Species composition and diversity of tree species along an altitudinal gradient in Sewa catchment of north-western Himalayas, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Abstract

Species diversity along altitudinal and latitudinal gradient differs in different tree layers at different scales. Thirteen community groups characterized by different dominants in the tree layer were encountered within an altitudinal range of 580 m asl to 3500 m asl and above in Sewa catchment of Bani region, district Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. The sub-tropical and temperate elements of vegetation reveal predominance of closed canopy forests, wherein the sub-tropical tree species outnumber the temperate tree flora. The pattern of plant diversity as observed by the values of species richness and diversity indices show a decreasing trend from lower to higher altitudes. The study suggests that distribution and species richness are largely regulated by physiography (altitude, latitude, slope, aspect etc.) and climatic factors.