Population Structure and Microhabitat Preferences of the Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana Zucc.) in Panchase Protected Forest in Central Nepal
Date
2023-08-14
Authors
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Publisher
Amrit Campus
Abstract
Three species of Taxus occur in Nepal viz, Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Taxus contorta
Griff. and Taxus mairei (Lemée and Lév). Taxus wallichiana is an evergreen dioecious
plant that thrives under canopy having average life span of 500 years. Non availability
of suitable micro-habitat and frugivory declines the number of the species besides its
sale for timber. Based on the information collected from the study area, species
distribution modeling was implemented in Maxent. Similarly, analysis for the
relationships between different variables like temperature, precipitation, soil pH, litter
thickness, canopy closure and occurrence of T. wallichiana was performed by using R
program. Population of T. wallichiana was found scattered in the study area where it
was found between the elevational ranges of 2200m to 2500m. Temperature and
precipitation along with other variables had combined role for affecting the micro
habitat preferences of T. wallichiana. Our result also showed effects of climate change
on distribution of the species. We found that the new possible areas for its distribution
will be towards Eastern Nepal. However, there will be no severe effect of climate
change in the study area affecting the distribution of T. wallichiana. This study will
help in developing new strategies for the conservation and management of T.
wallichiana
Description
Keywords
Bioclimatic variables, distribution model, maxent, micro-habitat