Supervisors:
Prof.
Y.P.S. Pangtey, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital
Dr.
S.S. Samant, GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora
Summary: The
study deals with the habitat wise assessment of vegetation, identify
nativity and endemism of the species, identify human dependence and
rarity; and prioritize species for conservation of alpine meadows of Nanda
Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), West Himalaya during 1998-2000. The NDBR
(30°05’-31°02’N
to 79°12’-80°19’E),
covering approximately an area of 6,407.03 km2 (Core zone
712.12 km2; Buffer zone 5,148.57 km2 and Transition
zone 546.34 km2), is situated in the northern part of west
Himalaya and, is one of the World Heritage Sites. The reserve includes
parts of Bageshwar and Pithoragarh districts in Kumaun region, and Chamoli
district in Garhwal region. The buffer and transition, zones are inhabited
by over 100 villages. The inhabitants belong to two main ethnic groups
namely Indo- Mongoloid (Bhotia) and Indo- Aryans. The present study was
carried out in four meadows i.e., Pindari, Latakharak, Malari and Milam of
the reserve.
The alpine meadows of NDBR are very important from the conservation point of view of species diversity. They support a rich diversity of medicinal, native, endemic and rare threatened plants and also support a number of migratory sheeps, horses and goats during the summer season. The inhabitants have also been dependent on alpine meadows for a number of medicinal and edible plants. The approach of study, which has been done, has not been carried out in the past. The present study was carried out to find out the status of plant diversity and species composition with relation to the habitats. The study has also found the status of native, endemic, useful species and rare endangered species. Overall 62 communities (Pindari: 27; Latakharak: 10; Malari: 15; Milam: 16) have been delineated in between 3000-4270m altitude in 122 sampled sites/plots (32 each in Pindari, Latakharak and Milam and 26 in Malari alpine meadows) in different aspects and slopes. For each site altitude, habitat, aspect, slope, boulder percentage and dominant species had been given. These sites had been distributed in 9 habitats and 7 aspects. The slope and boulder percentage varied from site to site. Danthonia cachemyriana community had been distributed in all the four areas. Danthonia cachemyriana-Saxifraga pulvinaria mixed and Saxifraga pulvinaria, communities had been distributed in Milam and Malari alpine meadows whereas Kobresia duthiei community had been distributed in Pindari and Milam alpine meadows, only. Danthonia cachemyriana community represented in maximum sites in Pindari, Malari and Milam alpine meadows whereas in Latakharak alpine meadows Carex stracheyi community was represented in maximum sites.
Overall 428 species (36 shrubs, 392 herbs including 27 pteridophytes) have been recorded from the Pindari, Latakharak, Malari and Milam, alpine meadows. Of these 292 species (14 shrubs, 278 herbs including 20 pteridophytes) had been recorded from Pindari, 227 species (12 shrubs, 215 herbs including 19 pteridophytes) from Latakharak, 200 species (14 shrubs, 186 herbs including 8 pteridophytes) from Malari, and 226 species (24 shrubs, 102 herbs including 6 pteridophytes) from Milam, alpine meadows. 88 species (4 shrubs and 84 herbs) were common in all the areas.
Within communities the species richness ranged from 6-141, density ranged from 26.95-3296.25 Ind m-2, diversity ranged from 1.18-3.32 and dominance ranged from 0.04 -0.63. In all four meadows species shows regular distribution pattern both among sites and communities. The soil parameters have been also given for each community. In general, pH ranged from 4.40-8.20, moisture content from 5-58%, total nitrogen from 0.03-4.12%, total organic carbon from 0.20-21.56 %, total organic matter from 0.35-37.17% and C/N ratio from 1.67-13.67. Overall 66.59% species were natives. Among the natives, 3.16% species were endemic and 52.28% species were near endemic. Of the natives, 89.47% species were herbs and 10.53% species were shrubs. Endemic species were represented in herbs only whereas near endemic species were represented in both the life forms. Among the near endemic species, 89.26% species were herbs and 10.74% species were shrubs.
