On the rediscovery of a rare root parasite Gleadovia ruborum Gamble & Prain (Orobanchaceae) from Uttarakhand, western Himalaya, India

Gleadovia ruborum Gamble & Prain (Orobanchaceae), a rare root parasite is recorded after a gap of 57 years from a new locality in Uttarakhand, western Himalaya. A total of four individuals were located in a shady moist forest of Abies pindrow-Quercus floribunda at Surkanda hill near Mussoorie. All the individual plants were growing on the roots of Rubus pedunculosus D. Don. The current communication provides an updated description, habitat characteristics and host species of Gleadovia ruborum.

Seedling diversity and spatial distribution of some conifers and associated tree species in highly disturbed Western Himalayan regions in Pakistan

This article encompasses the impacts of disturbance, regeneration potential of conifers and the dynamics of tree species seedlings along the spatial scale in Murree forest. The seedling status preferably of conifers along with associated broadleaved dominant tree species is determined by a quantitative evaluation of diversity functions. An empirical approach is applied to predicting the future of seedlings under stress as well as the current hypothetical appearance of seedlings in the forest. The need of analysing diversity of this forest is due to highly disturbed conditions there, and this paper is designed to know the recent trends of species diversity in the area. Species diversity and species abundance at a seedling level are estimated by using standard formulas of diversity measurements. Thirty stands are used for the evaluation of seedling abundance in highly disturbed conditions with the examination of diversity in the area. Seedling density is too low in the forest whereas diversity is also in poor condition. Seedlings from four conifers with three broadleaved species in different stands indicated the low density of future trees. The mean density·ha^–1 of pine seedlings is consecutively low in Pinus wallichiana (16 ± 2), Pinus roxburghii (11 ± 3), Cedrus deodara (9 ± 3), Abies pindrow (8 ± 3). The correlation coefficient is as low as 0.76, 0.66 and 0.61 in Pinus roxburghii, Cedrus deodara and Abies pindrow, respectively, while Pinus wallichiana showed a significant correlation, i.e. P > 0.5. Hence, this study claims that the survival of the forest is threatened as seedling density and diversity are too low. This forest needs serious attention towards preventing and conserving pines and other associated species seedlings for the existence of this forest in future.

A Landscape-Level Assessment of Composition, Structural Heterogeneity and Distribution Pattern of Trees in Temperate Forest of Kashmir Himalaya, India

Background: A landscape-level quantitative assessment of tree species was conducted across three forest types viz., low-level blue pine (BP), mixed conifer (MC) and subalpine (SA) forests of Kashmir Himalaya, India to ascertain patterns of species composition, and stand structure heterogeneity. We performed analyses of tree composition and structural heterogeneity, and multivariate ordination for the distribution of species across the landscape. Results: In total, thirteen tree species ranging from five in SA forest to ten species in MC forest were recorded. There was an overall forest compositional dissimilarity among the forest types. Pinus wallichiana and Abies pindrow were exclusive dominants under BP and SA forests, respectively, whereas, Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichaiana prevailed in sampled plots from mid-elevation MC forest. Pinaceae family contributing more than 98% individual stems was the most speciose and dominant, followed by Sapindaceae (0.52%) and Betulaceae (0.44%). Stand density, basal area, as well as mean DBH differed among the forest types with an overall positive response to elevation. Besides MC forest, the diameter class distribution of BP and SA forests displayed characteristics ‘reverse J-shaped’ pattern, concluding its degenerated forest structure. Abies pindrow and Pinus wallichiana across the forests showed bell-shaped tree size distribution, indicated sporadic recruitment and/or due to targeting specific size classes. A single cluster in SA forest and two sub-clusters in BP and MC forests were displayed in abundance and species-based Bray-Curtis cluster analysis. Topographical factors, elevation and slope, were identified as the principal factors of tree species distribution patterns and positively correlated with Canonical Correspondence Analysis 1 (CCA1) and CCA2, respectively. Conclusions: The quantitative landscape-level inventory of diversity across forest types indicated an overall less heterogenous tree composition with structural heterogeneity. CCA predicted elevation and slope as principal drivers determining species distribution. Information about these forest attributes are expected to provide better ecological insights and prospects for sustainable forest management and utilisation, and improving conservation strategies and ecosystem services.

Temporal Changes in Tree Species Composition in Karsog Area of Northwest Himalaya

ABSTRACT The forests of Karsog Forest Division in Himachal Pradesh were temporally analyzed for change in tree species composition. These are based on the species composition in different communities and variations along the different altitudinal gradients. The enumeration records were procured from the forest department. Total 143 forest compartments were analyzed to study the change in tree species in thirteen delineated communities, out of which six were pure forest communities and seven were mixed forest communities. The change in density (Ind/ ha) in tree species was calculated between two enumeration years, that is 1986and 2013. Results showed that out of thirteen communities, only three pure communities viz., Pinus roxburghii, Abies pindrow and Quercus leucotrichophora showed increased density while other pure communities showed decreased density in two enumeration years. Altitudinal based study revealed that the lowest altitudinal gradient (1000-2000 m) showed increase in tree density while in 2000-3000 m zone a gradual fall in tree density was observed temporally.

Cambial phenology in Abies pindrow (Pinaceae) along an altitudinal gradient in northwestern Himalaya

Climate change is expected to be heterogeneous across the world, with high impacts on the Himalayan ecosystems. There is a need to precisely document cambial phenology and wood formation in these regions to better understand climate-growth relationships and how trees face a warming climate. This study describes the dynamics of cambial phenology in pindrow fir (Abies pindrow) along its altitudinal gradient in the Himalaya. The stages of xylem phenology, and the duration and rate of wood formation were assessed from anatomical observations during the growing season from samples collected weekly from three sites at various altitudes (2392–2965 m a.s.l.) over two years. There were significant differences in the duration and rate of cell formation along the altitudinal gradient, which decreased at increasing altitudes. The growing season duration decreased by 5.2 and 3.7 days every 100 m of increase in altitude in 2014 and 2015, respectively, while the rate of cell formation decreased from 0.38 and 0.44 cells /day to 0.29 and 0.34 cells/day in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Cell production decreased from 63.3 and 67.0 cells to 38.3 and 45.2 cells with a decrease of 4.3 and 3.8 cells per 100 m increase in altitude in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The higher precipitation in 2015 increased the growth rate and resulted in a higher xylem production. Our findings give new insights into the dynamics of cambial phenology and help in better understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on tree growth and forest productivity of Himalayan forests.

Diversity and Ethnobotanical Importance of Pine Species from Sub-Tropical Forests, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

A general investigation of sub-tropical forests, from Pir Chinasi National Park, Tolipir National Park, Dhirkot Nature Reserve and Banjosa Game Reserve was carried out during different months from February 2008 to May 2010. The relative abundance of species was calculated using line transects of 50m. A total of five different species (Abies pindrow. Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, Pinus roxburgii and Picea smithiana) from the Pinaceae family were recorded. The main reported use of Cedrus deodara and Pinus wallichiana by the local people was for furniture and construction purposes. Pinus wallichiana was observed as the dominant species from all the selected sites.