana
(Wall)
Boiss
(50)
BjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(595
2)S
canescensD
Don
(214
)R
webbiana
Wallex
Royle(190)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(82)T
linearis
Benth(63)andTalpinu
sL(55
)
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
The Scientific World Journal 7
Table4Con
tinued
Com
mun
ities
Dom
inantelements
Trees
Shrubs
Herbs
Shrubs
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
onmdash
Hippophae
salicifolia
DD
on(58
)Sorbaria
tomentosa
(Lindl)
Rehd
er(132
)andRa
bdosia
rugosa
(Wallex
Benth)H
Hara(
94)
Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(156
)Ca
nnabissativaL(83)Polygonu
mavicu
lare
L(60)andNe
peta
erecta
(Royleex
Benth)B
enth
(45)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
onmdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(572
)Salix
caprea
L(286
)and
Cotoneastermicrophyllu
sWallex
Lind
l(14
3)
Delp
hinium
cashmerianu
mRo
yle
(72
)Rh
odiola
himalensis
(DD
on)S
HFu
(57)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(53)La
ctucamacrorhiza
(Royle)H
ookf(48)
andIm
patiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(42)
Rhododendron
anthopogon
D
Don
-Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
mixed
mdash
Rhododendron
anthopogon
DD
on(4565)Salix
calyc
ulataHoo
kfex
And
ersson
(369
)andViburnum
cotin
ifoliu
mDD
on(87)
Fnu
bicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(195
)Bisto
rta
affinis(D
Don
)Greene(107)An
aphalis
triplinervis
(Sim
s)Simse
xC
BClarke
(67)Poaannu
aL
(62)Th
alictrum
cultratum
Wall(57)
andOxyria
digyna
(L)Hill
(53)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Cotoneaste
rbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l-BerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eidmixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(270
)Co
toneasterbacillaris
Wallex
Lind
l(115
)
andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid
(82)
Elsholtzia
eriosta
chya
(Benth)Be
nth
(172
)Fragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(154
)Eu
phrasia
officin
alisL
(77
)Orig
anum
vulga
reL(74
)and
Impatiens
thom
soniiH
ookf(35)
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
-Lonice
rahypoleu
caDecne
Mixed
mdash
Spira
eacanescensD
Don
(444
)Lonicera
hypoleu
caDecne
(190)andBerberisjaeschkeanaC
KSchn
eid(111)
Brom
usjaponicusTh
unb
(105
)Cu
scutacapitata
Roxb
(96)Ac
onogonum
molle
(DD
on)H
Hara(
72)
andFragaria
nubicola
(Hoo
kf)
Lind
lex
Lacaita
(63)
Herbs
Poaalpina
L-Agrostis
stolonifer
aL-
Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(DD
on)
Greene-Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
Jacquem
exStapfm
ixed
mdashmdash
Poaalpina
L(2533)Ag
rostisstolonifer
aL
(132
)Bisto
rtaaffi
nis(D
Don
)Greene
(46)Ac
onitu
mviolaceum
JacquemexStapf(46
)andHeracleu
mthom
soniiC
BC
larke(43
)
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
8 The Scientific World Journal
region wherein shrubs Rabdosia rugosa and Cotoneasterbacillaris were having maximum and minimum densitypercentages respectively and herbs Poa alpina Cynoglossumwallichiiand Fragaria nubicola were abundant Dominanceof these species might be due to their high adaptability inaddition to their good capability to proliferate in the extremeclimatic conditions of this part of western Himalaya
35 Phytogeographic Affinities As a whole in all the com-munities 182 species were native to the Himalayan regionand the remaining were nonnatives as they are from differentbiogeographic domains of the world The trend of nativityof plants occurring in SV was as follows EuropeanOrientalregion (28) gt Asia (25) gt European region (16) gt Temperateregion (13) gt Indian region (10) gt IndiaOriental region (8)gt America (7) gt EuropeanOrientalAfrican and TemperateArctic (6 each) gt Cosmopolitan (5) gt Australian (4) gtAmphigean (3) gt Arctic EuropeanOrientalAmerican andOriental (2 each) and EuropeanAfrican (1) (Figure 2)
