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Nisar Bhat , Zafar Reshi , Raj Kumar Verma , A. R. Malik

Abstract

The present study was to determine the decomposition pattern of litter of Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus villosa forests in different seasons in Dachigam National Park, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. The pattern of litter decomposition seems to have been more by presence of micro organisms and favourable climatic conditions. There was about 22.7 gm weight loss in F. excelsior and 20.78gm in U. villosa with in 12 months of decomposition. 95% exponential rate of decomposition was 2.04 and 2.55 indicating faster decomposition in F. excelsior as compared to U. villosa.

Keywords

Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus villosa, Decomposition, Litter, Dachigam National Park,
J&K

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Nisar Bhat , Raj Kumar Verma , Zafar Reshi

Abstract

The present study deals with quantification of litter production, monthly variation in Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus villosa forests of Dachigam National Park, Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 1,600-1,750 m above msl. A study plot of 50 x 50m was selected in the two communities and litter collection traps were constructed of wooden frames. 15 litter traps were placed randomly in each study plot of the selected species for collection of the litter. The contents of traps was collected every month. The litter was separated in to leaves, twigs and bark. In Fraxinus excelsior total litter production was maximum in October (1855.26kg/ha) followed by November (1720kg/ha) and September (723kg/ha) with no litter production during the month of April and May. In Ulmus villosa, total litter production varied from 2.3kg/ha (April) to 1747.10 kg/ha (October).

Keywords

Fraxinus excelsior, Ulmus villosa, Litter Production, Seasonal Variation, Dachigam
National Park, J&K

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S. P. Singh ¹, A. Bhattacharyya ², Amit Mittal ³, Aseesh Pandey ⁴, Ashish Tewari ³, Avantika Latwal ⁵, Bency David ², Bhupendra S. Adhikari ⁶, Devendra Kumar ⁴, G. C. S. Negi ¹, Ishfaq Ahmad Mir ⁷, Krishna Kumar Tamta ³, Kumar Sambhav ⁵, Mayank Shekhar ², Mohit Phulara ⁵, Munisa Manzoor ⁷, Nandan Singh ³, Pankaj Tewari ¹, Parminder S. Ranhotra ², Pradeep Singh ⁵, Pratap Dhaila ¹, Priyanka Sah ⁵, Rahul Kumar ⁶, Rajesh Joshi ⁵, Ranbeer S. Rawal ⁵, Renu Rawal ⁵, Ripu Daman Singh ¹, Shruti Shah ³, Subrat Sharma ⁵, Subzar Ahmad Nanda ⁷, Surabhi Gumber ¹, Utsa Singh ¹, Zafar Reshi ⁷

Affiliations
1 Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, IN
2 Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, IN
3 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, IN
4 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok 737 101, IN
5 G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, IN
6 Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, IN
7 Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, IN

Abstract

This article enumerates the findings of a team research on the Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone, with focus on three sites (located in Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim). Timberline elevation increased from west to east, was higher in the warmer south aspect than the cooler north aspect, and was generally depressed. Betula, Abies, Rhododendron and Juniperus were important treeline genera. The Himalaya has not only the highest treelines (Juniperus tibetica, at 4900 m), but also the widest elevational range (>1700 m). Remotely sensed data revealed that the timberline is a long, twisting and turning ecotone, traversing a length of 8–10 km per km horizontal distance. Surface temperature lapse rate in the monsoonal regions was lower (–0.53°C/100 m elevation) than generally perceived and varied considerably with season, being the lowest in December. The Himalayan treeline species are not water-stressed at least in monsoonal regions, predawn tree water potential seldom getting below –1 MPa. The upward advance of Rhododendron campanulatum (a krummholz species) may deplete alpine meadows with climatic warming. Tree-ring chronology indicated that winter warming may be favouring Abies spectabilis. Early snowmelt increased growth period and species richness. Treelines generally are stable in spite of decades of warming. Dependence of people on timberline was still high; so economic interventions are required to reduce the same.

Keywords

Climate Change, Temperature Lapse Rate, Timberline Ecotone And Elevation, Tree Water Relation, Treeline Genera.

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