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A Status of Invasive Alien Species Plant Diversity in Tehri District Forest Ecosystem of Garhwal Himalayan Region

Arti Khanduri1, Sas Biswas2, H.B. Vasistha3, Digvijaysinh Rathod4*and Suman Kumar Jha5

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.12.2.21

Invasive alien species that is non-indigenous to an area, and which may have harmful effect on human, animal, plant health as habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems. During the study observed the present status of plant diversity of invasive alien species (IAS) in Tehri District of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Data were collected through extensive field survey and quadrat method. Result observed that 75 Forest Invasive Species (FIS) and 47 weed species documented from the area. Among the 75 FIS, 12 species belonging from Asteraceae, 7 species from Poaceae, 7 species of Solanaceae, 5 species of Lamiaceae, followed by four species of each Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae while the other belongs to Papilionaceae, Cyperacea, Euphorbiaceae and various other angiospermic families were recorded. Weed Species from 5 different angiospermic families were recorded. The highest diversity was reported for Asteraceae family. Species diversity of IAS indicated that study area was distinctly dissimilar or unlike in diversity and unhealthy. An investigation of the habitat depicts that herbs prevail (11 species) followed by shrubs (8 species) and trees (2 species). However, major impact of these species on the indigenous flora, change in hydrology and function of ecosystems is yet to be studied. There is an urgent need to develop regional data, information on their ecology, morphology, reproductive biology, phenology and physiology for effective management and control of IAS. Present Study will helpful in further study on developing effective management and control protocol of IAS on spreading outside their natural habitat and most prominent menaces to biodiversity.


Invasive alien species (IAS); Asteraceae; Weeds; Plant quarantine; Tehri Garhwal

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Khanduri A, Biswas S, Vasistha H. B, Rathod D, Jha S. K. A Status of Invasive Alien Species Plant Diversity in Tehri District Forest Ecosystem of Garhwal Himalayan Region. Curr World Environ 2017;12(2). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.12.2.21

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Khanduri A, Biswas S, Vasistha H. B, Rathod D, Jha S. K. A Status of Invasive Alien Species Plant Diversity in Tehri District Forest Ecosystem of Garhwal Himalayan Region. Curr World Environ 2017;12(2). Available from://www.a-i-l-s-a.com/?p=17499


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Received: 2017-05-24
Accepted: 2017-08-10

Introduction

The Himalaya mountain region is one of the richest and most unusual ecosystems on Earth.1Indian Himalayan region covers about an area of 4,19,873 Km.2The unique physiography, climatic conditions, and soil features of the area have resulted in a mixture of habitats and a substantial biological diversity. The Himalayan region affirmsapproximately 8000 plant species (47.06% of the total flowering plants of India) of which 30% are endemics among natives, 10.2% trees, 8.44% wild edibles, and over 15% medicinal. The dependence of human and livestock on this rich plant diversity is long-familiarphysical process since time immemorial.2, 3The Tehri Dam is tallest dam in India. Tehri Dam provides common services such as food mitigation, water supply for agricultural crop cultivation, drinking water, electricity production, employment opportunity, recreational and tourisms facility in surrounding area. The utilization and subsequent changes in hydrological water body has a significantly influencing on river flow and their linked biotic and abiotic organisms. Dams are grant credentials to as having fairly large negative effects on the closely encircling natural ecosystems divesity.4In many developing countries tourism was act as revenue generate, employment opportunity to local people, improved living standards and sustainable livihood development with buildup good relationship between people and nature from conservation point of view.5,6,7The global trade and tourism are key factors concerned with the ecological effects of altering the environment in developing regions.8,9In the last decades tourisms has rapidly originated worldwide in mountain regions.10,11The mountain tourisms in new emerging area had negative results on wetlands, protected areas and natural area indicated by previous examines concerned to recreation ecology.12,13In past 25 years, Nepal has rapidly increased in tourism growth, the positive or negative effect of tourism ontogenesis on forest resource and alpine vegetation plant diversity has been well recorded.14

