scholarly journals Herpetofauna assemblage in two watershed areas of Kumoan Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 17684-17692
Author(s):  
Kaleem Ahmed ◽  
Jamal A. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Cluster Method ◽  
Weak Correlation ◽  
Euphlyctis Cyanophlyctis ◽  
Litter Depth ◽  
Litter Cover

We surveyed herpetofauna along the poorly-explored region of two watersheds of Kumoan Himalaya, Dabka and Khulgarh.  Adaptive cluster method was used to collect forest floor reptiles, and stream transect was used for stream reptiles and amphibians.  In total, 18 species of reptiles were recorded in two watersheds, with 15 and nine species recorded in Dabka and Khulgarh, respectively.  Forest floor density of reptiles was 87.5/ha in Dabka and 77.7/ha in Khulgarh.  In terms of species, Asymblepharus ladacensis and Lygosoma punctatus density were highest in Dabka and Khulgarh, respectively.  Eight species of amphibians were recorded in Dabka with a density of 9.4/ha and four species in Khulgarh with density of 5.2/ha.  In both watersheds, density of Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis was highest.  Reptilian and amphibian diversity of Dabka was 1.52 and 1.23, respectively, and in Khulgarh 0.43 and 0.23, respectively.  In both watersheds reptile density, diversity and richness decreased with increasing elevation.  Reptile density showed a weak correlation with microhabitat features such as litter cover, litter depth, and soil moisture in both watersheds.  Amphibian density was positively correlated with soil moisture, litter cover, and litter depth.  Comparison showed that Dabka is richer and more diverse than Khulgarh, presumably because of the undisturbed habitat, broad and slow stream, and deeper forest litter of the former.

scholarly journals Hydraulic characteristics of varying slope gradients, rainfall intensities and litter cover on vegetated slopes

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 506-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiamei Sun ◽  
Dengxing Fan ◽  
Xinxiao Yu ◽  
Hanzhi Li
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Rainfall Intensity ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Resistance Coefficient ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Slope Gradient ◽  
Power Functions ◽  
Yield Rate ◽  
Litter Cover

Abstract Litter produced by forests performs crucial functions in rainfall interception and soil conservation, particularly in the condition that larger raindrops formed by canopy accelerate soil erosion. To explore how forest litter exerts runoff hydrological characteristics and sediment yield processes, experiments on forest covered (Vitexnegundo var. heterophylla) slopes were conducted under various combinations of rainfall intensities and slope gradients. The results showed that litter reduced runoff yield rate by 9–31% and reduced sediment yield rate by 65–90%, with mean runoff and sediment reductions of 18% and 76% for all treatments. On forest covered slopes, Reynolds number and runoff power generally increased with the increase in both rainfall intensity and slope gradient. Litter layer reduced Reynolds number and runoff power with 8–29% and 56–80%, respectively. Darcy–Weisbach resistance coefficient decreased by increasing rainfall intensity and slope gradient. Litter layer increased Darcy–Weisbach resistance coefficient by three to nine times. Relationships between sediment yield rate and Reynolds number, runoff power, Darcy–Weisbach resistance coefficient were described by exponential, linear, power functions, respectively. The critical runoff power values for slopes with and without litter were 0.0027 and 0.0010 m/s, respectively. Reynolds number was the best hydrodynamic parameter for dynamic erosion characterizing.

scholarly journals Topography-based modelling reveals high spatial variability and seasonal emission patches in forest floor methane flux

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Vainio ◽  
Olli Peltola ◽  
Ville Kasurinen ◽  
Antti-Jussi Kieloaho ◽  
Eeva-Stiina Tuittila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Spatial Variability ◽  
Boreal Forest ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Methane Flux ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Ground Vegetation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ch4 Flux ◽  
Ch4 Uptake

Abstract. Boreal forest soils are globally an important sink for methane (CH4), while these soils are also capable to emit CH4 under favourable conditions. Soil wetness is a well-known driver of CH4 flux, and the wetness can be estimated with several terrain indices developed for the purpose. The aim of this study was to quantify the spatial variability of the forest floor CH4 flux with a topography-based upscaling method connecting the flux with its driving factors. We conducted spatially extensive forest floor CH4 flux and soil moisture measurements, complemented with ground vegetation classification, in a boreal pine forest. We then modelled the soil moisture with a Random Forest model using topography, based on which we upscaled the forest floor CH4 flux – this was performed for two seasons: May–July and August–October. Our results demonstrate high spatial heterogeneity in the forest floor CH4 flux, resulting from the soil moisture variability, as well as on the related ground vegetation. The spatial variability in the soil moisture and consequently in the CH4 flux was higher in the early summer compared to the autumn period, and overall the CH4 uptake rate was higher in autumn compared to early summer. In the early summer there were patches emitting high amounts of CH4, however, these wet patches got drier and smaller in size towards the autumn, which was enough for changing their dynamics to CH4 uptake. The results highlight the small-scale spatial variability of the boreal forest floor CH4 flux, and the importance of soil chamber placement in order to obtain spatially representative CH4 flux results. We recommend that a site of similar size and topographical variation would require 15–20 sample points in order to achieve accurate forest floor CH4 flux.

