bei Google ScholarTitelangaben
Pandey, K. P. ; Adhikari, Yagya ; Weber, M.:
Structure, composition and diversity of forest along the altitudinal gradient in the Himalayas, Nepal.
In: Applied Ecology and Environmental Research.
Bd. 14
(2016)
Heft 2
.
- S. 235-251.
ISSN 1785-0037
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1402_235251
Abstract
The aimof this study was to assess the structure (stemdensity, height, and basalarea), compositionand diversity in relatively undisturbed forestsalong an altitudinal gradient from 2000 m asl to 3900 m asl of Langtang National Park in Central Himalaya. The forest stands along thealtitudinal gradientwere studied on 20 sampling plots of two sub zones of the Temperateand Subalpinezone. Tsuga dumosawas the ecologically most important species in the Upper andthe Lower Subalpinezone with high important value index (IVI = 124.31).Quercussemecarpifoliaand Lithocarpus eleganswere the ecologicallymost important species in the Upper and the Lower Temperatezone with IVI of 66.64 and 46.39respectively. Similarly, indicator species’ analysis was performed to know the preferences of tree species within the vegetation zones.Rhododendron campanulatum is highly significant (p< 0.001) andTsuga dumosasignificant (0.05 <p< 0.01)in the Upper Subalpinezone,whereas Rhododendron anthopogon prefers the Lower Subalpinezone with significant value (0.01 <p< 0.001). Only the Quercus semecarpifoliaprefers the Upper Temperatezone.There was no specific trend in the structure along the altitudinal gradient. The Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.10 to 2.34 with the highest valuein the Lower Temperatezone. Both Simpson index (0.89) and Evenness(0.86)werehigh in the Lower Temperatezone.From this study it is concluded that the contribution of forest compositionin terms of species richness and Shannon diversityis significant in Lower Temperatezone. The Upper Subalpinezone has less diversity and may also be less endangered by human impact but may profit from climate change in the future.