Phyto-Diversity Studies in Kanasa Valley of Rakchham Chitkul Wild Life Sanctuary of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh R
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Biological Forum – An International Journal 9(1): 62-69(2017) ISSN No. (Print): 0975-1130 ISSN No. (Online): 2249-3239 Phyto-Diversity Studies in Kanasa Valley of Rakchham Chitkul Wild life Sanctuary of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh R. K. Verma Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer Campus, Panthaghati, Shimla-9 (Himachal Pradesh), INDIA (Corresponding author: R. K. Verma, [email protected]) (Received 16 December, 2016, Accepted 17 January, 2017) (Published by Research Trend, Website: www.researchtrend.net) ABSTRACT: A study was carried out in Kanasa valley of Rakchham Chitkul wild life sanctuary of district Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh to understand the phytodiversity along the altitudinal gradients with elevations varying in between 3000m to 3800m above msl during 2009-2010. Analysis of the data revealed that the composition of vegetation in Kanasa valley of the sanctuary showed the presence of total number of 130 plant species belonging to 43 families and 94 genera. The dominant families recorded were Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Ploygonaceae and Lamiaceae. The maximum number of tree species recorded along the altitudinal gradient was 8 with the dominance of Pinus wallichiana at 3000m-3400m and Abies pindrow at 3400m-3800m respectively. The number of shrub species recorded were 17 and 16 in the elevation of 3000m- 3400m and 3400-3800m having dominance of Rhododendron campanulatum at both the elevations. The number of herbs species recorded were 77 and 73 with the dominance of Nepeta laevigata at 3000m-3400m and Anaphalis contorta at 3400m-3800m elevations. The distribution pattern of species was mostly contiguous in the both the altitudinal ranges. Index of diversity for herb was 3.91 and 3.72 for 3000m-3400m and 3400m- 3800m elevations respectively. Out of 52 medicinal plant species recorded from the area, 10 species viz; Aconitum heterophyllum, Saussurea obvallata, Betula utilis, Meconopsis aculeata, Picrorhiza kurrooa, Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum violaceum, Heracleum lanatum, Polygonatum verticillatum, Rheum webbianum, Rhodiola heterodonta and Rhododendron anthopogon fall in the category of threatened plants. Keeping in view the diversity and the threat status of the species, conservation of natural resources through promotion of community based in-situ conservation has been stressed upon. Ex-situ conservation through tissue culture, development of suitable agro-techniques and conducting regular trainings on the procedure of medicinal plants collection, their processing amongst the end users have also been advocated. Key Words: Altitude, dominance, diversity index, distribution, threatened plant. INTRODUCTION biodiversity. If these naturally occurring plant resources are not conserved timely then they may soon become The diverse climate and the varied environmental extinct. The assessment of plant wealth in this conditions prevailing in the lap of Himalayas support sanctuary may provide a key for its conservation. diverse habitat and ecosystems with equally diverse life Keeping these aspects in view, a study was undertaken forms. Variations in terms of its size, climate and to know the phytosociology in Kanasa valley of altitudinal ranges, have created environments those are Rakchham Chitkul wild life sanctuary in district unique and characteristic to this region only. Himalayas Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh. known for its rich and diverse plant wealth had shown a rapid decline in population of many plant species in MATERIALS AND METHODS recent past. Some of them have already been lost The present study was conducted in Kanasa valley of whereas many of them are in the verge of extinction. Rakchham Chitkul wild life sanctuary in district The current decline in biodiversity largely through Kinnaur of Himachal Pradesh during 2009-2010 at an human activities is a serious threat to our ecosystem. elevation of 3000-3800m. The study site was situated Hence, attempts are on to preserve this biodiversity in- 31° ° latitude and 78° site and ex-situ conservation. Rakchham-Chitkul 22.0’ 54.2” to 31 22.0’ 51.6” N ° longitudes. The whole wildlife sanctuary is one of the high altitude sanctuary 21.0’ 17.8” to 78 20.0’ 51.2” E area of the valley was divided into two altitudes i.e. established in 1962 in Kinnaur district of Himachal 3000-3400m and 3400-3800m for conducting the Pradesh. In this sanctuary, continuous removal of plant phyto-sociological study. species for various uses and overgrazing by migratory and other livestock infact, have resulted in loss of Verma 63 Quadrats of size 10mx10m, 3mx3m and 1mx1m laid species, N= total number of individuals of all the out randomly for enumerating trees, shrubs and herbs + species, H = Index of diversity. regeneration respectively. The seedlings were RESULTS AND DISCUSSION considered as herb while saplings as shrubs. The vegetation data was analyzed for density, frequency and The total number of plant species was 130 belonging to abundance according to formulas given by Curtis and 43 families and 94 genera. The dominant families were McIntosh (1950). The relative values of density, Rosaceae, Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Ploygonaceae frequency and dominance were summed to get and Lamiaceae. At elevation of 3000-3400m, the total Importance Value Index (IVI) of individual species. number of tree species was 8 (Table 1). Pinus The abundance to frequency ratio (A/F) of different wallichiana was the dominant species having maximum species was determined for eliciting the distribution density (220ha-1) followed by Betula utilis, Abies pattern. This ratio indicates regular (<0.025), random pindrow and Picea smithiana. The maximum frequency (0.025 to 0.050) and contiguous (>0.050) distribution was observed for Betula utilis (75%) followed by Pinus (Curtis and Cottam, 1956). The plant species diversity wallichiana, Abies pindrow and Picea smithiana. In the was calculated by using Shannon-Wiener diversity term of abundance, Pinus wallichiana recorded the Index (H) (1963). highest value of (3.14) followed by Betula utilis, Picea S smithiana and Populus ciliata. Pinus wallichiana H= - Σ(Ni/N) ln (Ni/N) observed the highest value of the IVI (92.95) followed i=1 by Betula utilis (69.81), Abies pindrow (49.98) and Concentration of dominance (C) was measured by Picea smithiana (35.51). The ratio of abundance to Simpson’s Index (1949). frequency (A/F) indicates that the distribution pattern of S all the species was contiguous except Abies pindrow C= Σ (Ni/N)2 and Pinus wallichiana. The contiguous distribution is i=1 the commonest pattern in nature, random distribution is Where Ni = importance value of species i and N= total found in very uniform environment. The general importance value of all the species in both the indices. preponderance of contiguous distribution in vegetation Richness Index was estimated as per Margalef (1958) i had earlier been reported by several workers (Singh and .e. R = S-1/ln N; Evenness Index was calculated as per Yadava, 1974; Kunhikannan et al; 1998). Hill (1973) i. e. E = H/ ln S; Where S = total number of Table 1: Phytosciological attributes of tree species in Kanasa Nala area at 3000-3400m elevation. S. No. Name of the Species Density (ha-1) Frequency(%) Abundance A/F IVI 1 Abies pindrow Royle 135.00 60.00 2.25 0.04 49.98 2 Acer caesium Wall. Ex Brandis 30.00 15.00 2.00 0.13 11.03 3 Betula utilis D. Don 185.00 75.00 2.47 0.03 69.81 4 Picea smithiana (Wall.) Boiss. 95.00 40.00 2.38 0.06 35.51 5 Pinus wallichiana A. B. Jackson 220.00 70.00 3.14 0.04 92.95 6 Populus ciliata Wall. ex Royle 80.00 35.00 2.29 0.07 29.69 7 Sorbus lanata (D. Don) Schauer 10.00 5.00 2.00 0.40 3.68 8 Taxus wallichiana (Zucc.) Pilger 20.00 10.00 2.00 0.20 7.35 Among 17 species of shrubs at elevation 3000-3400m 77 at elevation 3000-3400m (Table 3). The most (Table 2). Salix fragilis was the dominant species dominant species was Nepeta laevigata having having maximum density (7555.56ha-1) and frequency maximum density (8.40 ha-1) followed by Geranium (80%). This was followed by Berberis jaeschkeana, wallichianum, Galium acutum and Ainsliaea latifolia. Rhododendron campanulatum and Rosa microphylla in The highest value of frequency was recorded for term of density. The highest value of abundance was Geranium wallichianum (83.33%) followed by Galium recorded for Hippophae salicifolia. Rhododendron acutum, Ainsliaea latifolia and Nepeta laevigata. In campanulatum recorded the highest value of IVI term of abundance, maximum value was observed for (62.45) followed by Salix fragilis (52.09), Berberis Trigonella emodi (22.50) followed by Pimpinella jaeschkeana (40.51) and Rosa macrophylla (28.81). diversifolia, Nepeta laevigata and Polygonatum The lowest IVI of 1.34 was observed for Sorbus multiflorum. On the basis of IVI, maximum value was microphylla. The distribution pattern of all the species recorded for Nepeta laevigata (17.44) followed by was contiguous except Syringa emodi. In case of herbs Geranium wallichianum (16.50), Bergenia stracheyi including regeneration, the total number of species was (15.33) and Polygonatum multiflorum (13.41). Verma 64 Table 2: Phytosciological attributes of shrub species in Kanasa Nala area at 3000-3400m elevation. S. No. Name of the Species Density (ha-1) Frequency(%) Abundance A/F IVI 1 Abies pindrow Royle 444.44 17.50 2.29 0.13 7.89 2 Berberis jaeschkeana C. K. Scheider 3472.22 40.00 7.81 0.20 40.51 3 Berberis coriaria Royle 972.22 20.00 4.38 0.22 9.20 4 Hippophae salicifolia D. Don 833.33 7.50 10.00 1.33 15.59 5 Lonicera hypoleuca Decne. 1305.56 32.50 3.62 0.11 12.46 6 Lonicera parviflora Edgew. 222.22 5.00 4.00 0.80 2.10 7 Picea smithiana *(Wall.) Boiss.