Regeneration dynamics of dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in moist temperate forest of Mandal-Chopta area in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. The aim of the present study was to understand the regeneration dynamics of the dominant tree species along an altitudinal gradient in naturally regenerating, restricted access forest. The overall regeneration status was fairly high in the study area. Most of the native canopy and undercanopy dominants had frequent reproduction and expanding populations, which suggests the stability of forest structure/composition and further expansion of dominant species. The overall regeneration of trees in the forest had a greater contribution of middle and understorey species. Because of infrequent reproduction and declining populations of some of the dominant native species viz., Abies pindrow, Alnus nepalensis and Betula alnoides, structural/compositional changes in the future are expected in respective forests dominated by them. Abies pindrow and Taxus baccata need immediate attention by forest managers for their survival in the area. Seedlings were found to be more prone to competition from herb and shrubs than saplings.

Keywords

Garhwal / environmental gradient / forest structure / regeneration curves / species diversity

References

[1] Benton A.H., Werner W.E.. Field Biology and Ecology. 1976, New York: McGraw-Hill

[2] Bernadzki E., Bolibok L., Brzeziecki B., Zajaczkowski J., Zybura H.. Compositional dynamics of natural forest in the Bialowieza National Park, northeastern Poland. Journal of Vegetation Science, 1998, 9(2): 229-238.

[3] Bhuyan P., Khan M.L., Tripathi R.S.. Tree diversity and population structure in undisturbed and human-impacted stands of tropical wet evergreen forest in Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalayas, India. Biodiversity Conservation, 2003, 12(8): 1753-1773.

[4] Campbell D.G., Stone J.L., Rosas A. Jr. A comparison of the phytosociology and dynamics of three floodplain (Varzea) forests of known ages, Rio Jurua, western Brazilian Amazon. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 1992, 108(3): 213-237.

[5] Curtis J.T., McIntosh R.P.. The interrelations of certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ecology, 1950, 31(3): 434-55.

[6] Davidar P., Nayak G.K., Dharmalingam M.. Effect of adult density on regeneration success of woody plants in natural and restored tropical dry evergreen forest fragments in Puducherry region, India. Current Science, 2007, 92(6): 805-811.

[7] Deb P., Sundriyal R.C.. Tree regeneration and seedling survival patterns in old-growth lowland tropical rainforest in Namdapha National Park, north-east India. Forest Ecology and Management, 2008, 255: 3995-4006.

[8] Eilu G., Obua J.. Tree condition and natural regeneration in disturbed sites of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, southwestern Uganda. Tropical Ecology, 2005, 46(1): 99-101.

[9] Forget P.M.. Comparative recruitment patterns of two non-pioneer canopy tree species in French Guiana. Oecologia, 1991, 85(3): 434-439.

[10] Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Live tree biomass and carbon variation along an altitudinal gradient in moist temperate valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya (India). Current Science, 2011, 100(12): 1862-1870.

[11] Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Tree species composition and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in moist tropical montane valley slopes of the Garhwal Himalaya, India. Forest Science and Technology, 2011, 7(3): 91-102.

[12] Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Rana C.S., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Phytodiversity (Angiosperms and Gymnosperms) in Mandal-Chopta forest of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Nature and Science, 2010, 8(1): 1-17.

[13] Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Suyal S., Ghildiyal S.K.. Composition and diversity of five major forest types in moist temperate climate of the western Himalaya. Forestry Studies in China, 2011, 13(2): 139-153.

[14] Gairola S., Sharma C.M., Suyal S., Ghildiyal S.K.. Species composition and diversity in mid-altitudinal moist temperate forests of the Western Himalaya. Journal of Forest Science, 2011, 27(1): 1-15.

[15] Getachew T., Teketay D., Fetene M.. Regeneration of fourteen tree species in Harenna forest, southeastern Ethopia. Flora, 2002, 197(6): 461-474.

[16] Henle K., Saree S., Wiegand K.. The role of density regulation in extinction processes and population viability analysis. Biological Conservation, 2004, 13(1): 9-52.

[17] Jha M.N., Rathore R.K., Pande P.. Soil factor affecting the natural regeneration of silver fir and spruce in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Forester, 1984, 110(3): 293-298.

[18] Kent M., Coker P.. Vegetation description and Analysis. 1992, London: Belhaven Press

[19] Khan M.L., Rai J.P.N., Tripathi R.S.. Population structure of some tree species in disturbed and protected subtropical forests of northeast India. Acta Oecologia, 1987, 8: 247-255.

[20] Khan M.L., Tripathi R.S.. Tree regeneration in disturbed subtropical wet hill forest of northeast India: effects of stumps diameter and height on sprouting of four tree species. Forest Ecology and Management, 1987, 17(2–3): 199-209.

[21] Krauchii N., Brang P., Schonenberger W.. Forests of mountainous regions: Gaps in knowledge and research needs. Forest Ecology and Management, 2000, 132: 73-82.

[22] Lorimer C.G., Chapman W., Lambert W.D.. Tall understory vegetation as a factor in the poor development of oak seedlings beneath mature stands. Journal of Ecology, 1994, 82: 227-237.

