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Mukesh Kumar Gautam , A. K. Tripathi , R. K. Manhas

Abstract

Changes in an ecosystem are inevitable. Recording of these changes can prove to be fruitful for the management of forests, particularly the moist Sal forest. Present study was carried out in Sal Forests of Lachchhiwala, a famous pcinic spot, to assess the changes in dominanace and diversity of plant species since 1987. After critically analyzing the results it was found that Sal is still the most dominant tree species. In shrub and herb layers the species richness has increased significantly and so is the species diversity. It was also found that homogeneous Sal forests, managed as monocultures, are slowly but steady becoming heterogeneous.

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Mukesh Kumar Gautam ¹, Kwang-Sik Lee ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Korea Basic Science Institute, 162 Yeongudanji-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do 363-886, KP

Abstract

The ecological applications of natural abundance of stable isotopes benefited the understanding of the ecosystem processes. Natural isotopic effects ensuing from difference in physico-chemical properties, fractionation and discrimination of elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, strontium and calcium, have been used to reinforce understanding the various aspects of ecosystem analysis and to revisit some old, baffling processes with new perspectives. Stable isotopes have provided insight into not only the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem structure and functioning, but also strengthened our knowledge about the possible mechanisms of ecosystem functioning in various ecosystems and biomes. This review elucidates the role of natural abundance of stable isotopes in benefiting ecosystem analysis.

Keywords

Ecosystem Analysis, Plant–Environment Interaction, Resource Facilitation and Partitioning, Stable Isotopes.

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