WOODY SPECIES COMPOSITION OF TEMPERATE FORESTS ALONG AN ELEVATIONAL GRADIENT IN INDIAN CENTRAL HIMALAYA

Abstract

The species composition, community patterns and diversity of temperate forests along an elevational gradient of 2000-3300 m above sea-level in the Pindar catchment of Central Himalaya were studied. On the basis of the importance value index (IVI) of the dominant species, eight forest types were identified. These were alder (Alnus nepalensis), mixed deciduous-evergreen, mixed evergreen deciduous, silver-fir (Abies pindrow), maple (Acer cappadocium), burans (Rhododendron arboreum), kharsu oak (Quercus semecarpefolia) and birch (Betula utilis) forests. The total basal area and biomass for trees were recorded in the ranges of 10.5-81.5 m2 ha1 and 49.3 630.7 t ha^-1 respectively. Arundinaria falcata was the dominant shrub species in most of the forest types. In the three-dimensional ordination based on species composition, stands of different forests showed continuity with elevation except for the birch forest, whereas the ordination based on structural/functional features exhibited less separation of forest types. Tree species diversity and beta diversity across the forest types were higher for the tree layer compared to the shrub layer.