ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Sharma et al., Prasad/VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/1 - 7 Volume VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017 [1 - 7] [ISSN 0975 - 6272] [www.essence-journal.com] Conifers and their association with the understory shrubs along a temperate riparian ecosystem in Bhaderwah, Jammu and Kashmir Sharma, Anu; Sharma, Neeraj and Sharma, Monika Received: June 15, 2016 Accepted: August 12, 2017 Online: December 31, 2017 Abstract The present study has been conducted in the parameters like Nitrogen, phosphorus and slopes along Neeru stream, Bhaderwah Potassium. Correlation has also been Jammu and Kashmir at an elevation ranging established between elevation and other from 850m (Puldoda) to 2200m (Thanalla). abiotic factors (Environmental variables). The present study deals with the spatial Keywords: Conifers | Distribution | distribution of conifers along a riparian Phytosociology | Shrubs | Trees | Correlation gradient with that of understory component. Introduction The findings revealed that dominant tree Conifers belong to gymnosperms and family species was Cedrus deodara followed by Pinaceae. They are the needle-leaved trees Pinus wallichiana and Pinus roxburghii. In widely distributed at the uplands of the Neeru two of the fifteen study sites namely stream. Pinus roxburghii and Pinus Galgander and Puldoda only Pinus wallichiana mostly grow in the dry upslope roxburghii was found and no associated stretch whereas Cedrus deodara is also conifer species was observed. Other available near the stream in the moist belt. associated trees found were broad-leaved These conifer forests have wide ecological trees like Alnus nitida, Ficus palmata, amplitude and are found all along the stream. Quercus baloot, Quercus leucotrichophora, They are not only significant from the forests Melia azedarach, Robinia pseudo-acacia, point of view but also owe a lot of Populus ciliata, Morus alba etc. The significance because of their economic and associated shrub/lianas included Berberis medicinal value. Pinus spp. are known for lycium, Daphne oledeoides, Prinsepia utilis, the resin production. They are also Hedera helix, Rubus ellipticus, Rubus niveus, significant for the asthmatic patients. Cedrus Rosa brunoni, Jasminum humile, Indigofera deodara is known for timber production. The heterantha etc. Pearsons correlation has been area is quite rich in the conifer forests. applied to species diversity, richness and soil Conifer forests are the evergreen trees of For Correspondence: temperate and subalpine and alpine climate. Institute of Mountain Environment, Bhaderwah Campus, 1 University of Jammu, India Email: [email protected] Sharma et al., Prasad/VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/1 - 7 They are a source of timber and shade various biological and physical factors throughout the year. Their wide canopy and determine the distribution of tree populations shape gives way to number of understory in an area. Physiographic characteristics of growth of shrubs and herbs which are a specific landforms such as slope, aspect, source of immense medical and aromatic parent materials and soils are used for value. These are important natural resources characterizing vegetation over the space to sustain life in the Kashmir Himalayas. The (Barnes et al., 1997). role of these forests lies in the maintenance Study area and Methodology of biodiversity, watershed protection as well as supplying timber, non-wood forest products, grazing land and habitat for threatened taxa (Ahmed et al., 2006 & 2010). Natural population of conifers increases exponentially in suitable conditions when resources are freely available (Watkinson, 1997). Variation in species diversity along environmental gradient is a major topic of ecological investigation in latest years and has been explained by reference to climate, False color composite image of study area productivity, biotic interaction and habitat Map 1: Map of the study area heterogeneity (Givnish, 1999; Willig et al., The study area includes the linear 2003 and Currie & Francis, 2004). Species hydromorphological unit of Neeru stream diversity and the functioning of the (from near its origin at Thanalla and its ecosystem are the major areas of interest for confluence with river Chenab at Pul Doda) as the ecologists worldwide. Species diversity a corridor 35 km long and 1.5 Km wide incorporates two components (Stirling & including the river bed and flood plain and Wilsey, 2001); evenness (how evenly abundance or biomass is distributed among the edge upslopes ( 200 m on either sides). species) and richness (number of species per The area forms the south-western part of unit area). The composition of the understory Chenab catchment with an altitudinal range species beneath tree canopies often differs of 850 m (tail at Pul Doda) to 2200m o with the canopy composition. Overstory (Thanalla) lying between 32 5532 to o o o species can directly affect understory species 33 0826N and 75 3241 to 75 4650 E. by altering the precipitation distribution The field surveys were conducted during the under their canopy, soil bulk density, soil years 2015 and 2016. Fifteen sites were moisture, soil oxygen, soil surface identified for the analysis of various temperature, available sunlight, soil and leaf phytosociological parameters along both litter accumulation, soil nutrient banks of the stream using species area curve 2 concentration, and seed bank density approach. 