Vegetation structure, niche width, niche overlap and typesof competition in temperate grazingland of Garhwal Himalaya, India

• Published in: The Environmentalist 2008-09, Vol.28 (3), p.261-273
• Main Authors: Anthwal, Smriti, Bhatt, Ajay B, Nautiyal, Bhagwati P, Anthwal, Ashish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0251-1088
• DOI: 10.1007/s10669-007-9137-1

Temperate grazing lands in Garhwal Himalaya are rich in herbaceous vegetation and extensively used for grazing by locally owned livestock. Capillipedium parviflorum is a frequently occurring and dominant grass species under Pine canopy in associate with several herbs. Beside, grazing and extensive fire, interactions among associated species is a determining factor of community structure. In this article the dominant diversity pattern of vegetation in temperate grazing land along two different altitudes and having different slope aspects is described. Interaction between dominant and co-dominant species with their niche appearance and niche overlap measurement was also observed and presented here. South and west facing slopes had maximum species and diversity values while east north facing slopes had higher species dominant. Capillipedium parviflorum and other grasses had maximum niche values and were dominant and co dominant species. Three types of interspecific interaction were observed between species and grasses were observed as succeeding species in all sites of different topographic conditions. Dominant diversity pattern along with resource partitioning and interspecific competition is discussed and presented here.