| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Semwal, Dinesh Prasad [1], Saradhi, P. Pardha [1]. Plant species richness and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Himalaya, India. The paper presents an analysis of plant species richness and diversity and its association with climatic and soil variables along with 1000 to 4000 m elevation gradient on the north-western part of Himalaya, India. We have selected three major sites (i) 1000-2200, (ii) 2200-3400 and (iii) < 3400 m along altitudinal gradient in the Garhwal Himalaya. Species richness and diversity were estimated for each plant life form and beta diversity between sites was estimated along the gradient. The relationship between species richness (alpha diversity), Shannon & Wiener general diversity (H) and environmental variables were estimated using simple linear correlation and regression analysis. Comparative data of species richness along with altitudinal gradient of different growth forms showed high species diversity in montane region. It is clearly shown that herbaceous species dominated in the altitude ranges between 2200-3400 m in different habitat types. Based on their growth forms, the plant species were classified into trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and lianas. The majority of the species were herbs (58.8%), trees and shrubs (30.23%) while lianas and grasses were found in least numbers. Plant diversity were distributed among 87 families, while 39.25% of the species belong to only eight families, i.e., Asteraceae (35 sp. in 36 genera), Rosaceae (28 sp. in 25 genera), Poaceae (25 sp. in 18 genera), Polygonaceae (17 sp. in 19 genera), Lamiaceae (16 sp. in 14 genera), Ranunculaceae (16 sp. in 15 genera), Scrophulariaceae (12 sp. in 10 genera) and Apiaceae (10 sp. in 19 genera). Few species were adapted to the full spectrum of environmental variation along the elevation gradient studied. We observed that study of this kind from high altitude mountainous area is important source of information for planning, conservation and plant biodiversity protection strategies.
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1 - University of Delhi, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India, Department of Environmental Biology, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India, Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
Keywords:
Environment gradient
Garhwal Himalaya
beta diversity
conservation.
Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Exhibit Hall (Northeast, Southwest & Southeast)/Hilton
Date: Sunday, July 8th, 2007
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: P49021
Abstract ID:35 |
