Abstract:
Himalayan rangelands have diverse #oristic composition and important ecological services. The #oristic diversity and
composition play an important role in grassland ecosystem regulation. It is different in altitudinal gradient due to grazing
intensity, climatic condition and topography. To reveal the vegetation composition values, this work was conducted on August
and September 2011 inTinjure-Milke mountain ridge, Guphapokhari, Nepal. In the present study we have described the impact
of altitude on the species richness, species diversity and dispersion behavior of different plants (grasses) in Himalayan
rangeland. The values of community indices were observed to be: RD (0.09 to 49.57), RF (3.57 to 14.71), RA(0.23 to 47.59),
IVI (3.89 to 111.87), Shannan-Wiener diversity index (1.09 to 2.23) and species diversity evenness (0.12 to 0.19) at the study
area, MilkeJaljale, eastern Nepal. Similarly, Species richness (R) value of 8.87 to 11.86 and Simpson dominant index value of
0.12 to 0.42 were observed. All diversity indices were reversed to altitudinal gradient higher the altitudes lower the values.
Species richness of all plants showed a unimodal relationship with altitude. Similarly, negative correlation of density and
species richness with altitude and slope was recorded.
Key words: rangeland, himalaya, diversity index, grazing and elevation
Description:
Dil Kumar Limbu, Department of Biology, Central Campus of Technology, Dharan, Nepal
