PHYTO-SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY OF FOREST ECOSYSTEM IN YUSMARG FOREST: A HILL RESORT OF KASHMIR VALLEY, INDIA Samia Ashraf, Rouf Ahmad Bhat, Ashok. K. Pandit ijcrr University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Vol 04 issue 13 Category: Research Received on:12/05/12 E-mail of Corresponding Author: [email protected] Revised on:20/05/12 Accepted on:29/05/12 ABSTRACT The increasing anthropogenic pressure especially increasing influx of tourists at health resorts in mountainous regions decreases the distribution of trees in the given area, which ultimately affects the variety, variability, uniqueness and distribution pattern in Forest Ecosystem. The area belongs to temperate region of Pir Panjal mountain range. In order to cope up with this situation a phyto-sociological study was carried out during the month of May to December 2010. The main objective of the study was to determine the distribution pattern of tress and impact of tourist on forest ecosystem. The study was based on three sites with marked differences in their physical and biotic features. The composition and the number of tree species were recorded by quadrat method. Quadrates of size (10m×10m) were randomly laid. During the study period, the only tree family observed was Pinaceae. The total IVI was observed highest (135.7) for Abies pindrow at site3 and lowest (74.7) total IVI was observed for Pinus wallichiana at site1. The total relative density was observed highest (51.1) for Abies pindrow at site3 and lowest (21.2) was observed for Pinus wallichiana at site1. Shannon Weiner diversity Index having small variation during the study period. Dominance index (Simpson Index) was less than 1 which showed that the sites were not dominated by single species. The distribution pattern of trees was random. The primary conclusion is, there is a moderate anthropogenic impact on normal distribution of tree community which may cause decrease in tree line within next few decades in the forest ecosystem. Keywords: Yusmarg, Abies pindrow, Pinaceae, Tourists, Anthropogenic ____________________________________________________________________________________ INTRODUCTION sociology and its principle aim is to describe the The structural property of a community is the vegetation, explain or predict its pattern and quantitative relationship between the species classify it in a meaningful way (Ilorkar and Khatri, growing around. The earth‘s vegetation includes 2003). A sound understanding of the richness of all plant forms wherever and what they may be, species is necessary for appropriate conservation and most have yielded to a phyto-sociological and restoration of the biological diversity. Forests approach of one type or another. Phyto-sociology are important landscape units in any region aims to characterize and classify communities in because they consist of both flood-resistant species terms of their composition and structure, and and immigrants from the adjacent uplands, thereby therefore has a place under plant ecology. The comprising most of the regional floristic quantitative study of vegetation is called phyto- biodiversity and protect natural beauty by holding 58 International Journal of Current Research and Review www.ijcrr.com Vol. 04 issue 13 July 2012 soil firmly which in turn supports other living from the tropical deciduous forests to temperate activities directly to flora and indirectly to the forests. Jammu & Kashmir's forests include a wide fauna life. Forest floor vegetation plays an variety of species including evergreens, Pine, important role in nutrient cycling, habitat Laurel, Sal, Oak, Magnolia, Cedar, Birch, Spruce conservation and regeneration of trees shrubs. and Juniper. Trees subjected to periodic flooding often compensate anaerobic soil conditions by MATERIAL AND METHODS developing morpho-anatomical adaptations and by Study Area reducing metabolism during the waterlogged Yusmarg health resort situated at 33°49 '42"N period, resulting in decreased photosynthetic rates, latitude and 74° 39' 59"E longitudes, 2712 m leaf shedding, and reduced wood growth and above sea level (a.s.l) and is approximately 47 km cambial dormancy(Fernandez et al., 1999; Parolin to the southwest of Srinagar and lies in the et al., 2004;Worbes 1997).Inundation is thus a Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir . It is a powerful factor selecting the occurrence and cluster of meadows bounded by magnificent trees distribution of tree species (Jackson and Colmer in the lap of Pir Panjal mountain range. Grassy 2005), which in turn influences structure and pastures are stretching to acres of land, the dense biomass of seasonally flooded tree species forests full of pine trees and snow capped communities. Nunes da Cunha and Junk (2001) mountains presents a splendid look. A river, investigated