Regeneration dynamics, population structure, and forest composition in some ridge forests of the Western Himalaya, India

• Main Authors: Om Prakash Tiwari, Yashwant Singh Rana, Ram Krishan, Chandra Mohan Sharma, Bhupendra Singh Bhandari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-04-01
• Series: Forest Science and Technology
• Subjects: Bhagirathi catchment; climate change; Western Himalaya; regeneration dynamics; ridge forests
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2018.1447517

The present study aimed to analyze the regeneration dynamics, population structure, and forest composition in some ridge forests of the Western Himalaya to elucidate the impact of climate change. The highest species richness (trees, 17; saplings, 16; seedlings, 16) was recorded in mixed Rhododendron arboreum forest. The maximum tree density (737 ± 25.93 trees ha−1; mixed Quercus floribunda); sapling density (5342 ± 587.54 saplings ha−1; mixed Quercus semecarpifolia), and seedling density (71,429 ± 26,632.29 seedlings ha−1; mixed Cedrus deodara) were recorded in forests of higher altitudes. The mean basal cover values in these forests oscillated between 39.21 ± 1.53 m2 ha−1 (mixed Quercus leucotrichophora) to 87.65 ± 15.45 m2 ha−1 (mixed Abies pindrow). The highest Shannon index value (0.51 ± 0.05) and species evenness (0.36 ± 0.02) for trees were recorded in mixed Rhododendron arboreum forest. Some species like Betula utilis, Myrica esculenta, Ficus rumphii, Ilex dipyrena, Quercus floribunda, Litsea elongata, Symplocos paniculata, and Abies spectabilis were noticed as new recruiters (recent invaders) in new habitats, which may change the future forest composition. This study revealed that ridge forests of the Bhagirathi catchment area were in transition phase at middle altitudes. Mixed Quercus floribunda forest was observed to be the youngest regenerating forest; however, mixed Abies pindrow forest was the most mature old-growth forest.