A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF OAK-DOMINATED FORESTS IN THE MID-APPALACHIANS OF THE EASTERN UNITED-STATES AND THE KUMAUN HIMALAYA OF NORTHERN INDIA

Oak-dominated forests in the mid-Appalachians of the eastern United States and the Kumaun Himalaya of northern India are described and compared. Four major community types are recognized in each region; these are related to the environmental complex-gradients associated with differences in elevation and topographic position. In general, both species richness and species diversity of the tree stratum (stems greater than or equal to 10 cm DBH) are appreciably higher for oak forests in the mid-Appalachians, whereas basal area and density tend to be much higher for oak forests in the Kumaun Himalaya. In both regions, oak-dominated forests have been subject to considerable disturbance, with human disturbance representing the single most important factor in northern India and introduced biotic agents the most important factors in the eastern United States.