AN EVALUATION OF CONSERVATION STATUS AND ECOLOGICAL ZONATION OF ALNUS NITIDA; A MONOPHYLETIC SPECIES OF THE SINO-JAPANESE REGION

Alnus nitida is a monophyletic species of the Sino-Japanese belt i.e., western Himalayas and Hindu Kush region. The current study was aimed to explore vegetation structure, role of edaphic and climatic factors on distribution, plant zonation and conservation status of this Alder species in the western Himalayas and Hindu Kush parts of the Sino-Japanese region. The standard quadrat method was used for vegetation sampling. All the collected data were analyzed through Two-way Cluster Analysis, Cluster Analysis, Indicator Species Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis using PC-ORD and CANOCO software's. Google Earth Path software (V 1.4.6) was used for the calculation of Extent of Occurrence (EOO) and Area Of Occupancy (AOO) in conjunction with IUCN red list criteria for evaluation of conservation status of Alnus nitida. A total of 146 plant species associated with Alnus nitida were reported belonging to 106 genera and 47 families from the region which clustered in 3 major zones. It was concluded that electrical conductivity, phosphorus concentration along with sandy loam soil condition and grazing pressure were the main environmental variables that play a significant role in vegetation structure, associated flora and distinct co-indicators of the Alnus nitida in the Sino-Japanese belt. The current study will provide a baseline for further comprehensive studies on Alnus nitida to explore its sustainable use and conservation priorities.