[23] Moktan M.R., Gratzer G., Richards W.H., Rai T.B., Dukpa D., Tenzin K.. Regeneration of mixed conifer forests under group tree selection harvest management in western Bhutan Himalayas. Forest Ecology and Management, 2009, 257: 2121-2132.

[24] Moravie M.A., Pascal J.P., Auger P.. Investigating canopy regeneration process through individual-based spatial models: applications to tropical rain forest. Ecological Modelling, 1997, 104: 241-260.

[25] Muller-Dombios D.J., Jucobi D., Cooray R.G., Balakrishnan N.. Ohia rain forest study: ecological investigation of the Ohia dieback problem in Hawaii. 1980, Honolulu HI: Hawaii Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resource

[26] Osunkjoya O.O., Ash J.E., Hopkins M.S., Graham A.W.. Factors affecting survival of tree seedlings in North Queensland rainforests. Oecologia, 1992, 91: 569-578.

[27] Pande P.K., Negi J.D.S., Sharma S.C.. Plant species diversity, composition, gradient analysis and regeneration behaviour of some tree species in a moist temperate western Himalayan forest ecosystem. Indian Forester, 2002, 128(8): 869-886.

[28] Phillips E.A.. Methods of Vegetation study. 1959, New York: Henry Holt and Co. Inc., 107.

[29] Prakash R.. Forest Management. 1986, Dehradun, India: International Book Distributors, 214.

[30] Sagar R., Singh J.S.. Structure, diversity, and regeneration of tropical dry deciduous forest of northern India. Biodiversity Conservation, 2005, 14: 935-959.

[31] Saxena A.K., Singh J.S.. A phytosociological analysis of woody species in forest communities of a part of the Kumaun Himalaya. Plant Ecology, 1982, 50(1): 3-22.

[32] Saxena A.K., Singh J.S.. Tree population structure of certain Himalayan forest associations and implications concerning their future composition. Plant Ecology, 1984, 58: 61-69.

[33] Saxena A.K., Singh S.P., Singh J.S.. Population structure of forests of Kumaun Himalaya: Implication for Management. Journal of Environmental Management, 1984, 19: 307-324.

[34] Scholl A.E., Taylor A.H.. Regeneration pattern in old-growth red firwestern white pine forest in the northern Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 2006, 235: 143-154.

[35] Shannon C.E., Weaver W.. The mathematical theory of communication. 1963, Urbana, USA: University of Illinois Press

[36] Sharma C.M., Baduni N.P., Gairola S., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. The effect of slope aspects on the forest composition, community structure and soil nutrient status of some major natural temperate forest types of Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of Forestry Research, 2010, 21(3): 331-337.

[37] Sharma C.M., Baduni N.P., Gairola S., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Tree diversity and carbon stocks of some major forest types of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Forest Ecology and Management, 2010, 260(12): 2170-2179.

[38] Sharma C.M., Gairola S., Baduni N.P., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Variation in carbon stocks on different slope aspects in seven major forest types of temperate region of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Journal of Biosciences, 2011, 36(4): 701-708.

[39] Sharma C.M., Gairola S., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Forest dependent livelihood in relation to socio-economic status of the people in temperate villages of Garhwal Himalaya: A case study. Mountain Research and Development, 2009, 29(4): 308-319.

[40] Sharma C.M., Gairola S., Ghildiyal S.K., Suyal S.. Physical Properties of Soils in Relation to Forest Composition in Moist Temperate Valley Slopes of the Central Western Himalaya. Journal of Forest Science, 2010, 26(2): 117-129.

[41] Sharma C.M., Suyal S., Ghildiyal S.K., Gairola S.. Role of Physiographic factors in distribution of Abies pindrow (Silver Fir) along an altitudinal gradient in Himalayan temperate forests. Environmentalist, 2010, 30(1): 76-84.

[42] Singh J.S.. Singh J.S., Singh S.P.. Man and forest interactions in Central Himalaya. Himalayan environment and development problems and perspective. 1992, Nainital: Gyanodaya Prakashan, 51 80

[43] Singh V.P., Singh J.S.. Energetics and environmental costs of agriculture in a dry tropical region of India. Environmental Management, 1992, 16: 495-503.

[44] Slik J.W.F., Kebler P.J.A., Van Welzen P.C.. Macaranga and Mallotus species (euphorbiaceae) as indicators for disturbance in the mixed lowland dipterocarp forest of east Kalimantan (Indonesia). Ecological Indicators, 2003, 2: 311-324.

[45] Sundriyal R.C., Sharma E.. Anthropogenic pressure on tree structure and biomass in temperate forest of Mamlay watershed in Sikkim. Forest Ecology and Management, 1996, 81: 113-134.

[46] Taylur A.H., Zisheng Q.. Regeneration pattern in old growth Abies-Betula forests in the Wolony natural reserve, Sichvan, China. Journal of Ecology, 1988, 76: 1204-1218.

[47] Thadani R., Ashton P.M.S.. Regeneration of banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) in the central Himalaya. Forest Ecology and Management, 1995, 78: 217-224.

[48] Troup R.S.. The Silviculture of Indian Trees. 1921, Oxford: Oxford University Press

[49] Uhl C., Murphy P.G.. Composition, structure and regeneration of tierra firme forest in the Amazon basin of Venezuela. Tropical Ecology, 1981, 6: 469-477.