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The present study aimed to analyse the population structure, forest composition and regeneration dynamics of Betula utilis D.Don in two core zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. A total of 346 plants species belonging to 198 genera and 82 families were recorded dominated by Asteraceae (24) followed by Rosaceae (21 species) and Ranunculaceae (19 sp...
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... the tree layer B. utilis (IVI-217.31) was found to be the most dominant tree species followed by R. campanulatum and A. pindrow at both North and South aspect at NDNP (Table 4). The total tree stand density (2137 ind.ha −1 ) was recorded maximum at north aspect as compared to the south aspect (1133 ind.ha −1 ). ...Context 2
... total tree density was found higher at north aspect (2145 ind.ha −1 ) for mixed B. utilis forest as compared to south aspect (920 ind.ha −1 ). North aspect showed highest density (854 ind.ha −1 ) and IVI (114.32) of B. utilis, whereas minimum density was recorded for the Picea smithiana and A. caesium at both the aspects (Table 4). In the north aspect tree species such as P. wallichiana, A. pindrow, Populus ciliata and S. sikkimensis were found the co-dominant tree species whereas in the south aspect it was represented by A. pindrow, P. wallichiana, C. deodara and T. baccata (Table 4). ...Context 3
... aspect showed highest density (854 ind.ha −1 ) and IVI (114.32) of B. utilis, whereas minimum density was recorded for the Picea smithiana and A. caesium at both the aspects (Table 4). In the north aspect tree species such as P. wallichiana, A. pindrow, Populus ciliata and S. sikkimensis were found the co-dominant tree species whereas in the south aspect it was represented by A. pindrow, P. wallichiana, C. deodara and T. baccata (Table 4). ...Citations
... For instance, in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, India, the density of B. utilis ranged from 1133 to 2371 ind/ha. (Maletha et al., 2023). Similarly, a considerable variation has been recorded in regeneration potential of the species. ...
... Current findings fulfil the research gap by evaluating the population structure, distribution pattern, habitat geography and conservation status of B. utilis across the whole state of AJK in the western Himalayas. B. utilis is a key stone indicator tree species of the western Himalayan subalpine forest ecosystems having significant ecological importance in terms of the maintenance of soil organic matter, erosion, moisture, habitat construction, and microclimate regulation (Maletha et al., 2023). Indicator species analysis in different ecoregions holds vital scientific importance for the monitoring of biodiversity and ecosystem stability (Khan et al., 2011).. B. utilis dominated subalpine forest ecosystem regulates dynamic ecological functions as well as provide vital ecosystem services to local communities in the mountainous region. ...
Betula utilis is the keystone tree species constituting the basic structure of the western Himalayan subalpine forests in Kashmir regions. It is endemic to Himalayan region, and performs dynamic ecological functions. Betula utilis populations in the region are threatened due to immense anthropogenic disturbances. There is little information available regarding the status of Betula populations in the region indicating acknowledge gap. This study investigated the distribution patterns, population structure, floristic diversity and phytosociological attributes of Betula forests, threats, as well as evaluating the habitat geography of the species using GIS analysis. Systematic quadrat-based sampling was used to record primary vegetation data and geographic attributes from a total of 30 subalpine forest sites in mountainous areas in an elevational range of 2800–3800 m. Betula utilis populations in the region were characterized with a stem density of 739.33 trees/ha with a basal area cover of 1974.93 m²/ha. The Betula papulations exhibited a regeneration potential of 609.33 seedlings/ha. A deforestation intensity of 351.33 Betula stumps/ha was recorded at the investigated sites. Floristic inventory revealed a total of 226 plant species recorded as associated flora in the Betula forest, belonging to 139 genera and 58 families. Communities exhibited moderate levels of diversity and richness having average values of Simpson's diversity index as 0.94; Shannon Wiener index as 3.22, species richness as 1.68, species evenness as 0.90, and community maturity index as 30.47. Biological spectrum analysis revealed Hemicryptophytes were the dominant life form whereas microphylls were the dominant leaf size class. ARC-GIS analysis significantly explained the habitat geography of the Betula populations. Digital elevation Model developed from SRTM dataset revealed that B. utilis populations were distributed in an altitudinal range of 2800–3800 m. North facing slopes with high degree of slope steepness were identified as the key habitats of the B. utilis populations. Fuelwood and timber extraction, and overgrazing were identified as major threats to the highly fragmented Betula populations in the region. Prevailing threats have significantly reduced B. utilis habitat, leading to a rapid decline in the species distribution range. It is recommended to formulate effective conservation measures such as community-based conservation initiatives, integrative sustainable harvesting policies, habitat restoration programmes, and promoting alternative livelihoods that support local communities to safeguard the Betula forests in the Himalayan region of Kashmir.