Human actions have significant determines on the dispersal of exotic plants.15,16,17,18In Central Europe, an invasion has been often outcome of interaction between biological and anthropogenic factors.19Human interruptions enhance alien extend in general.20They are determined that the parameters in a most excellent way to justify the density of alien plants were the human growth index and imports.21Some outcomes guided that numbers of individuals per unit area of human population and human action have crucial consequences on the plants invasions.22,23Biological plant invasion have charming effect on ecologist due to their substantial ecological and economical importance from the conservation threat of plant diversity point of view worldwide.24India is the 7thlargest country and one of the mega-diversity countries on globe out of 17 most biodiversity-rich countries. With a various types of habitats and different environmental conditions, India is particularly susceptible to attack of invasive species of foreign origin. The sketch of invasive plants in India is now obligating immediate action in practice and also helpful for invasion plant ecology.

The biological invasion involving the entire earth threatens biodiversity, resource availability, ecosystem dynamics, and people health and country economy.25The analyses of the apportioning of invasive alien species and the kinship with existing factors furnish the chances to explore the possible factors that lead to their spatial distribution at a prominent scale.26,27However, seldom observe the spatial distribution analysis revolve about species with prominent consequence separately from those with miserable effects.28,29的年代crimpy native diversity privileges to introduce invasion proposed by Elton’s.30Some data-based and model based studies reports support that diversity decreased invisibility.31,32,33,34,35调查在入侵物种的特性d the recipient spatial location is indispensable for recognizing the action of invasion.36因此,数据点不足有关forestinvasivesis a subject of associate as this creats an off-key of complacency. Devoted research antecedence taken to be conceded to buildup detailed database in perspective of forest resources in the state and nation on scientific lines and to updating datum. If so, for this conclusion, periodical assemblage, Identification and collection of such species are needed, thus one can find out and could consider management options to prevent, or at least reduce the damaging effects of biological invasions. And this only can be possible if we have the proper knowledge about their presence in the area, thus need the base line data, and this could gather only through inventory. The objectives of the present study accomplish this research need and provide the basic information for further research in the same field.

Material and Methodology

The present investigation was accomplished in the District Tehri Garhwal of the Garhwal Himalayan region of Uttarakhand which lies at 30055’ to 31018’ N latitude and 780to 79025’ E longitude in Western Himalaya covering 36000 sq. km. The greatest extent of the region is 180 km N to S and 200 km E to W. The region is highly mountainous, ranging in altitude from 300-7000m, therefore by considering the diverse forms of the area the widely renowned TehriDam site was considered as a reference point and further study was carried out at different elevations. Specifically four different sites were marked based on their regional importance showed in Fig.1, i.e. site I (Jardhar VFE), known for its luxuriant forest area, and indigenous agricultural practices, site II (Dikhol VFE), became central hub for all the social activities, followed by site III (Kuttha VFE), this site became central point for the dam site seeing and tourism purposes and site IV (Saundkoti VFE) valuable natural site, as no any human induced pressure is assumed in this site.The concept of village forest exist in the study area, i.e., Tehri, from time immemorial as the forest were aligned to certain villages upto a certain radial distance to meet the bonafied needs and requirements of the village people. The geo-coordinates of each sites has been also recorded by using Global Positioning System (GPS) that are following:

Sites

Latitude

(N)

Longitude

(E)

Altitude

( m asl )

Site I

30020’ 23”

78020’ 05”

1650 m

Site II

30020’ 21”

78020’ 21”

1570 m

Site III

30023’ 16”

78027’ 23”

1220 m

Site IV

30020’ 26”

78025’ 02”

1630 m

Figure Study


Figure1: Study Sites
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Methodology

