PJB-2019-783
Resilience in some lower Himalayan conifers under disturbed condition; a preliminary tree ring study of growth
Afsheen Khan
Abstract
Murree and its associated Galyat are the tourism and socioeconomicaly influenced sites, where the peak of disturbance can easily be seen. In this study, age and growth rate of four pine tree species i.e. Pinus wallichiana A.B.Jackson, Pinus roxburghii Sarg, Cedrus deodara. (Roxb.) G. Donf and Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle were studied. Highest Dbh range i.e. 12.8 to 36.48 cm was observed in Abies pindrow whereas oldest tree species in the study area were Pinus roxburghii (217 years) and Pinus wallichiana (208 years). Pinus wallichiana occupied the highest growth rate (0.94 yr/cm to 8.67 yr/cm). Correlation between age and growth rate and Dbh and growth rate determined highly significant relationship (p> 0.001) for Pinus roxburghii (Chir pine), Pinus wallichiana (Kail/ Blue pine) and Cedrus deodara (Deodar/ Cedar) whereas non-significant correlation observed for Abies pindrow (Fir). Pine species (Pinus wallichiana and Pinus roxburghii) offer a wide range of tolerance and resilience under such disturbed environment and found invading the forest composition by replacing older composition of Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara trees. Logging in the forest has brought an evident change in the forest structure that has overcome by the resistant nature of pines that has sustained forest cover for certain period of time but it is alarming for future forest cover. Key words: Growth rate, correlation, Himalayan forest, forest health, dendrochronology
To Cite this article:
Download
