Measuring Pattern Diversity in a Watershed of Kumaun Himalayas, Nainital District, Uttarakhand

The present study deals with the computation of compositional pattern diversity in Kalsa watershed, Kumaun Himalaya. Compositional pattern diversity, which is a measure of complexity of the landscape, has been measured as mosaic diversity using affinity analysis. A total of four forest types were classified using satellite remote sensing data which include temperate broadleaf forest, temperate conifer forest, pine forest and degraded forest. The results of affinity analysis showed maximum value (6.53) of mosaic diversity for temperate conifer forest followed by the temperate broadleaf forest (6.49), degraded forest (5.72) and pine forest (5.58). Pooled data from all the forest types when was taken for stratawise analysis showed maximum value (4.63) for herb layer followed by the shrub layer (3.51) and tree layer (2.50). High values (<3) of mosaic diversity indicated the presence of many underlying ecological gradients controlling the vegetation and high sensitivity of shrub and herb layer towards landscape complexity.