A List Of Weed/Exotic/ Invasives Of The Country

Before starting inventory for FIS in the site, secondary data was collected by preparing literature survey, list of weeds/ exotics/ invasives of the country have been prepared as per GIS database www.issg.org/global 2007,37Negi and Hajra 2007,38Reddy 2008,39Biswas and Jain 2003,40Sankaran and Sreenivasan 2001,41Plant Quarantine report and Plant Quarantine list.42The data related to existing invasives of the sites was further gathered by critiquing the literature, research papers, working plan of the District, related flora of the site and explore the review of Biswas Sas 1985 and 1994,43,44Bhattacharya and Goel 1982,45Badoni and Bhatt 1993,46Goel and Bhattacharya 1981,47and Uniyalet. al.,1995.48

Reconnaissance surveys of the areas were carried out for the occurrence ofForest Invasive species.Theavailable populations were studied using the random quadratemethod.49The field layout of sample plots was indicated in fig.2 along with various size of quadrate A, B, C for trees, shrubs and herbs field data enumeration. The study was carried out by laying out 50 quadrates (Fig.2) on each site. Thus a total 200 sample plot was laid out in all four sites. The herbarium samplesalong with camera photographs of the various plant species were collected.

Figure 2


Figure 2: Filed Layout of Sample Plot
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The plant species found and recorded in the study sites were identified with the help of the available concerned site specific Floras, Forest flora of the Chakrata, Dehradun and Sahanpur Forest Divisions, Uttar Pradesh by Knajilal, U.P.50and Flora of the District Garhwal Northwest Himalaya by Gaur, R.D.51etc.).Thoroughly identification of the material was done by consulting the material with authentic specimen sheets at, DD Herbarium of FRI, Botanical Survey of India, Northern Circle, Dehradun. Final checklist of the sitewas cross-checked with the list of Invasive Alien Species list of IUCN for the country for the recognition of the site specific Forest Invasive Species, resulting in the form of the FIS checklist.

Result

The plant diversity of Forest Invasive Species of all three life form (tree, shrub and herb) and the potential weed species which could become invasives in the study area is given in Table-I,II,III,IV;Fig. III & IV.

Seventy five (75) Forest Invasive Species (FIS) and forty seven (47) weed species which could become potential invasives were invantorized from the area (Table-III and IV). Among the 75 FIS, 12 species belonging from Asteraceae, 7 species from Poaceae, 7 species of Solanaceae, 5 species of Lamiaceae, followed by four species of each Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae while the other belongs to Papilionaceae, Cyperacea, Euphorbiaceae and various other angiospermic families were recorded. Habitat analysis of FIS showed that highest percentage of plant diversity was herbs (81.33 %), shrubs (17.33%) and Tree species (1.34%). Whereas, plant diversity among the weed species observed in study sites was maximum belongs to angiospermic family Poaceae.

Data presented in Table I reveals the maximum diversity of invasives was recorded for site I (49 species), followed by site II (45 species), site III (41 species) and least invaded site was IV (27 species).

Table 1: Forest Invasive Species account of the study sites

Category

I (Jardhar)

II (Dikhol)

III (Kuttha)

IV (Saundkoti)

Invasive tree species

1

1

1

0

Invasive shrub species

11

6

6

6

Invasive herb species

37

38

34

21

Invasives total diversity

(No. of species)

49.0

45.0

41.0

27.0

Figure 3


Figure 3: FSI Account of the Study Sites
Click here to View figure


The maximum number of FIS belongs to family Asteraceae (16%), followed by Poaceae and Solanaceae (9% each), Lamiaceae (7%), Polygonaceae and Ranunculaceae (5%) whereas other angiospermic families constitute between (4 -1%) respective dominance irrespective to other recorded families as given in Table II.

