Vegetation structure of wetlands in Eastern Himalayan Highlands of Gasa, Bhutan

Abstract

The study was conducted on the unexplored wetland vegetation of the eastern Himalayan highlands of Gasa District, Northern Bhutan. A random quadrat sampling of 1x1 m2 method was used to assess the presenceabsence of species, including shrubs, trees, mosses, ferns, and climbers, that were occurring adjacent to plots. Altogether, 201 taxa from 81 families, distributed in 149 genera, were recorded. Among the total species, 6 bryophytes, 20 monilophytes, 2 gymnosperms, and 173 angiosperms species were found. The most abundant life forms represented were herbaceous (62%) and shrub (29%), followed by tree (7%) and climber (2%). The four unique vegetation structure (represented in schematic profile diagrams) of habitats: Fresh water meadow, seasonally flooded basin of flat, shallow fresh marsh, and poor fen, were found. The study suggests protecting ecotone (a transition zone between the wetland and surrounding uplands) as part of the measures to protect wetlands and their vegetation in the Himalayas.