Phytosociological Analysis of Woody Species in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Its Adjoining Areas in Western Himalaya, India

Zubair A. Malik,A. B. Bhatt 강원대학교 산림과학연구소 2015 Journal of Forest Science Vol.31 No.3

The aim of the present study was to assess the variation in species composition and diversity of woody species at different altitudes (900 to 2600 m asl) in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and its adjoining areas in Garhwal Himalaya, India. A total of 94 woody plant species (including 44 tree and 50 shrub species) belonging to 72 genera and 44 families were reported. Density varied from 235±9 to 505±21 trees ha−1 and 4,730±474 to 9,530± 700 shrubs ha−1. Total basal cover varied from 10.49±0.66 to 42.92±2.57 m2 ha−1 (trees) and 0.36±0.024 to 0.62± 0.047 m2 ha−1 (shrubs). Shannon-Wiener Index fluctuated between 2.30 to 3.53 (trees) and 2.74 to 3.78 (shrubs). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that altitude and aspect had significant effect on the distribution of woody species. Taxonomically, Rosaceae with 15 species emerged as the dominant family. Low value of maturity index and contiguous distribution of species denoted the early successional status of the studied forests. The conservation assessment based on altitudinal regimes and the information on species structure and function can provide baseline information for monitoring and sustaining the biodiversity.

Phytosociological Analysis of Woody Species in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary and Its Adjoining Areas in Western Himalaya, India

Malik, Zubair A.,Bhatt, A.B. Institute of Forest Science 2015 Journal of Forest Science Vol.31 No.3

The aim of the present study was to assess the variation in species composition and diversity of woody species at different altitudes (900 to 2600 m asl) in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) and its adjoining areas in Garhwal Himalaya, India. A total of 94 woody plant species (including 44 tree and 50 shrub species) belonging to 72 genera and 44 families were reported. Density varied from $235{\pm}9$ to $505{\pm}21trees\;ha^{-1}$ and $4,730{\pm}474$ to $9,530{\pm}700shrubs\;ha^{-1}$. Total basal cover varied from $10.49{\pm}0.66$ to $42.92{\pm}2.57m^2ha^{-1}$ (trees) and $0.36{\pm}0.024$ to $0.62{\pm}0.047m^2ha^{-1}$ (shrubs). Shannon-Wiener Index fluctuated between 2.30 to 3.53 (trees) and 2.74 to 3.78 (shrubs). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that altitude and aspect had significant effect on the distribution of woody species. Taxonomically, Rosaceae with 15 species emerged as the dominant family. Low value of maturity index and contiguous distribution of species denoted the early successional status of the studied forests. The conservation assessment based on altitudinal regimes and the information on species structure and function can provide baseline information for monitoring and sustaining the biodiversity.

Soil Chemical Properties - Variation with Altitude and Forest Composition: A Case Study of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalaya (India)

Zubair A. Malik,Shiekh Marifatul Haq 강원대학교 산림과학연구소 2022 Journal of Forest Science Vol.38 No.1

The present study was carried out to evaluate the chemical properties of soil in relation to forest structure and composition at different altitudes (900-2,600 m asl) in a part of Western Himalaya. The composite soil samples were taken from three (viz. upper, middle and lower) depths. The soils of the whole study area were acidic in nature (pH=4.90-5.51). Contents of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Carbon (C) and soil organic matter (SOM) showed much fluctuation during different seasons of year. Nitrogen content showed significant positive correlations with altitude (r=0.924, p<0.05) and different community parameters like species diversity (r=0.892, p<0.01) and species richness (r=0.941, p<0.05). Phosphorus exhibited direct correlations with carbon (r=0.637) while weak negative correlations with different community parameters like species richness & diversity, total basal cover (TBC), density and canopy cover. Carbon content and hence SOM showed direct correlations with Nitrogen (r=0.821, p<0.01); Phosphorus (r=0.637, ns) and Potassium (r=0.540, ns). But no significant relationship was observed between K content and species richness (p=0.30, r=-0.504); between K content and species diversity (p=0.14, r=-0.672); between P content and species diversity (p=0.29, r=-0.513) and species richness (p=0.23, r=-0.575). Among the different soil nutrients, only N showed a significant positive correlation with altitude while all others exhibited negative (but non-significant) correlation with it. The study revealed that the chemical properties affect and are reciprocally affected by forest structure and composition and that N rich soils of higher altitudes are best for the growth and development of forests.