Table 2: Dominating FIS families of the study area

Family

No of species

Dominance of family (%)

Family

No of species

Dominance of family (%)

Asteraceae

12

16.00

Brassicaceae

1

1.33

Solanaceae

7

9.33

Cannabinaceae

1

1.33

Poaceae

7

9.33

Caryophyllaceae

1

1.33

Lamiaceae

5

6.67

Chenopodiaceae

1

1.33

Polygonaceae

4

5.33

Cleomaceae

1

1.33

Ranunculaceae

4

5.33

Commelinaceae

1

1.33

莎草科

3

4.00

Crassulaceae

1

1.33

Euphorbiaceae

3

4.00

Cuscutaceae

1

1.33

Fabaceae

3

4.00

Fumariaceae

1

1.33

Rosaceae

3

4.00

Nyctaginaceae

1

1.33

Amaranthaceae

2

2.67

Tiliaceae

1

1.33

Apiaceae

2

2.67

Linaceae

1

1.33

Malvaceae

2

2.67

Papavaraceae

1

1.33

Oxalidaceae

2

2.67

Verbenaceae

1

1.33

Rubiaceae

2

2.67


Table 3: FIS diversity of the study area, Site 1 –Jardhar(I), Site 2 –Dikhol(II), Site 3 –Kuttha(III), Site 4-Saundkoti(IV)

S.No

Species

Family

I

II

III

IV

Habit

1

Achyranthes asperaL.

Amaranthaceae

+

+

+

+

H

2

Anaphalis busuaBuch.Ham ex D.Don DC

Asteraceae

+

_

+

_

H

3

Apludamutica, L.

Poaceae

+

+

+

-

H

4

Argemone mexicanaL.

Papavaraceae

+

+

+

+

H

5

Arundinella nepalensisTrinius

Poaceae

+

_

_

_

H

6

Ageratum conyzoidesL.

Asteraceae

_

+

+

+

H

7

Amaranthus spinosusL

Amaranthaceae

_

_

+

_

H

8

Blainvilleaa cmella(l)Philipson

Asteraceae

+

_

_

_

H

9

Bupleurum hamiltoniiBalakrishnan

Apiaceae

+

_

_

_

H

10

Biden spilosaL.

Asteraceae

-

+

+

+

H

11

Bistorta amplexicaulis(D.Don) Greene

Polygonaceae

_

+

_

_

H

12

Boerhavia diffusaL.

Nyctaginaceae

_

+

+

+

H

13

Clematis gourianaRoxb. ex DC.

Ranunculaceae

+

+

+

+

S

14

Clematis montanaBuch.-Ham. ex DC

Ranunculaceae

+

_

_

+

S

15

Cleome viscosaL.

Cleomaceae

+

_

_

+

H

16

Cuscuta reflexaRoxb

Cuscutaceae

+

_

_

_

H

17

Cymbopogon martinii(Roxb) W.Watson

Poaceae

+

_

_

_

H

18

Cynodon dactylonL. Persoon

Poaceae

+

+

+

+

H

19

Cyperus niveusRetz.

莎草科

+

_

_

_

H

20

Cannabis sativaL.

Cannabinaceae

_

+

_

_

H

21

Chenopodium albumL.

Chenopodiaceae

_

+

_

_

H

22

Commelina benghalensisL.

Commelinaceae

_

+

+

+

H

23

Datura metelL

Solanaceae

_

+

+

_

H

24

Delphinium denudatumWallich ex Hook.f. & Thomson

Ranunculaceae

+

_

_

_

H

25

Desmodium triflorum(l)DC

Fabaceae

_

_

+

_

H

26

Eupatorium glandulosumH.B.K.

Asteraceae

+

+

+

+

H

27

Euphorbia hirtaL.

Euphorbiaceae

+

+

+

+

H

28

Euphorbia royleanaBoissier.

Euphorbiaceae

+

+

+

_

T

29

Echinochloa colona(l)链接

Poaceae

+

+

_

_

H

30

Fimbristylis falcata(Vahl) Kunth

莎草科

+

_

_

_

H

31

Fumaria indica(Haussknecht) Pugsley

Fumariaceae

+

_

_

_

H

32

Gerbera gossypina(Royle)G. Beauv.