... Timberline or treeline zone has been identified as sensitive areas for climate changes at global and regional level (Peili et al. 2020). Several research work that has been carried out in the past has focused on vegetation structure and composition (Negi et al. 2019;Maletha et al. 2023), resource utilization pattern and anthropogenic pressure (Sharma et al. 2009;Dhyani and Maikhuri 2011), climate change (Grace et al. 2002;Kanka et al. 2005;Chawla et al. 2012), floristic diversity (Sharma et al. 2010a;Gairola et al. 2011b), ethnobotanical surveys (Maikhuri et al. 1998a, b;Kala 2007;Phondani et al. 2010), biomass productivity and carbon storage (Singh et al. 1994a, b;Sharma et al. 2010a;Gairola et al. 2011a), with only little attention paid to investigating vegetation dynamics in relation to human disturbances and edaphic conditions (Sharma et al. 2009(Sharma et al. , 2010bGairola et al. 2012;Rawat et al. 2020), criteria and indicator for assessing threat timberline species (Maletha et al. 2020) and vegetation dynamics and soil nutrient availability (Maletha et al. 2022). In particular, the eco-physiological aspects related to western Himalayan treeline species, especially the effect of soil and tree water relations on tree phenology in treeline environment, remain poorly investigated. ...
Many regions of Himalayas are warming more than global average rate, and treeline is assumed to be sensitive to changes in the climate. The Indian Himalayan treeline species are very less studied on water stress level and its relation to phenology. In the present study, we have tried to relate water relations of selected treeline species with the timing of phenological phases in treeline areas of western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The soil moisture content (Sm) varied between 33.21 and 59.16%. Most phenological phases occurred between pre-summer and summer season in all studied treeline species. The water potential (Ψ) of all the studied tree species increased just before the commencement of leafing and flowering phases when the temperature rose. The species never encountered severe water stress and the pre-dawn water potential (ΨPD) remained above − 1.04 MPa across all the phenological phases. ΨPD was most negative − 1.04 MPa during flowering period and least negative − 0.14 MPa during fruit maturation period. Morning leaf conductance (gwAM) remained above 304.59 m mol m2 s−1 across all the seasons for all the studied species. Rhododendron’s species had the maximum phenological phases during summer season. The highest gwAM was measured in Betula utilis during rainy season and minimum in R. campanulatum during winter season. Leafing and flowering both showed a positive correlation with temperature while fruiting showed a positive correlation with rainfall. The study reveals that the water potential does not reach lethal level to curtail phenological and physiological activities in treeline species. The timing of phenophases in these species is highly sensitive to seasonal rainfall and soil water availability, with temperature also directly influencing the controlling/shifting of the phenophases.
... Despite the challenging environmental conditions, alpine ecosystems exhibit a remarkable ability to generate environmental diversity and foster microhabitat differentiation (Maletha et al., 2020(Maletha et al., , 2022. Alpine ecosystems among the regions in the Western Himalaya are most sensitive to climate change and are characterized by a high level of endemism (Maletha et al., 2023). This unique characteristic contributes to their significant richness in biodiversity and endemism (Körner, 2019;Nowak et al., 2022). ...