scholarly journals ВПЛИВ РЕКРЕАЦІЙНОГО НАВАНТАЖЕННЯ НА МОРФОЛОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ЛІСОВОЇ ПІДСТИЛКИ (НПП «СКОЛІВСЬКІ БЕСКИДИ» УКРАЇНСЬКІ КАРПАТИ)

2019 ◽  
pp. 63-74
Author(s):  
О. І. Леневич
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Soil Cover ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Mountainous Region ◽  
Morphological Aspects ◽  
Tree Layer ◽  
Melt Water ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
The Impact

The article deals with the analysis of morphological aspects of the forest litter structure on ecological and tourist routes in the mountainous region. The study revealed that the changes in the basic parameters of the forest litter are caused by ground trampling. It was estimated that on trails between 0.5 m and 2 m wide, the stock of forest litter is 1.23-1.5 kg/m², and its capacity is 1.3-1.6 cm. With the supply of fresh foliage on the trails, the L, F and H sub-horizons can be identified there. On trails of 2 to 3 m wide, the stock of forest floor is 0.51-0.91 kg·m², that is almost twice less than on narrower trails. The capacity of the litter on trails more than 2 m wide is 0.3-0.5 cm, of which 0.2-0.4 is the F+H sub-horizon. On slopes with ≥ 15 º, the reserves and capacity of the forest litter in the lower part of the trail are about 10 % greater than in its upper part. Basically, the redistribution of forest litter is observed within a trail and its side. The stock of forest litter on the trail decreases due to the fact that the damaged litter is removed outside the trail. In the spring and summer, the forest litter is washed off by rain and melt water, forming the so-called “rollers” on its road (trail). The capacity and reserves of forest litter on the sidewalks are significantly dependent on the width and direction of the trail. The narrower the trail, the larger are the forest litter reserves and on the contary, the wider the trail, the smaller is the forest litter within the sidewalk. The capacity of the forest litter on the side of the trails of the studied routes ranges from 1.3 to 4.8 cm, and its reserves have increased to 1.44-2.26 kg·m². A composition of tree species, tree layer compactness and terrain play an important role in the formation of forest litter as well. The impact of recreation load on the soil cover was also evaluated. It was established that at the initial stages (of I-II categories) of recreation digression, the forest litter becomes compacted and crushed, forming a powerful F+H sub-horizon and covering the trail surface. As the recreation load increases (III stage/category) the stock of litter in spruce-beech-fir forest in the warm season is less than 1 kg/m².

scholarly journals Effect of amount and time of incorporation of forest litter on soil physical properties

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-74
Author(s):  
Paardensha Ivy Chinir ◽  
Manoj Dutta ◽  
Rizongba Kichu ◽  
Sewak Ram
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Soil Moisture Content ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Mean Weight Diameter ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Water Holding

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of forest litter and its time of incorporation on soil physical properties. The study showed that plots with forest litter incorporated at 45 DBS (Days Before Sowing) had significantly higher soil moisture content as compared to those incorporated at 30 DBS after 30 and 60 DAS. However, the difference in the time of incorporation had no significant effect on soil moisture content at 90 DAS. At 30 DAS, application of forest litter @ 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased the soil moisture content at a rate of 4.11 and 11.42 per cent, respectively over control. At 60 DAS, application of forest litter @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased the soil moisture content at the rate of 15.05, 17.26 and 25.65 per cent, respectively over control. At 90 DAS, a trend was noticed which showed that soil moisture content significantly increased at a progressive rate with each increase in the dose of forest litter application. At 90 DAS, the addition of forest litter @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1and 9 t ha-1 increased the soil moisture content @ 10.16, 17.84 and 22.20 per cent, respectively over control. The plots with forest litter incorporated at 45 DBS had significantly higher hydraulic conductivity, per cent aggregates and mean weight diameter as compared to those incorporated at 30 DBS. However, the difference in the time of incorporation i.e., at 30 and 45 DBS had no significant effect on bulk density, particle density and water holding capacity. Incorporation of forest litter @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly decreased the bulk density at the rate of 3.67, 8.65 and 14.14 per cent; while particle density increased at the rate of 2.59, 3.42 and 6.61 per cent, respectively when compared to control. The addition of forest litter @ 3 t ha-1, 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 resulted in a significant increase in water holding capacity and hydraulic conductivity at a rate of 3.72, 4.65 and 6.77 per cent and 24.13, 32.30 and 41.73 per cent, respectively over control. Further, the application of forest litter @ 3t ha-1, 6 t ha-1 and 9 t ha-1 significantly increased the per cent aggregate and mean weight diameter of the soil @ 1.77, 3.49 and 6.58 per cent 17.31, 26.28 and 41.35 per cent, respectively over control. The study revealed that incorporating 9 t ha-1 of forest litter at 45 DBS had the most beneficial effect on soil physical properties.