Asteraceae

+

_

_

+

H

33

Heteropogon contortusL. Beauv. ex Roemer & Schultes

Poaceae

+

+

_

_

H

34

Indigofera heteranthaWallich ex Brandis, SynI. gerardiana(Wallich ex Baker) Ali

Fabaceae

+

_

_

_

S

35

Koenigiadelicatula(Meisn.) Hara

SynPolygonumdelicatulumMeisn

Polygonaceae

+

_

_

_

H

36

KyllingabrevifoliaRottboell

莎草科

_

_

+

_

H

37

Lantana camaraL.

Verbenaceae

+

+

+

+

S

38

Leucas lanataBenth

Lamiaceae

+

_

_

+

H

39

Micromeria biflora(Buch.-Ham.exD.Don) Benth

Lamiaceae

+

+

_

_

H

40

Nepeta gracilifloraBenth

Lamiaceae

+

_

_

_

H

41

Nicotiana plumbaginifoliaViviani

Solanaceae

_

_

+

_

H

42

OcimumbasilicumL.

Lamiaceae

+

+

_

_

H

43

Oxalis corniculataL.

Oxalidaceae

_

+

+

+

H

44

Oxalis dehradunensisRaizada

Oxalidaceae

_

+

+

+

H

45

Origanum vulgareL.

Lamiaceae

_

_

+

_

H

46

Parthenium hysterophorusL.

Asteraceae

+

+

+

+

H

47

Pavetta indica L.

Rubiaceae

+

+

_

_

S

48

Physalis peruvianaL.

Solanaceae

+

+

_

_

H

49

Polygonum plebeiumR.Br.

Polygonaceae

_

+

+

_

H

50

Reinwardtia indicaDumortier

Linaceae

+

+

+

+

H

51

Rosa brunoniiLindley

Rosaceae

+

+

+

+

S

52

Rubia cordifoliaL.

Rubiaceae

+

+

+

+

H

53

Rubus ellipticusSmith.

Rosaceae

+

+

+

+

S

54

Rubus niveusThunb.

Rosaceae

+

_

_

_

S

55

Rumex hastatusD.Don

Polygonaceae

+

+

+

+

H

56

Ranunculus sceleratusL.

Ranunculaceae

_

+

_

_

H

57

Ricinus communisL

Euphorbiaceae

_

+

+

_

S

58

Rorippa indica(l)Hiern

Brassicaceae

_

+

+

_

H

59

Saccharum spontaneumL.

Poaceae

+

+

+

_

H

60

Sedum multicauleWallich ex Lindley

Crassulaceae

+

_

+

_

H

61

Senecio nudicaulisBuch.-Ham.exD.Don

Asteraceae

+

_

+

+

H

62

Solanum anguiviLam

Solanaceae

+

_

_

_

S

63

Solanum nigrumL.

Solanaceae

+

+

+

+

H

64

Solanum verbascifoliumauct.pl.

Solanaceae

+

_

_

_

S

65

SonchusolearecusL

Asteraceae

+

+

+

+

H

66

SelinumcandolliiDC

Apiaceae

_

+

_

_

H

67

Sida rhombifoliaL.

Malvaceae

_

+

+

_

H

68

Solanum surattenseBurm.f.

SynS.xanthocarpum,Schrader &Wendland

Solanaceae

_

+

_

_

H

69

Stellaria media(l)Villars

Caryophyllaceae

_

+

+

_

H

70

Syndrellaspp.

_

+

+

_

H

71

Tridax procumbensL.

Asteraceae

+

+

+

_

H

72

Triumfettar homboideaJacquin

Tiliaceae

+

_

_

_

H

73

Trifolium repensL.

Fabaceae

_

+

_

_

H

74

Urenal obataL.

Malvaceae

+

_

_

_

S

75

Xanthium strumariumL

Asteraceae

_

+

+

+

S

(+)Present; (-) Absent


Table 4: Check list of weedy species of the study area

S.No.

