R. K. Manhas , Manish K. Kandwal , Sandeep Dhyani , Lokender Singh , S. P. Joshi

Abstract

The present study was conducted in five communities of a sub-tropical swamp forest of Doon Valley, India. The aim of the present paper is to study the various changes in the community structure as a result of change in seasons and soil moisture regime. In moist communities local species were dominant and as the soil moisture (%) lessened their dominance decreased. Importance Value Index (IVI) of all dominant species of the swamp varied significantly during the study period, indicating that they are noticeably affected by the changes in the moisture regime of the swamp. Various indices of association were calculated to find out species association and the results of these indices shows that all the local species were closely associated. Species richness, Shannon- Wiener diversity index (H'), concentration of dominance (Cd) and beta diversity (β) of the five communities were also calculated. Pearson's correlation was used to find out relationship between soil moisture (%) and diversity indices. The results of the correlation analysis reveal that soil moisture (%) was negatively correlated with species richness and H' and positively related with Cd and β diversity.

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Sandeep Dhyani , S. P. Joshi

Abstract

The present study enumerates floristic diversity of the Karwapani swamp forest in Doon valley, Uttarakhand. This study was conducted in the year 2002-2003. The plant diversity of Karwapani swamp forest is represented by 53 families, 130 genera and 155 species of angiosperms. The present study reveals low diversity of angiosperms when compared with Babu and Dakshini probably due to closed canopy of tree species. Dicots contributed approximately 83% of the floral diversity. The tree layer of the forest is dominated by Shorea robusta, which is associated with Mallotus philippensis, Mangifera indica, Syzygium cuminii etc., and the shrub layer is dominated by Ardisia solanacea, Asparagus adscendens, Calamus tennuis, Clerodendrum viscosum and Lantana camara while the herbaceous layer includes, Nasturtium officinale, Ageratum conyzoides, Oplismanus compositus, Pouzolzia pentandra and Mentha piperata.

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