Input, accumulation, and residence times of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in four Rocky Mountain coniferous forests

1989 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cindy E. Prescott ◽  
John P. Corbin ◽  
Dennis Parkinson
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Nutrient Use Efficiency ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Residence Times ◽  
Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽  
Species Composition Of Vegetation ◽  
Forest Floors

Annual aboveground litterfall in forests of Pinuscontorta Loud., Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, Piceaengelmannii Parry ex Engelm., and Abieslasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. in southwestern Alberta ranged from 286 to 321 g•m−2•year−1. The mass of litter accumulated on the forest floors ranged from 6.3 to 11.0 kg•m−2. Residence times of organic matter in the forest floor were 11 years in a 90-year-old P. contorta stand, 16 years in a 120-year-old P. glauca–P. contorta stand, and 23 years in a 350-year-old P. engelmannii–A. lasiocarpa stand. Residence times of litter in the L layer of the forest floor were longer in a recently clearcut area than in the older forests. Residence times of individual nutrients in the forest floors were in the order N > P > C. Litter in the pine forest had lower concentrations of both N and P than did litter in the spruce–pine forest; litter in the spruce–fir forest had relatively high N and low P concentrations. Differences in nutrient concentrations of litter among sites reflected differences in the nutrient-use efficiency of the vegetation, suggesting that the species composition of vegetation is important in determining availability of nutrients in the floor of these forests.

scholarly journals Modelling and analyzing the surface fire behaviour in Hyrcanian forest of Iran

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 353-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Aghajani ◽  
A. Fallah ◽  
S. Fazlollah Emadian
Keyword(s):  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Hyrcanian Forest ◽  
Fire Behaviour ◽  
Surface Fire ◽  
Contour Lines ◽  
Slope Wind ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this study was to assess the forest fire behaviour and investigate the impact of different parameters on the spread of surface fire in the Hyrcanian forest of Iran. Surface fire was simulated using mathematical models in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 environment during a 30-minute time period. Several parameters that contributed to the speed of surface fire such as slope, wind velocity and litter thickness in the forest floor and various types of forest litter associated with hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.), Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica C.A.M), beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and maple (Acer velutinum L.) were investigated. The results indicated that the maximum burned area was associated with beech litter. Forest surface fire demonstrated similar behaviour for the litter types of beech and Ironwood, whereas in the case of maple and hornbeam litters, the fire spread parallelly and perpendicularly to contour lines, respectively. The burned area increased in an irregular pattern as the forest floor slope gradient was increased. Moreover, the skewed pattern of the burned area for the forest floor composed of maple, beech, ironwood andhornbeam litter was described as high, low, moderate and low, respectively. The fire spread angle in forest floor associated with maple and beech litters changed with litter thickness. Finally, litter thickness had a significant effect on the direction of fire spread and this was more prominent with hornbeam litter.  

Hillslope-scale prediction of terrain and forest canopy effects on temperature and near-surface soil moisture deficit

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean F. Walsh ◽  
Petter Nyman ◽  
Gary J. Sheridan ◽  
Craig C. Baillie ◽  
Kevin G. Tolhurst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Drought Index ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Surface Soil Moisture ◽  
Soil Moisture Deficit ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Moisture Deficit ◽  
Plant Area Index ◽  
Hillslope Scale

Soil moisture has important effects on fuel availability, but is often assessed using drought indices at coarse spatial resolution, without accounting for the fine-scale spatial effects of terrain and canopy variation on forest floor moisture. In this study, we examined the spatial variability of air temperature, litter temperature and near-surface soil moisture (θ, 0–100 mm) using data from field experiments at 17 sites in south-east Australia, covering a range of topographic aspects and vegetation types, within climates from semiarid to wet montane. Temperatures and θ in mountainous environments were found to vary at much finer spatial scales than typical drought index grid dimensions (several kilometres). Using terrain elevation, local insolation ratio and plant area index, we developed semi-empirical microclimate models for air and litter temperatures, then used modelled temperatures as input into calculations of the Keetch–Byram Drought Index, a widely used index of soil moisture deficit. Drought index results based on predicted litter temperature were found to explain 91% of the spatial variation in near-surface soil moisture at our experimental sites. These results suggest the potential for routine hillslope-scale predictions of forest floor moisture status, which may be useful in the management of fire, particularly prescribed burning, in complex terrain.

Effects of the herbicides glyphosate, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid on forest litter decomposition

1986 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Fletcher ◽  
B. Freedman
Keyword(s):  
Field Study ◽  
Litter Decomposition ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Forest Litter ◽  
Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Herbicide Treatments ◽  
Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
2,4 Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid ◽  
Reduced Decomposition

Laboratory studies with two leaf litter and one forest floor substrate showed that the herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), a 50:50 mixture of these, and glyphosate all had toxic thresholds at which they reduced decomposition. However, in all cases, the thresholds were > 50 times higher than residue concentrations that occur in the field after silvicultural herbicide treatments. In a field study at one site, no measurable 1-year postspray effects on litter decomposition were found among treatment plots sprayed at 0.0, 3.4 or 6.7 kg 2,4,5-T/ha.

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