Altitudinal Gradient: Effectivity in Floral Diversity in Moist Temperate Forest of Garhwal Himalaya

The present paper reports the results of the intensive investigation carried out in a temperate forest of district Uttarkashi, Uttarakand, to assess the variations in floristic diversity along with the increasing altitudinal gradient. A total of 436 plant species have been recorded from the forest under study.

Some comments on the ‘Moist temperate forest butterflies of western Bhutan’

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Moist temperate forest butterflies of western Bhutan

Random surveys were carried out in moist temperate forests (1,860–3,116 m) around Bunakha Village and Dochula Pass, near Thimphu in western Bhutan, recording 65 species of butterflies. Of these, 11 species, viz., Straightwing Blue Orthomiella pontis pontis Elwes, Slate Royal Maneca bhotea bhotea Moore, Dull Green Hairstreak Esakiozephyrus icana Moore, Yellow Woodbrown Lethe nicetas Hewitson, Small Silverfork Zophoessa jalaurida elwesi Moore, Scarce Labyrinth, Neope pulahina (Evans), Chumbi Wall Chonala masoni Elwes, Pale Hockeystick Sailer Neptis manasa manasa Moore and White Commodore Parasarpa dudu dudu Westwood, are restricted to the eastern Himalaya, northeastern India and Myanmar. Two other species, Tawny Mime Chiasa agestor agestor (Gray) and Himalayan Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus munda Moore have been only rarely recorded from Bhutan and a few individuals of the rare Bhutan Glory Bhutanitis lidderdalei Atkinson were also recorded near Bunakha.

Estimation of biomass and nutrient storage in a Himalayan moist temperate forest

Aboveground tree biomass, estimated for three relatively protected oak forest sites in the Kumaun Himalaya using allometric equations based on circumference at breast height and density, ranged from 197.2 to 322.8 t•ha−1. Average leaf, twig, branch, and bole biomass proportions were 6.9, 11.6, 29.1, and 52.4%, respectively. Nutrients stored in the aboveground tree biomass on slightly acidic, fairly deep, residual sandy loams averaged (kilograms per hectare): ash, 7962.5; Ca, 4946.6; Mg, 831.9; N, 2270.7.