Phytosociological study of the ecorestored mines of Chunakhala in Mussoorie hills Himalaya.

2. INTRODUTION
Mining and mineral processing adversely affects the ecology of the
area by disturbing the land mass, the water systems and floral-faunal
populations and in turn the quality of human life. Garhwal Himalayas
of Uttarakhand covering an area of 30, 000 km2 abound in forest,
meadows, marshes and swamps with their characteristic plant
composition. Mussoorie hills (Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand,
India) till early eighties faced a serious threat due to heavy limestone
quarrying with 105 working mines in this region. After the cessation
of mining activity restoration of these sites was undertaken by
different agencies. The ecological restoration interventions were
initiated in these areas during 1988-1989. Ecology of this region was
adversely affected by large scale limestone quarrying.
1

3. Maiti and Singh (2007 ) mentioned some important issues for
research and development in the field of ecorestoration as:
• Categorization of dumps based on reclamation potential and
regeneration of ecosystem
• Drainage, sedimentation and erosion control
• Plantation of leguminous forbs and grasses as pioneer colony in
dumps reclamation
• Ecorestoration technique of the forest area for Conservation of
biodiversity and matching with surrounding landscape
• Soil ameliorants via Identification of suitable mulch and mulching
technique 2

4. OBJECTIVE
• Phytosociological study of the ecorestored mines of
Chunakhala in Mussoorie hills Himalaya.
3

5. DESCRIPTION OF STUDY AREA
Location
Chunakhala
limestone mine was
situated on Dehradun-
Mussoorie highway at a
distance of 25 km from
Dehradun. The elevation
of the study site varied
between 1300-1500 m
above the mean sea
level. Geographically the
site is situated between
the longitude 30°27’N
and 78° 15’E
4

6. Topography
Topography is hilly with steep to highly steep slopes from
bottom valley lands to the ridges at the top. Hap hazardous tree
cuttings have also changed the topography of the area with
predominance of deep gullies/drains and furrows. As the land is
devoid of woody vegetation, landslides and landslips are frequent
Climate
The region experiences an average annual rainfall of 2,225 mm.
The average temperature peaks during June to about 29o c and dips
lowest in December January to an average of about 7oc. The area
experiences snowfall during winter and minimum temperature
frequently records below 0oc.
5

7. MATERIALS AND METHOD
Phyto - sociological studies
• To assess the floristic composition of the re-vegetated site, the phyto
- sociological studies were carried out using quadrate method
(Mishra , 1968) during the month of July 2015. Three sizes of
quadrates 1x1m, 5x5m, and 10x 10 m were laid randomly for
recording herbs and garasses , shrubs and tree vegetation
respectively. Vegetation data were analyzed for frequency. Density,
abundance, Importance value index (I.V.I) of plant species by applying
the standard formulae (Curtis and Mc Intosh 1950; Curtis and Cottam
, 1956 and Phillips, 1959).
• The diversity index was calculated according to Shannon-Wiener
diversity index (1963).The plant basal diameter was measured with
the help of measuring tape and digital caliper . The following
parameters were determined as under:- 6

8. • Frequency
Frequency expresses the distribution or dispersion of various species
in a community.
• Density
The term density represents the numerical strength or species in the
community.
• Abundance
Abundance is described as the number of individuals per quadrate of
occurrence .
• Importance value Index
The index has been developed to express the ecological success of
any species on a given site. It uses three characteristics viz. relative
frequency. Relative density and relative dominance (Phillips, 1959).
I.V.I = Relative frequency + Relative density +Relative dominance
7

9. • Basal Area
Basal area refers to the ground actually penetrated by the
stems. It is one of the chief characters determining
dominance and the nature of the community. The basal area
in case of herbaceous and shrub vegetation was measured on
the ground level of plant. For tree species diameter was
recorded at chest height (1.37m)
• Procedure
An average 10-20 stems of each species were selected and
measured their diameters at chest height (dhh). The average
diameter calculated for each species was used to calculate the
basal area (sq.cm) .
8

10. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
In the Study area, all the three strata, viz. herb, shrub and tree were
present (Tables 1 to 3). In the study site tree layer was dominated by
Cuppressus torulosa (IVI 157) followed by Debregeasia velutina (IVI,
83.3) and Tooa cilitata (IVI58.7). In shrub layer, Lepidagathis
cuspidate (IVI 94.6), Rubus cotinus (IVI46.7) and Colebrookia
oppositifolia (IVI 34.2), were the dominant taxa. Herb layer was
dominated by Imperata cylindrical (IVI 79.8), Bidens biternata (IVI
50.9).
9

11. Table -1 Ecological parameters of the Trees
Name of
speices
Density
(ha-1)
Frequency Abundance A/F Ratio Relative
Density
Relative
Frequency
Relative
Dominance
IVI
Cupressus
torulosa
100 75 1.33 0.01 57.14 60 89.16 157
Debregeasia
velutina
50 25 2 0.08 28.57 20 9.95 83.3
Toona cilata 25 25 1 0.04 14.29 20 0.87 58.7
Total 100 100 100 300
10