24 quadrats of 100 m were laid 2 (Warnock et al., 2007). Interactions of each containing two quadrats of 25 m in 2 Sharma et al., Prasad/VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/1 - 7 opposite corners for different parameters minimum (2.333) at site 1 (Puldoda). Basal frequency, density and abundance, basal area area was found to be maximum (0.09963) at following Curtis & McIntosh, 1950 and site 6 (Drudu) and minimum (0.01435) at site diversity by Shannon-Weiner, 1963. The 2 (Galgander). Out of the fifteen study sites geo-coordinates and elevation were recorded Cedrus deodara was found at 11 sites, Pinus with the help of GPS (Garmin- Montana wallichiana at 12 sites and Pinus roxburghii 650). For soil analysis, the samples were at all the 4 study sites. Thus the range of collected by removing litter from the surface Cedrus deodara in the study area was from and digging out from 0-30 cm randomly from 1200m to 2200m, Pinus wallichiana was each sub-site. Indices of dominance 950m to 2200m and Pinus roxburghii from (Simpson index), diversity (Shannon-weiner) 850m to 1240m. Variety of Shrubs have been and richness (Margalefs and Menhinick) found growing under these conifer tree were calculated for the trees and the species. The dominance was shown by associated shrubs. About 200 g of soil Berberis lycium and Daphne oloedoides samples were collected in polyethylene bags found at all the 15 sites followed by and were sealed and labeled properly and Prinsepia utilis found at 13 out of 15 sites. then pooled together. Then the samples were The various other shrub species which air dried at 20 to 250C, and passed through a followed the list were Rubus ellipticus, 2 mm sieve. Soil analysis was performed for Rubus niveus, Hedera helix, Ficus different parameters i.e., pH (Philips make sarmentosa, Jasminum officinale, Jasminium digital pH meter), moisture content, humile, Indigofera heterantha, Vibubrnum Electrical conductivity, Nitrogen (Subbiah & grandiflorum, Rosa brunoni, Rosa webbiana. Asija, 1956), Phosphorus (Jackson, 1958) It was observed that the conifers showed a and Potassium (Pratt, 1965, Jackson 1958 linear trend with the shrubs. Shrubs were and Peech & English, 1944). observed to follow the similar trend as the Results and Discussion conifers followed. Conifers and shrubs The visual representation of conifers along showed an increase in diversity and richness the elevational gradient is substantiated with from the lower to higher elevation and our findings wherein a clear trend of conifer Simpson index showed a decrease from distribution is obtained along the rising lower to higher elevation. Conifers showed elevation. Abies pindrow, Picea smithiana, the highest diversity (1.382) and richness Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana and (1.057, 0.7538) at 2200m and shrubs showed Pinus roxburghii. Abies pindrow and Picea the highest diversity (2.096) and richness smithiana were found only at site 15 (2.0247, 2.867) and 1804m and 2200m (Thanalla). An analysis of table 1 shows that respectively (Table 2). All the soil Cedrus deodara was found to be dominant at parameters (Organic carbon, organic matter, 6 sites followed by Pinus wallichiana found Nitrogen, Phosphorus) showed and increase at 5 sites and Pinus roxburghii found at 4 with the rising elevation except pH and sites. Table 1 also reveals that maximum Phosphate. Soil texture was loamy at all the density (9.666) was found at site 5 (Seri) and 3 Sharma et al., Prasad/VIII: Special Edition: 2: 2017/1 - 7 sites. Electrical conductivity and water holding capaity showed an irregular trend Site Ele Dominant Density Basal IVI Other conifers in terms of Dominant Understory shrubs in terms of decreasing (m) specie IVI broad-leaved IVI trees in terms of IVI Puldoda 850 Pinus 2.33 0.014 75.26 nil Melia Berberis, lycium, Daphne oledeoides, roxburghii azedarach, Prinsepia utilis, Rubus ellipticus, Justicia (86.7) adhatoda, Cactus Galgander 950 Pinus 2.66 0.014 82.59 nil Q.baloot, Berberis, lycium, Daphne oledeoides, roxburghii (206.6) Prinsepia utilis Pranoo 1000 Pinus 4.83 0.022 46.64 nil Alnus