Plant Diversity, Regeneration Status and Standing Biomass Under Varied Degree of Disturbances in Temperate Mixed Oak-Conifer Forest, Kumaun Himalaya

Himani Karki, Kiran Bargali, Sureendra S. Bargali, Vibhuti -, Y. S. Rawat

Abstract


The future composition of forest depends on the potential regeneration status of tree species within a forest stand in space and time, which can be predicted by the age structure of their population. The present study investigated effect of biotic disturbance on plant diversity, regeneration status and standing biomass in a mixed oak-conifer forest in a part of Kumaun Himalaya, India. On the basis of disturbance level, the study area was divided into highly disturbed and least disturbed stands. Each site was further subdivided into three sub sites (hill base, hill slope and hill top). Regeneration status of individual tree species was determined on the basis of the population size of seedlings, saplings and trees. A total of 69 plant species (16 trees, 18 shrubs and 35 herbs) distributed in 66 genera and 47 families were recorded. The total tree density ranged between 610 and 1360 ind ha-1. All the sub-sites of highly disturbed site showed J-shaped curve for most of the tree species. At least disturbed site, hill top showed inverted J-shaped curve indicating good regeneration while hill base showed J-shaped curve indicating poor regeneration and hill slope showed no regeneration (absence of seedlings). At highly disturbed site, minimum tree carbon stock was reported in hill base position (82.99 Mg ha-1), while at least disturbed site, it was in hill top position (159.91 Mg ha-1). Over exploitation of forest resources may lead to site-specific changes in the population structure which decrease the stability and complexity of the species and also alter the future structure and composition of forests/ecosystems. An ecological approach to landscape management is needed which should be based on knowledge of natural vegetation structure and composition.

Keywords


Carbon Stock; Population Structure; Forest Resources; Ecosystems

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