In the current context of climate change, the Western Himalayas are thought to be warming faster than the global average rate. Despite this rapid warming, our understanding of alpine vegetation composition and the underlying factors shaping its patterns in the Western Himalayan alpine highlands of Pakistan remains limited. Extensive field sampling was conducted at 24 sites ranging in altitude from 3300 m to 4200 m. The entire altitudinal range was divided into three belts i.e., low-altitude sites, medium-altitude sites, and high-altitude sites (HAS). Results revealed that alpine flora consisted of 251 species (belonging to 51 families. The findings revealed that 83 of the 251 species evaluated contributed significantly to the change in species composition between three altitudinal sites. The species that contributed the most to the variance in species composition between communities made up 75 % of the total, demonstrating that these species are important in structuring plant communities at different altitudes. Among the alpine flora, a significant (49 %) dominance was observed from nine families, comprising a total of 123 species. The largest family, Asteraceae, had the highest number of species, followed by Poaceae and Rosaceae. Hemicryptophytes emerged as the prevailing life form, while Microphylls were the dominant leaf type. Phytosociological Indices revealed that diversity levels decreased with increasing altitude, indicating a significant impact of altitude on plant diversity. Canonical correspondence analysis suggested that altitude, grazing, and soil erosion are important in explaining variance in plant distribution patterns in the alpine flora. Twelve indicator species were discovered in three different altitudinal groups. In the LAS, Bistorta affinis, Geranium himalayense, Poa nemoralis, and Sibbaldia cuneata, had a significant indicator value, whereas in the mediumaltitude sites MAS Allium humile, Bistorta affinis, Juniperus communis, and Rhododendron campanulatum had significant p-values. In high altitude sites HAS, indicator plants were Bistorta affinis, Juniperus communis. Our results identified 51 vulnerable species with very low abundance values whereas 17 threatened species having extremely low (<0.1) abundance values are a vital conservation priority in the region. Results may be helpful to formulate immediate conservation management strategies to conserve the precious floristic wealth of the alpine Region.
... It has significant socioeconomic potential and is primarily utilized for lumber, medicinal uses, animal feed, fuelwood, dried leaves for cooking and heating, fresh leaves for producing plates, edible seeds, and religious practices (Kumar & Saikia, 2021). Seedlings and saplings play a vital role in the forest ecosystem as they are essential for the regeneration, diversity, and future population structure (Maletha et al., 2023). The productivity and regeneration of the Sal Forest are contingent upon the optimal abundance of seedlings, saplings, and mature trees (Iskandar et al., 2023). ...
The objective of this study was to examine the regeneration dynamics and population structure of the most prevalent tree species, Shorea robusta (Sal), alongside four other dominant tree species (Tectona grandis, Syzygium cumini, Trema orientale, and Cassia fistula) in the Nawabganj Sal Forest in Bangladesh. The regeneration status and tree diversity of all documented tree species were assessed using a simple random sampling technique. Among the 30 species, 5 species (Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Trema orientale, Gmelina arborea, and Artocarpus heterophyllus) exhibited favorable regeneration state, whereas 15 species had moderate regeneration status. However, the absence of the condition 'no regeneration' was due to the absence of the adult stage, which resulted in the absence of seedlings and saplings. The quantity of seedlings was greater during the rainy season compared to the dry season. The girth class distribution of Shorea robusta and all other studied tree species combined exhibited a reverse J-shaped population curve. There was a decline in tree density as the girth class increased, and trees with a larger girth class accounted for 34 individuals per hectare, indicating a strong ongoing regeneration capability. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson's dominance index, Pielou's evenness index, and Margalaf's species richness index had values of 0.223, 0.937, 0.077, and 2.249, respectively. These values imply a limited diversity of tree species in the examined forest. Shorea robusta has the highest dominance (m²/ha), followed by Tectona grandis (0.091), Syzygium cumini (0.087), Trema orientale (0.022), and Cassia fistula (0.008). The cumulative basal area of the tree species examined amounted to 40.04 m²/ha, with Shorea robusta accounting for 39.81 m²/ha. This indicates that Sal is the prevailing tree species in the forest. Nevertheless, this study offers fundamental data regarding the current condition of the tropical Sal Forest toward forest conservation and environmental sustainability.