Species

Family

Habit

1

Agave wightii,Drummond&Prain

Agavaceae

S

2

Ajuga bracteosa,Wallich ex Benth

Lamiaceae

H

3

Alloteropsis cimcina(l)Stapf

Poaceae

H

4

Amaranthusspp.

Amaranthaceae

H

5

Anagallis arvensis, L.

Primulaceae

H

6

Androsace lanuginose, Wall

Primulaceae

H

7

Androsace umbellate(Lour.) Merrill

Primulaceae

H

8

Apluda mutica, L.

Poaceae

H

9

Avena sativaL.

Poaceae

H

10

Barleria cristataL.

Acanthaceae

H

11

Chenopodium album,L.

Chenopodiaceae

H

12

Chenopodium ambrosiodes,L.

Chenopodiaceae

H

13

Cichorium intybus, L.

Asteraceae

H

14

Commelina benghalensis,L.

Commelinaceae

H

15

Crotalaria prostrate, Rottler ex Willd

Papilionaceae

H

16

Cynoglossum zeylanicum(VahlexnbHornem) Thunb.ex Lehmann

Boraginaceae

H

17

Cyperus rotundus

Poaceae

H

18

Desmodium triflorum(l)DC

Papilionaceae

H

19

Diclipteraspp.

Acanthaceae

H

20

Digitaria sanguinalis(l)Scop

Poaceae

H

21

Drymaria cordata(l)Willd

Caryophyllaceeae

H

22

Eragrostisspp.

Poaceae

H

23

Euphorbia hypericifolia, L

Euphorbiaceae

H

24

Fimbristylis falcate(Vahl) Kunth

莎草科

H

25

Fumariaindica,(Haussknecht) Pugsley

Fumariaceae

H

26

Galinsoga ciliate(Raf.Schm.)Blake

Asteraceae

H

27

Geranium nepalense, Sweet

Geraniaceae

H

28

Hedyotis corymbosa(l.) Lam

Rubiaceae

H

29

Kyllingaspp.

莎草科

H

30

Lathyrus sativus,L.

Papilionaceae

CS

31

Leucas lanata,Benth

Lamiaceae

H

32

Micromeria bifloraBuch.-Ham.ex D Don. Benth

Lamiaceae

H

33

Nepeta graciliflora, Benth

Lamiaceae

H

34

Oplismenus compositus(l)P.Beauv

Poaceae

H

35

Peristrophe speciosa(Roxb) Nees

Acanthaceae

S

36

Pogonantherumspp.

Poaceae

H

37

Polygala chinensis, L.

Polygonaceae

H

38

Rumex hastatus,D.Don

Polygonaceae

H

39

Rungia parviflora, Nees

Acanthaceae

H

40

Setaria gluca(l)P.Beauv

Poaceae

41

Sileneconoidea,L.

Caryophyllaceae

H

42

Sporobolus diander(Retz) P. Beauv

Poaceae

H

43

Stellaria media(l)Villars

Caryophyllaceeae

H

44

Torenia cordifolia, Roxb.

Scrophulariaceae

H

45

Triumfetta annua, L.

Tiliaceae

H

46

Trium fettapilosa,Roth

Tiliaceae

S

47

Vernonia cinerea(l)Lessing

Asteraceae

H

*H-Herb, S-Shrub


Figure 2a


Figure 4: Dominant Weedy Species faimly of the Study Area
Click here to View figure


Discussion

目前研究背景下坝址是缺点idered as a reference point, and this have been widely observed that disturbed habitats are more prone to invasion. The present study observed that the cumulative effects of dam construction activities resulted in greater amount of invasion in nearby areas, whether it is forest, agriculture, wasteland, and village common land etc.Similar study was carried out in Arizona, Colorado and eastern Oregon arid area, the permanent water availability has promote the growth invasion of exotic species such as Tamarix that flourish in such considerations.52,53,54The inventorization carried out for the area, resulted that the forest ecosystem of four villages have similar native species in floristic composition except for dominant species while a single invasive,Euphorbia royleanais reported from the tree layer of the ecosystem. Site IV (Saundkoti village forest ecosystem) is free from this invasive because less anthropogenic disturbance in site like very few people in village carried out agriculture practices and an area is rich in native species diversity.