Natives are the species which evolved naturally in a par-ticular region before their human introduction To prioritizea species or habitat of the region for conservation statusof a species as to whether it is native or introduced in agiven area is required Species invasions beyond their nativerange constitute a global driver of change as nonnative speciesthreaten biodiversity and change ecosystem functioning [55]Like in other parts of the Himachal Himalaya [29 30] inSV also the percentage of native species increased with thealtitude There is a strong evidence from a scatter diagramthat a positive linear relationship exists between the nativespecies richness and altitude (119903 = 083 119875 lt 001 119899 = 34)(Figure 3)The high percentage of the native species at higherelevations may be due to low anthropogenic pressure andsevere climatic conditions compared to the lower elevationswhere high anthropogenic pressure and mild climatic con-ditions support the speciation of the nonnative species [30]Regular monitoring of the habitats and populations of thenative species facing high anthropogenic pressure even inhigher altitude is essentially required so that the adequateplanning for their conservation and management could bedone in time
36 Altitudinal and Aspectwise Distribution of Species Alti-tude and aspect are themost important determinants of vege-tation distribution due to their direct impact onmicroclimateof the habitat [56 57] The Himalayan region has typicaltopography and environment where biodiversity varies fromaspect to aspect and habitats of the communities [58]
Maximum altitudinal distribution of few selected climatesensitive species namely Bistorta affinis Fragaria nubicolaGeranium pratense Pleurospermum candollei Podophyllumhexandrum Rhodiola heterodonta Saussurea obvallata Sax-ifraga sibrica and Sedum ewersii was studied in the valley Itwas found to be highest in northeast followed by north southand southeast aspects (Figure 4) Species like Bistorta affinisreaching up to 4510m and 3890m in northeast and northaspects respectively are restricted to 3580m and 3429m in
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
182
28 25 16 13 10 8 7 6 6 5 4 3 2 2 2 1
320
Num
ber o
f spe
cies
Him
alEu
roO
rien A
sEu
roTe
mp
Ind
Ind
Ori
enA
mer
Euro
Orie
nA
frTe
mp
Arc
tC
osm
oA
ust
Am
phig
Arc
tEu
roO
rien
Am
erO
rien
Euro
Afr
Tota
l
Figure 2 Species showing their biogeographic realms Afr = AfricaAmer = America Amphig = Amphigean Arct = Arctic As = AsiaAust = Australia Cosmo = Cosmopolitan Euro = Europe Himal =Himalaya Ind = India Orient = Oriental and Temp = Temperate
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1800 2300 2800 3300 3800 4300 4800
Nat
ives
()
Altitude (m)
y = 0014x + 1257
R2 = 051 r = 070
P lt 001
Figure 3 Native species along the altitude gradient
south and southeast aspects resepectively Similar trend wasseen with all other climate sesitive species in the region
P wallichiana showed the broadest range from 2100 to3500m and almost reaching the tree line along with B utilis
In this valley northern and northeastern slopes havelower temperatures and higher soil and air moisture contentsas compared to southern and other slopes at the same altitudedue to less solar exposure and higher moisture content andevapotranspiration which is akin to the other Himalayanareas [59 60] In northern and northeastern slopes B utilisA pindrow and P wallichianawere recorded at the altitude aslow as 2200mwhereas on the south and southeastern aspectstheir altitudinal range started from 2300m
37 Final Considerations In northwesternHimalaya the highmountain plant communities support a rich biodiversity interms of ecological indicator species and nativesThey need apropermanagement against harsh climate and anthropogenic
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
The Scientific World Journal 9
300032003400360038004000420044004600
Alti
tude
(m)
NorthSouth
North eastSouth east
Bisto
rta
affini
s
Frag
aria
nub
icol
a
Ger
aniu
m p
rate
nse
Pleu
rosp
erm
um ca
ndol
lii
Podo
phyl
lum
hex
andr
um
Rhod
iola
het
erod
onta
Saus
sure
a ob
valla
ta
Saxi
fraga
sibi
rica
Sedu
m ew
ersii
Figure 4 Distribution range of species along altitudinal gradient indifferent aspects