... The higher density of seedlings and juveniles above the treeline zone (at 3400 m and 3550 m) as compared to the treeline zone (3250 m) and below the treeline zone (3100 m) clearly shows the possibility of good regeneration potential of R. campanulatum at higher altitudes (above the treeline zone). Furthermore, similar results were reported for R. campanulatum in the Nepal Himalaya (Rana et al. 2017;Sharma et al. 2020) and for Betula utilis in the northern aspect of the Himalaya (Schickhoff et al. 2015;Maletha et al. 2021) which might be due to favorable climatic conditions for seedling establishment i.e. sunlight, temperature, rainfall and low competition above the treeline zone. Adequate soil moisture at higher altitudes promotes seedling regeneration and establishment (Carlton and Bazzaz 1998). ...
The vegetation of the alpine treeline ecotone is among the most vulnerable and sensitive to global climate change. Treeline species respond to global warming through changes in their population structure, regeneration, plant functional traits and shift in their habitat. This study was carried out on Rhododendron campanulatum D.Don, a typical plant species of the Himalayan treeline ecotone, to understand the variation in population structure, regeneration potential and leaf morphological traits along the altitudinal gradient (3100–3550 m.a.s.l.) in Tungnath, Western Himalaya. We reported the higher seedling (3480 stem ha⁻¹) and juvenile (2210 stem ha⁻¹) density of the species above the treeline at 3400 m.a.s.l. This clearly shows a good regeneration status and indicates the upward shift of the species. Leaf morphological traits such as length, width, and the specific leaf area decreased with an increase in elevation but leaf thickness increased with an increase in elevation. SLA was higher (71.14 cm²/g; p < 0.001) at 3100 m.a.s.l. located below the treeline than 3550 m.a.s.l. (60.08 cm²/g; p < 0.001)) located above the treeline. The results indicate that the species has large flexibility in the morphological performance and its high level of plasticity in morphological traits may explain its wider niche and ability to survive in harsh alpine conditions.
... It has significant socioeconomic potential and is primarily utilized for lumber, medicinal uses, animal feed, fuelwood, dried leaves for cooking and heating, fresh leaves for producing plates, edible seeds, and religious practices (Kumar & Saikia, 2021). Seedlings and saplings play a vital role in the forest ecosystem as they are essential for the regeneration, diversity, and future population structure (Maletha et al., 2023). The productivity and regeneration of the Sal Forest are contingent upon the optimal abundance of seedlings, saplings, and mature trees (Iskandar et al., 2023). ...
The objective of this study was to examine the regeneration dynamics and population structure of the most prevalent tree species, Shorea robusta (Sal), alongside four other dominant tree species (Tectona grandis, Syzygium cumini, Trema orientale, and Cassia fistula) in the Nawabganj Sal Forest in Bangladesh. The regeneration status and tree diversity of all documented tree species were assessed using a simple random sampling technique. Among the 30 species, 5 species (Shorea robusta, Tectona grandis, Trema orientale, Gmelina arborea, and Artocarpus heterophyllus) exhibited favorable regeneration state, whereas 15 species had moderate regeneration status. However, the absence of the condition 'no regeneration' was due to the absence of the adult stage, which resulted in the absence of seedlings and saplings. The quantity of seedlings was greater during the rainy season compared to the dry season. The girth class distribution of Shorea robusta and all other studied tree species combined exhibited a reverse J-shaped population curve. There was a decline in tree density as the girth class increased, and trees with a larger girth class accounted for 34 individuals per hectare, indicating a strong ongoing regeneration capability. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index, Simpson's dominance index, Pielou's evenness index, and Margalaf's species richness index had values of 0.223, 0.937, 0.077, and 2.249, respectively. These values imply a limited diversity of tree species in the examined forest. Shorea robusta has the highest dominance (m²/ha), followed by Tectona grandis (0.091), Syzygium cumini (0.087), Trema orientale (0.022), and Cassia fistula (0.008). The cumulative basal area of the tree species examined amounted to 40.04 m²/ha, with Shorea robusta accounting for 39.81 m²/ha. This indicates that Sal is the prevailing tree species in the forest. Nevertheless, this study offers fundamental data regarding the current condition of the tropical Sal Forest toward forest conservation and environmental sustainability.
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