Level of invasion varies in all the sites, maximum invasion proportion in tree layer is reported in site II (Dikhol VFE) followed by site III (Kuttha VFE), and then site I (Jardhar VFE) (table I). In site I (Jardhar VFE), the less invasion may be due to higher diversity of native species,invasives though present but could not get accommodated or spread their area of occupancy, thus proportion of invasion is least among all three invaded sites II (Dikhol), III (Kutta), I (Jardhar) (Fig I). Our finding agree with the protocol designed to distinguish between species that induce higher, medium, lower, or undistinguished negative affect to indigenous biodiversity within the region, state or nation of interest.55

While disturbance in site II attributed for developing empty niche which in turn promoted invasion in the area. Similar problem is also attributed in site III, where habitat disturbance is very high due to the close vicinity of Tehri Hydroelectric dam. Another important reason of invasion is the association ofPinus roxburghiiin all the affected sites, as it is associated with the acidity in soil, where invasives likeEuphorbia royleanacan flourish56and the present study reveals that site III (Kuttha) is Pinus dominated might be create a favorable condition to growth of invasive species and hence, proportion of invasion this site is maximum in comparison to the other study sites.

ThoughPinus roxburghiiis also reported in site IV (Saundkoti), but as per field observations this place is situated at higher elevation and far from the reference point as a disturbing factor, dominated byQuercus leucotrichophora, Rhododendron arboreum,andCedrus deodara,which likely to be assumed for prohibition of the growth ofEuphorbia royleanain the forest.

The invaded environment was providing desirable condition to invasion of species from outset, that likewise, the invasive species has the potentiality of obtruding upon that environment without any intrinsic ecological or evolutionary changes being necessitated.Therefore, wherever space is found to be free from the natives,invasives encroached those as revealed from the study and also supported by the Empty niche hypothesis proposed by Elton.57

Site II and III are equally affected by invasion of shrubaceous flora indicating a high disturbances level and invasion proportion. Both the phenomena are related to each other thus supporting the theory that more disturbances will promote more invasions. Invasion by herbaceous invasive species was almost equal in all the sites as the herbs establish easily irrespective of shrub or tree species and their seedlings. And this is also proven by the inventory that maximum numbers of invasive are from herbs.

In a number of cases, intense biotic interference (as in Dikhol, Saundkoti and Kuttha forest) does not permit the native scrub vegetation to progress any further whereas invasive herbs and few of shrubs by virtue of their specific traits gradually make thickets in these threatened areas.Another result of the biotic interference is the occurrences of blank covers over large areas, which eventually become the home of invasive shrubs, annual and perennial herbs.

Studies reveal that Asteraceae was the higher number (12) of species than other families thus it is most dominant family in study area. It is due to the fact that the members of the family are best equipped to the study area, possess best traits among all. The family is followed by invasives belonging to Poaceae and Solanaceae. The representative of the families are of herbaceous life form having short life cycle, few are perennials, thus possessing better opportunities for their survival and better growth and thus encroach the area without any natural hindrance.58Kumariet alalso carried out study on a preliminary survey of invasive alien angiosperms of Rohilkhand region (U.P), India, revealed that maximum species (21) was from the family Asteraceae, Amaranthaceous (7), Euphorbiaceae (5), Papilionaceae (4) and Caesalpiniaceae (4) respectively.56This conclude that the heightening a number of invasive alien species increased with disturbance and may affect the native diversity threat. This study will help in carrying out further research work on it; and also helpful support to ecologist, agriculturist, forest and concerned stack holder to understand the pattern of distribution of plant in area. Assist as conservation of natural resources against step-down of quality and quantity of resources.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Forest Research Institute authorities for providing necessary facilities. The First author (Arti Khanduri) thankful to all the Tehri Village people and her classmates for support during field study.

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