pressure for continued future sustainability Regularmonitor-ing using random sampling by quadrat method is suggestedto understand the dynamics of the habitats and communitiesand accordingly plan for their management The climatesensitive species are required to be regularly monitored fortheir phenological attributes so that the baseline data can begenerated for future changes in the area The informationgenerated on these lines will provide a better insight aboutthe present status of floristic diversity and help in developingadequate strategies and action plan for the management ofsuch biodiversity-rich areas The state and central govern-ment agencies are suggested to encourage the native speciesso that the ambient regional ecosystems are protected for theposterity Further for in situ conservation of the economicallyand ecologically important species regular monitoring of thesites and complete protection of the habitats is suggestedIn addition seed germination protocols developed may beused for mass multiplication of the species and seedlingsshould be transplanted in comparable habitats so that viablepopulation of the species can be maintained Finally apragmatic and ameliorative conservational approach whichwas hitherto absent in this part of the Himalaya needs tobe implemented
Conflict of InterestsThe authors declare that there is no conflict of interestsregarding the publication of this paper
AcknowledgmentsThanks are due to Department of Science and TechnologyGovernment of India for providing funds to conduct thestudy The authors also thank and appreciate local commu-nities for their cooperation and patience in providing theinformation and hospitality while undertaking surveys
References
[1] C P Kala and V B Mathur ldquoPatterns of plant species distribu-tion in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh Indiardquo Journalof Vegetation Science vol 13 no 6 pp 751ndash754 2002
[2] M A Oommen and K Shanker ldquoElevational species richnesspatterns emerge frommultiple local mechanisms in Himalayanwoody plantsrdquo Ecology vol 86 no 11 pp 3039ndash3047 2005
[3] J S Singh ldquoSustainable development of the Indian Himalayanregion linking ecological and economic concernsrdquo CurrentScience vol 90 no 6 pp 784ndash788 2006
[4] S M Khan S E Page H Ahmad and D M HarperldquoSustainable utilization and conservation of plant biodiversityinmontane ecosystems theWestern Himalayas as a case studyrdquoAnnals of Botany vol 112 no 3 pp 479ndash501 2013
[5] A Chawla S Rajkumar K N Singh B Lal A K Thukral andRD Singh ldquoPlant species diversity along an altitudinal gradientof Bhabha Valley in western Himalayardquo Journal of MountainScience vol 5 no 2 pp 157ndash177 2008
[6] H Shaheen Z Ullah S M Khan and D M Harper ldquoSpeciescomposition and community structure of western Himalayanmoist temperate forests in Kashmirrdquo Forest Ecology and Man-agement vol 278 pp 138ndash145 2012
[7] S Gairola R S Rawal and N P Todaria ldquoForest vegetationpatterns along an altitudinal gradient in sub-alpine zone ofWestHimalaya Indiardquo African Journal of Plant Science vol 2 no 6pp 42ndash48 2008
[8] N Timilsina M S Ross and J T Heinen ldquoA communityanalysis of sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the western Terai ofNepalrdquo Forest Ecology and Management vol 241 no 1ndash3 pp223ndash234 2007
[9] IUCN IUCN Red List of Threatened Species IUCN GlandsSwitzerland 2003
[10] R T Busing P S White and M D Mackenzie ldquoGradientanalysis of old spruce-fir forest of the Great Smokey Mountainscirca 1935rdquo Canadian Journal of Botany vol 71 no 7 pp 951ndash958 1993
[11] S Pant and S S Samant ldquoDiversity and regeneration statusof tree species in Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary North-WesternHimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 53 no 3 pp 317ndash331 2012
[12] O Polunin and A Stainton Flowers of the Himalaya OxfordUniversity Press Delhi India 1984
[13] H J Chowdhery and BMWadhwa Flora of Himachal Pradeshvol 1ndash3 Botanical Survey of India Calcutta India 1984
[14] D S Dhaliwal andM Sharma Flora of KulluDistrict ( HimachalPradesh ) Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India1999
[15] S K Singh and G S Rawat Flora of Great Himalayan NationalPark Himachal Pradesh Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal SinghDehradun India 2000
[16] H Singh and M Sharma Flora of Chamba District (HimachalPradesh) Bishen Singh Mahinder Pal Singh Dehradun India2006
[17] S P Khullar An Illustrated Fern Flora of the West Himalaya VolII International Book Distributors Dehradun India 2000
[18] J S Singh and S P Singh ldquoForest vegetation of the HimalayardquoThe Botanical Review vol 53 no 1 pp 80ndash192 1987
[19] M S Mani ldquoThe Himalaya its ecology and biogeography areviewrdquo in High Altitudes of the Himalaya Y P S Pangtey andR S Rawal Eds Gyanodaya Prakashan Nainital India 1994
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
10 The Scientific World Journal