Tree species richness, diversity, and regeneration status in different oak (Quercus spp.) dominated forests of Garhwal Himalaya, India

sushma singh,Zubair A. Malik,Chandra M. Sharma 국립중앙과학관 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol.9 No.3

Himalayan forests are dominated by different species of oaks (Quercus spp.) at different altitudes. These oaks are intimately linked with hill agriculture as they protect soil fertility, watershed, and local biodiversity. They also play an important role in maintaining ecosystem stability. This work was carried out to study the diversity and regeneration status of some oak forests in Garhwal Himalaya, India. A total of 18 tree species belonging to 16 genera and 12 families were reported from the study area. Species richness varied for trees (4–7), saplings (3–10), and seedlings (2–6). Seedling and sapling densities (Ind/ha) varied between 1,376 Ind/ha and 9,600 Ind/ha and 167 Ind/ha and 1,296 Ind/ha, respectively. Species diversity varied from 1.27 to 1.86 (trees), from 0.93 to 3.18 (saplings), and from 0.68 to 2.26 (seedlings). Total basal area (m2/ha) of trees and saplings was 2.2–87.07 m2/ha and 0.20–2.24 m2/ha, respectively, whereas that of seedlings varied from 299 cm2/ha to 8,177 cm2/ha. Maximum tree species (20–80%) had “good” regeneration. Quercus floribunda, the dominant tree species in the study area, showed “poor” regeneration, which is a matter of concern, and therefore, proper management and conservation strategies need to be developed for maintenance and sustainability of this oak species along with other tree species that show poor or no regeneration.

Distal Esophageal Impedance Measured by High-resolution Esophageal Manometry With Impedance Suggests the Presence of Barrett’s Esophagus

( Rahul Kataria ),( Benjamin Rosenfeld ),( Zubair Malik ),( Martha Harrison ),( Michael S Smith ),( Ron Schey ),( Henry P Parkman ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.3

Background/Aims Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is characterized by intestinal metaplasia in the distal esophagus. The aims of this study are to: (1) Compare baseline distal esophageal impedance (DEI) using high-resolution esophageal manometry with impedance (HREMI) in patients with BE, esophagitis, and healthy volunteers and (2) Correlate length of low impedance on HREMI in patients with BE to the length of endoscopic BE. Methods Patients with BE or esophagitis who underwent HREMI were included. Ten volunteers had HREMI. Baseline DEI was calculated from HREMI using the landmark segment. In patients with BE, the impedance was plotted to measure the extent of plotted low impedance (PLI) and visual low impedance (VLI). Lengths of VLI and PLI were correlated to endoscopic length of BE by Prague score. Results Forty-five patients were included (16 BE; 19 esophagitis; 10 volunteers). BE patients had lower baseline DEI at the first, second, and third sensors above the lower esophageal sphincter (mean ± SEM: 1.37 ± 0.45, 0.97 ± 0.27, and 0.81 ± 0.20) compared to volunteers (8.73 ± 0.60, 8.20 ± 0.73, and 6.94 ± 0.99; P < 0.001). Baseline DEI was lower in BE than esophagitis patients (2.98 ± 0.65, 2.49 ± 0.56, and 2.01 ± 0.51) at the first, second, and third sensors (P < 0.052 for second and third sensors); ie, BE < esophagitis < controls. PLI and VLI had a stronger correlation to circumferential score (r2 = 0.84 and 0.83) than maximal score (r2 = 0.76 and 0.68). Conclusions Baseline DEI is lower in BE compared with esophagitis and healthy volunteers. The length of low impedance correlates to the endoscopic extent of BE. Thus, impedance values during HREMI may help suggest the presence and extent of BE or esophagitis. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:344-351)