Browsing by Subject "Altitude"
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Item Lichen Richness and Composition Patterns along Altitudinal gradients and Land use types in the Manaslu Conservation Area, Central Nepal(Department of Botany, 2014) Sankhi, LaxmiLichens, the mutualistic association betweenan alga (green and/or blue green) and a fungus are the most successful symbiotic organisms in nature. Nepal is rich in biodiversity. In comparison to higher plants, research work on lichen is very scanty. In the present study selected Manaslu Conservation Area. Though the Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) is rich in biodiversity butis less explored. My study focused on species richness and composition of lichens in differentl and use types, altitudinal gradients and aspects. Four land use types selected areCroplandland, Meadow, Disturbed forest and Natural forest at five altitudinal gradients 2200 m, 2600m,3000m, 3400m and 3800m respectively.A total of 40 transect of 25 × 2.5 m each were laiddown in the study site. R-software was used to perform all the statistical analyses. Altogether 250species of lichens under 86 genera and 38 families have been reported by this study.I found significant difference in lichens species richness within different land use types(p≤0.00, df = 3) that may due to effect of habitat heterogeneity. Higher species richness of lichens has been recorded at natural forest, followed by meadows, exploited forest and cropland.Post hoc analysis (TukeyHSD) reveals that there was a significant difference in species richness of lichens between crop land land and meadow,cropland land and exploited forest,cropland land and natural forest whereas there is no significant difference observed among other land use types .Thus the main variation for the species richness of lichens indifferent land use type is mainly due to major difference in cropland with other three land use types that is meadow, exploited forest and natural forest. Different life forms of lichen showed significant difference with different land-use types. All four forms of lichens (crustose, foliose,fruti cose and leprose) were dominant in natural forests followed by meadows, exploited forests and cropland.There was no significant difference in species richness of lichens along altitudinal gradients(p≥0.05, df = 3) and aspects. It might be due to less number of altitudinal gradients and almost similar habitat types respectively.The DCA diagram for species composition showed a good dispersion among species along first two axes.Permutation result showed that altitude, natural forest and crop land land were important environmental variables to structure the composition of lichens. Key words: Altitude, Species richness, Land use types, DCAItem PLANT DIVERSITY ........................(Amrit Campus, 2023-08-14) Sharma, SharmilaPlant community structure in particular area determines the forest stage and its importance. Different topographical, climatic, edaphic and population factor affects the community composition and its life span. Thus, the present study has aimed to find out the role of different topographical features in species diversity, tree regeneration and total biological carbon stock in the Kaleshwar area of Lalitpur district, Central Nepal. A quantitative study was carried out along the altitudinal gradients at both Northern and Southern aspect of Lahuribina community forest and Gimdi community forest respectively at Kaleshwar area. The study was carried out by using stratified random sampling method. Study area was divided into 5 different altitudinal strata in both the aspects (i.e.1500m-1600m, 1700m-1800m, 1900m-2000m, 2100m-2200m and above 2300m). 10 circular plots of sizes 10m radius for trees, within it, subplots of 5m radius for shrubs including sapling and 1m radius for herbs and seedling were laid in each strata. Regeneration of tree species were calculated by counting the seedlings (height < 20 cm) with in 1 m radius and saplings (height > 20 cm) with in 5m in circular plot. Carbon stock of tree species were calculated with the help of tree DBH and height. Total of 155 plant species were enumerated from north facing aspect, with 42 species of tree, 37 species of shrubs and 76 herbs species. But in southern aspect 134 species were recorded; 32 trees, 37 shrubs and 65 herbs species. Numbers of species were slightly higher in northern aspect than in the southern aspect however, the difference was not significant. There was slight variation in species richness and evenness between two aspects. There was very low number of seedlings than that of sapling and adults along all the altitudinal strata in both the aspects. Carbon stock was higher at 1500m followed by 2100m and 2300m altitudinal strata along northern aspect and at 1700m and 1900m altitude along southern aspect. Study concluded that the altitude and aspect play significant role in plant species diversity, regeneration and carbon stock.