[20] U Dhar R S Rawal and S S Samant ldquoStructural diversityand representativeness of forest vegetation in a protected areaof Kumaun Himalaya India implications for conservationrdquoBiodiversity and Conservation vol 6 no 8 pp 1045ndash1062 1997
[21] B PNautiyal N Pandey andA B Bhatt ldquoAnalysis of vegetationpattern in alpine zone in North West Himalaya a case studyof Garhwal Himalaya with special reference to diversity anddistributional patternsrdquo International Journal of Ecology andEnvironmental Sciences vol 23 no 1 pp 49ndash65 1997
[22] C P Kala Ecology and conservation of alpine meadows inthe Valley of Flowers National Park Garhwal Himalaya [PhDthesis] Forest Research Institute Dehradun India 1998
[23] J S Singh ldquoThe biodiversity crisis a multifaceted reviewrdquoCurrent Science vol 82 no 6 pp 638ndash647 2002
[24] S S Samant and H C Joshi ldquoFloristic diversity communitypatterns and changes of vegetation in Nanda Devi NationalParkrdquo in Biodiversity Monitoring Expedition Nanda Devi 2003pp 39ndash54 Bishen SinghMahendra Pal Singh Dehradun India2003
[25] K N Singh A Kumar B Lal and N P Todaria ldquoSpeciesdiversity and population status of threatened plants in differentlandscape elements of the Rohtang Pass western HimalayardquoJournal of Mountain Science vol 5 no 1 pp 73ndash83 2008
[26] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoMedicinal plants in old-growthdegraded and re-growth forests of NWPakistanrdquo Forest Ecologyand Management vol 261 no 11 pp 2105ndash2114 2011
[27] M Adnan and D Holscher ldquoDiversity of medicinal plantsamong different forest-use types of the Pakistani HimalayardquoEconomic Botany vol 66 no 4 pp 344ndash356 2012
[28] H C Joshi and S S Samant ldquoAssessment of forest vegetationand conservation priorities of communities in part of NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve West Himalaya part Irdquo InternationalJournal of Sustainable Development and World Ecology vol 11no 3 pp 326ndash336 2004
[29] M Lal Assessment of floristic diversity and conservation statusof plants in kais wildlife sanctuary of himachal pradesh in North-western Himalaya [PhD Thesis] Kumaun University NainitalIndia 2007
[30] M S Rana Assessment of floristic diversity and conservationprioritization of communities for conservation inManaliWildlifeSanctuary of Himachal Pradesh in Northwestern Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2007
[31] A Sharma Studies on Floristic diversity and prioritization ofcommunities for conservation in Hirb and Shoja CatchmentsDistrict Kullu of Himachal Pradesh North Western Himalaya[PhD thesis] Kumaun University Nainital India 2008
[32] W A Rodgers and H S Panwar A Biogeographical Classifi-cation for Conservation Planning Wildlife Institute of IndiaDehradun India 1990
[33] E C Pielou Ecological Diversity JohnWiley amp Sons New YorkNY USA 1975
[34] E H Simpson ldquoMeasurement of diversityrdquo Nature vol 163article 688 1949
[35] C E Shannon and W Wiener The Mathematical Theory ofCommunication University of Illinois Press Urbana Ill USA1963
[36] J T Curtis and M Intosh ldquoThe interrelation of certain analyticand phytosociological charactersrdquo Ecology vol 31 pp 434ndash4551950
[37] P Greig-Smith Quantitative Plant Ecology Academic PressNew York NY USA 1957
[38] K A KersawQuantitative and Dynamic Plant Ecology EdwardArnold Limited London UK 2nd edition 1973
[39] D Muller-Dombois and H Ellenberge Aims and Methods ofVegetation Ecology JohnWilley and Sons New York NY USA1974
[40] A K Saxena and J S Singh ldquoA phytosociological analysis ofwoody species in forest communities of a part of KumaunHimalayardquo Vegetatio vol 50 no 1 pp 3ndash22 1982
[41] A E OsmastonA Forest Flora for Kumaun International BookDistributors Dehradun India 1927
[42] B S Aswal and B N Mehrotra Flora of Lahaul-Spiti (A ColdDesert in North-West Himalaya) Bishen Singh Mahendra PalSingh Dehradun India 1994
[43] S S Samant H C Joshi and S C Arya ldquoDiversity nativityand endemism of vascular plants in Pindari area of Nanda DeviBiosphere Reserve-IIrdquoHimalayan Biosphere Reserves vol 2 no1-2 pp 1ndash29 2000
[44] O P Chaturvedi and J S Singh ldquoThe structure and function ofpine forest in central himalaya I dry matter dynamicsrdquo Annalsof Botany vol 60 no 3 pp 237ndash252 1986
[45] C BindiuUnpublished PhD thesis Acadamic de stunte agricolesi silvice [PhD thesis] Acadamic de stunte agricole si silviceBucharest Romania 1973