the distribution of woody plant known by the name of Doodh Ganga communities in the northern part of the Pantanal (Doodh=milk and Ganga= from river Ganga) near the city of Poconé in terms of habitat frothing and crashing on its way over the rocks preference and found approximately 40 flood- makes a little white foam, which gives it this resistant tree species, most of them showing a name. The hills comprise of a number of several wide distribution range on the topographic peaks, namely Tatta Kutti, Sang Safed etc. It is gradient, from areas with prolonged flooding to reputed for having some unique spring flowers. It dry habitats that become flooded only during also has some of the highest peaks in Pir-Panjal extreme flood events. It is a well known fact that range like Tatakoli 4725m, Romesh Thong 5000m the altitude represents a complex gradient along and Sunset peak 4746m. The town of Yusmarg which many environmental variables change enjoys a temperate climate. Precipitation in concomitantly. Rahbek (1997) explain the patterns Yusmarg is normally in the form of mild snowfall in species richness decrease with altitude. Besides during the winters. Summers are mild and warm, the ecosystem functions the distribution and and winters are very cold. The average occurrence of species had been affected by human temperature in summers ranges between 20-25°C, interventions (Singh et al., 1987). The vegetation while temperatures start coming down from diversity of forest ecosystems is influenced by September, winters are very cold and topography, soil, climate and geographical temperatures dips in sub-zeros. location of the region. There is a great diversity in Study Sites the floristic pattern due to altitudinal variation, and Site1: Near the edge of Meadows rainfall (Arora 1995). Jammu & Kashmir This site is situated at 33°50´00.6˝N latitudes, possesses vast forests stretching from the lower 74°40´08.6˝E longitudes at an elevation of 2436 m valleys high up into mountain passes right to the on way to Nilnag Coniferous forest. This site was edge of massive glaciers and vary according to located opposite to JK TDC HUTS and near to the both altitude and climatic conditions. They range 59 International Journal of Current Research and Review www.ijcrr.com Vol. 04 issue 13 July 2012 grazing area, dominated with Coniferous tree and Pinus wallichiana. The research analysis of species and having rough and sloppy topography. data as presented in table 1 revealed that at site1, Site2: In Between Upper and lower Reaches of the density and IVI was highest in the month of Forest Beat May for Picea smithiana as 3 and 142.2, followed This site is situated at 33° 50´ 08. 3˝ N latitudes, by Pinus wallichiana 1.8 and 99.6 respectively. In 74° 40´ 57.2˝ E longitudes and at an elevation of the month of June Abies pindrow have 2.0 and 2445m above mean sea-level and having sharp 122.2 density and IVI followed by Picea steepness compared to site1. smithiana as 1.8 and 111.9 (Table 1). In Site 3: Bushy Forest area November and December Abies pindrow was This site is situated at 33° 50´ 16.2˝ N latitudes, having highest density and IVI as 2.3 and 123.0, 74° 39´ 43.9˝E longitudes and at an elevation of 3.3 and 142.1, followed by Picea smithiana 1.5 2400m above mean sea-level, with less diverse of and 94.1, 2.0 and 101.4 respectively. Overall herbs but dominated with shrubs. Study sites and density and IVI values were obtained highest for study area shown in figure1. Abies pindrow as 2.1 and 111.5, and for Picea Sampling and Collection smithiana 2.1 and 111.3, table4. At site2,the Information was gathered using a variety of density and IVI was highest in the month of May methods to gain a better understanding of the for Picea smithiana 3.5 and 166.9 followed by present condition of Yusmarg forests, perspectives Abies pindrow 1.3 and 85.3 .In the month of June and priorities. Site survey and sampling for three density and IVI was highest for Picea smithiana representative sites was carried out during May to 2.5 and 128.2 ,followed by Pinus wallichiana 1.8 December (2010). The composition and number and 101.3 respectively . In November and of tree species at each site was recorded by December Pinus wallichiana was having highest quadrat method. Quadrates were laid out randomly density and IVI as 2.8 and 139, 5.5 and 143.6 throughout the selected forest stands by taking respectively.But in the month of November second quadrates of size 10m × 10 m. The size and the highest values were obtained for Picea smithiana number of quadrates were determined following with density and IVI 1.5 and 94 and in December (Misra, 1968; Kershaw, 1973). In each quadrates, Abies pindrow with density and IVI was 3.3 and trees were recorded with >31.5 cm Circumference 101.7,depicted in table2. The overall values of at breast height (cbh) i.e.