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Authors
S. P. Singh
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
A. Bhattacharyya
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
Amit Mittal
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, India
Aseesh Pandey
G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok 737 101, India
Ashish Tewari
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, India
Avantika Latwal
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Bency David
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
Bhupendra S. Adhikari
Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, India
Devendra Kumar
G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Sikkim Regional Centre, Pangthang, Gangtok 737 101, India
G. C. S. Negi
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Ishfaq Ahmad Mir
Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, India
Krishna Kumar Tamta
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, India
Kumar Sambhav
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Mayank Shekhar
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
Mohit Phulara
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Munisa Manzoor
Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, India
Nandan Singh
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, India
Pankaj Tewari
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Parminder S. Ranhotra
Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, 53, University Road, Lucknow 226 007, India
Pradeep Singh
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Pratap Dhaila
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Priyanka Sah
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Rahul Kumar
Department of Habitat Ecology, Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box 18, Chandrabani, Dehradun 248 001, India
Rajesh Joshi
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Ranbeer S. Rawal
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Renu Rawal
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Ripu Daman Singh
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Shruti Shah
Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital 263 001, India
Subrat Sharma
G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development (GBPNIHESD), Kosi-Katramal, Almora 263 643, India
Surabhi Gumber
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Utsa Singh
Central Himalayan Environment Association, 6 Waldorf Compound, Mallital, Nainital 263 001, India
Zafar Reshi
Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, India
Abstract
This article enumerates the findings of a team research on the Indian Himalayan timberline ecotone, with focus on three sites (located in Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Sikkim). Timberline elevation increased from west to east, was higher in the warmer south aspect than the cooler north aspect, and was generally depressed. Betula, Abies, Rhododendron and Juniperus were important treeline genera. The Himalaya has not only the highest treelines (Juniperus tibetica, at 4900 m), but also the widest elevational range (>1700 m). Remotely sensed data revealed that the timberline is a long, twisting and turning ecotone, traversing a length of 8–10 km per km horizontal distance. Surface temperature lapse rate in the monsoonal regions was lower (–0.53°C/100 m elevation) than generally perceived and varied considerably with season, being the lowest in December. The Himalayan treeline species are not water-stressed at least in monsoonal regions, predawn tree water potential seldom getting below –1 MPa. The upward advance of Rhododendron campanulatum (a krummholz species) may deplete alpine meadows with climatic warming. Tree-ring chronology indicated that winter warming may be favouring Abies spectabilis. Early snowmelt increased growth period and species richness. Treelines generally are stable in spite of decades of warming. Dependence of people on timberline was still high; so economic interventions are required to reduce the same.
Keywords
Climate Change, Temperature Lapse Rate, Timberline Ecotone And Elevation, Tree Water Relation, Treeline Genera.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv120%2Fi5%2F859-871