[46] G P Raturi ldquoForest community structure along an altitudinalgradient of district Rudraprayag of Garhwal Himalaya IndiardquoEcologia vol 2 no 3 pp 76ndash84 2012
[47] B S Adhikari H C Rikhari Y S Rawat and S P Singh ldquoHighaltitude forest composition diversity and profile structure in apart of Kumaun Himalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 32 no 1 pp86ndash97 1991
[48] N S Bankoti R S Rawal S S Samant and Y P S PangteyldquoForest vegetation of inner hill ranges in kumaun centralhimalayardquo Tropical Ecology vol 33 no 1 pp 41ndash53 1992
[49] H C Joshi Assessment of habitat diversity forest vegetation andhuman dependence in the Buffer zone of Nanda Devi biospherereserve of West Himalaya [PhD thesis] Kumaon UniversityNainital India 2002
[50] J C Tewari and S P Singh ldquoVegetational analysis of a forestlying in transitional zone between lower and upper Himalayanmoist temperate forestsrdquo inThevegetational wealth of HimalayaS G Paliwal Ed Puja Publishers New Delhi India 1981
[51] S S Samant H C Joshi S C Arya and S Pant ldquoStudies onthe structure composition and changes of vegetation in NandaDevi Biosphere Reserve of west Himalayardquo Tech Rep Ministryof Environment and Forests New Delhi India 2002
[52] M Ahmed T Husain A H Sheikh S S Hussain and M FSiddiqui ldquoPhytosociology and structure of Himalayan forestsfrom different climatic zones of Pakistanrdquo Pakistan Journal ofBotany vol 38 no 2 pp 361ndash383 2006
[53] R M Kunwar and S P Sharma ldquoQuantitative analysis of treespecies in two community forests of Dolpa district mid-westNepalrdquo Himalayan Journal of Science vol 2 no 3 pp 23ndash282004
[54] S Shah A Tewari and B Tewari ldquoImpact of Human dis-turbance on forest vegetation and water resources of nainitalcatchmentrdquo Natural Science 2009
[55] J M Levine M Vila C M DrsquoAntonio J S Dukes K Grigulisand S Lavorel ldquoMechanisms underlying the impacts of exoticplant invasionsrdquo Proceedings of the Royal Society B BiologicalSciences vol 270 no 1517 pp 775ndash781 2003
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
International Journal of
Microbiology
The Scientific World Journal 11
[56] R S Rawal and Y P S Pangtey ldquoDistribution and structural-functional attributes of trees in the high altitude zone of CentralHimalaya Indiardquo Vegetatio vol 112 no 1 pp 29ndash34 1994
[57] H Singh M Kumar and AM Sheikh ldquoDistribution pattern ofOak and Pine along altitudinal gradients in Garhwal HimalayardquoNatural Science vol 7 no 11 pp 81ndash85 2009
[58] R E Shank and E N Noorie ldquoMicroclimate vegetation in asmall valley in eastern Tennesseerdquo Ecology vol 11 p 5319 1950
[59] C M Sharma and N P Baduni ldquoEffect of aspect on thestructure of some natural stands ofAbies pindrow in Himalayanmoist temperate forestrdquo Environmentalist vol 20 no 4 pp309ndash317 2000
[60] M P Panthi R P Chaudhary and O R Vetaas ldquoPlant speciesrichness and composition in a trans-Himalayan inner valley ofManangDistrict Central NepalrdquoHimalayan Journal of Sciencesvol 4 no 6 pp 27ndash39 2007
Submit your manuscripts athttpwwwhindawicom
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Anatomy Research International
PeptidesInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom
International Journal of
Volume 2014
Zoology
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Molecular Biology International
GenomicsInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
The Scientific World JournalHindawi Publishing Corporation httpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioinformaticsAdvances in
Marine BiologyJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Signal TransductionJournal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
BioMed Research International
Evolutionary BiologyInternational Journal of
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Biochemistry Research International
ArchaeaHindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Genetics Research International
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Advances in
Virolog y
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom
Nucleic AcidsJournal of
Volume 2014
Stem CellsInternational
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Hindawi Publishing Corporationhttpwwwhindawicom Volume 2014
Enzyme Research
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