Overall 202 economically important species (26 shrubs, 176 herbs including 3 pteridophytes) belonging to 51 families and 128 genera had been recorded from the alpine meadows. These species had been used as medicine (142 spp.), wild edible/food (66 spp.), fodder (71 spp.), fuel (7 spp.), religious (12 spp.) and various other uses (19 spp.). Among the useful species, 23 species had multipurpose utility and 117 species had single utility. Whole plant of 55 species, aerial parts of 49 species, roots/rhizomes/bulbs/tubers of 29 species, leaves of 14 species, fruits of 6 species, flowers of 3 species, fronds, seeds and stems of 1 species, and combination of different parts of 43 species had been used for various purposes. 142 species were used for curing various diseases/ailments. Extraction trend of some important medicinal plant species and preference ranking of fodder species for sheep and horses have also been given.
In all 102 species (8 shrubs, 94 herbs including 10 pteridophytes) belonging to 65 genera and 35 families had been identified as threatened Pindari, Latakharak, Malari, and Milam, alpine meadows. Overexploitation and habitat degradation have been causing decrease in the population of a species. Twenty three (23) species were severely affected by both the factors. Similarly, 62 species were affected from habitat degradation and 17 species from over exploitation. Five species i.e., Athyrium duthiei and Cypripedium cordigerum (Rare) and Allium stracheyi, Picrorhiza kurrooa and Nardostachys grandiflora (Vulnerable) had been recorded in the Red Data Book of Indian Plants. Using new IUCN criteria, these species along with others have also been categorized as Critically Rare (11 spp.); Endangered (4 spp.); Vulnerable (4 spp.); and Low Risk Near Threatened (1 sp.).
The
distribution of vegetation varied from one habitat to another habitat and
one community to another community. Based on the values of species
richness, diversity, nativity, endemism, rarity, and use values, in
Pindari alpine meadows, Danthonia cachemyriana; Agrostis
pilosula-Poa alpina-Carex nubigena-poa pratensis mixed; Danthonia
cachemyriana-Agrostis pilosula mixed; Cortia depressa-Poa alpina mixed;
Carex nubigena-Carex stracheyi mixed; and Kobresia duthiei-Poa
alpina-Carex nubigena mixed, communities; in Latakharak alpine
meadows, Carex stracheyi; and Danthonia cachemyriana-Carex
stracheyi, communities; in Malari alpine meadows, Danthonia
cachemyriana; Saxifraga pulvinaria; and Carex setosa,
communities; and in Milam alpine meadows, Danthonia cachemyriana; Carex
atrata; and Kobresia duthiei, communities have been identified
as high value communities and merit priority attention for conservation.
Altitude was directly correlated with species richness and diversity. Further, the tussock forming grasses, sedges, cushion, and spreading forbs affect the plant distribution in the area. Habitats with wide range of distribution had high species diversity compared to the habitats with narrow range of distribution. Communities with wide range of distribution had high species richness and species diversity. A significant positive correlation between the number of useful species and number of rare species in all the alpine meadows indicating that the use of the species was directly proportional to the rarity of the species. Camping site promotes the proliferation of Rumex nepalensis, Polygonum polystachyum, etc. causing habitat alterations, loss of biodiversity as well as ecosystem imbalance.
Protection/conservation of habitats/communities/ecosystems supporting useful, native, endemic and rare-endangered species; monitoring of the prioritized habitats, species and communities; rotational grazing; mass scale propagation of priority species of medicinal and wild edible plants in the nursery and their transplantation in the natural habitats; cultivation of high value species including medicinal plants; propagation through conventional and in vitro methods for high value species; awareness about the biodiversity values; appropriate techniques for the utilization of species; and participation of inhabitants in conservation and management of biological resources have been suggested.
Satish Chandra Arya
Subject : Botany
Ph. D - Botany Kumaun University, Nainital
Correspondence Address:
S.C. Arya, CBD/GBPIHED, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora,Uttaranchal-263 643
Work Title