12. Table – 2 Ecological parameters of the shurb
Name of
species
Density
(ha-1)
Frequency Abundance A/F Ratio Relative
Density
Relative
Frequency
Relative
Dominance
IVI
Lepidagathis
cuspidate
2 100 2 2 21.6 15.3 57.6 94.6
Rubus
cotinus
1.75 100 1.75 1.75 18.9 15.3 12.4 46.7
Dodonea
viscose
0.25 25 1 4 2.7 3.8 0.02 6.5
Pogostemon
bengelensis
0.25 25 1 4 2.7 3.8 0.05 6.6
Berberis
lyceum
0.5 50 1 2 5.4 7.6 0.19 13.2
Colebrookea
opositifolia
1.25 75 1.6 2.1 13.5 11.5 9.5 34.5
Agave
sislana
0.25 25 1 4 2.7 3.8 0.10 6.6
Lantana
camara
0.5 50 1 2 5.4 7.6 2.60 15.7
Eupatorium
adenophorum
0.5 25 0.5 2 5.4 3.8 0.15 9.4
Woodfordia
fruticosa
0.25 25 1 4 2.7 3.8 0.03 6.5
Debregeasia
salicifolia
0.5 50 1 2 5.4 7.6 17.1 30.2
Hypericum
oblongifolium
0.5 50 1 2 5.4 7.6 0.06 13.1
Reinwardtia
indica
0.5 25 2 8 5.4 3.8 0.00 9.2
Valaris
Spp
0.25 25 1 4 2.7 3.8 0.01 6.5
Total 100 100 100 300
11

13. Table-3 Ecological parameters of the Herb
Name of
species
Density(ha-1) Frequency
(%)
Abundance A/F Ratio Relative
Density
Relative
Frequency
Relative
Dominance
IVI
Oplismenus
composites
15000 50 3 0.06 12.5 9 0.3 21.9
Bidens
biternata
37500 75 5 0.06 31.2 13.6 6 50.9
Imperata
cylindrical
17500 75 2.33 0.03 14.5 13.6 51.6 79.8
Agave sislana 5000 25 2 0.08 4.1 4.5 3.2 11.9
Urtica
Dioica
2500 25 1 0.04 2.0 4.5 0.01 6.6
Chrysopogon
fulvus
15000 50 3 0.06 12.5 9 4.7 26.3
Micromeria
biflora
2500 25 1 0.04 2.0 9 0.2 11.4
Berberis
lyceum
2500 25 1 0.04 2.0 4.5 0.2 6.8
Oxalis
corniculata
5000 50 1 0.02 4.1 9 0.2 13.4
Leucas lanata 5000 25 2 0.08 4.1 4.5 0.9 9.6
Rumex
hastatus
7500 50 1.5 0.03 6.25 9 19.7 35
Gallium
aparine
2500 25 1 0.04 2.0 4.5 0 6.6
Thalictrum
foliolosum
2500 25 1 0.04 2.0 4.5 12.6 19.2
Total 100 100 100 300
12

14. .
0.96
2.3
2.1
Diversity (H')
Tree
Shrubs
Herbs
Diversity index
Species diversity is
important attribute of
natural community. The
concept of diversity is
related with species
richness. Diversity also
incorporates the
distributions of
individuals among the
species.
In the present study,
species diversity index or
Shannon-wiener index
(H') of shrub layer was
maximum (2.3) and
minimum for tree layer
(0.96)
13

15. 0.42
0.0007 0.001
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
Trees Shrubs Herbs
concentration of dominance (cd)
concentration
of dominance
(cd)
Concentration of
dominance
In the present study
Concentration of
dominance was
maximum for tree
layer (0.42) and
minimum for shrub
layer (0.0007)
14

16. 1.82
4.92
4.67
spices Richness
Trees
Shurbs
Herbs
Richness index
Richness index is
defined as the
number of species
per specified
number of
individuals.
Maximum richness
was recorded for
shrub layer (4.92)
and minimum was
found in the tree
layer (1.82).
15

17. 0.76
0.78
0.8
0.82
0.84
0.86
0.88
0.9
Tree Shrubs Herbs
0.87
0.89
0.81
Evenness index
Evenness index
Evenness
index
In the present
study evenness
index was
maximum for
shrub layer (0.89)
and minimum for
herb layer (0.81) .
16

18. ANNEXURE
Measuring herb diameter by digital
caliper at restored site
17

19. Measuring tree diameter by caliper at restored
site
18

20. • Digital caliper use for
measuring herbs and
shrubs diameter
• caliper use for
measuring tree
diameter
19

21. Mussoorie hills
20