Skip to main content
Log in

Composition, diversity and distribution of tree species in response to changing soil properties with increasing distance from water source — a case study of Gobind Sagar Reservoir in India

  • Published:
Journal of Mountain Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Construction of big dams on rivers develops artificial lakes or water reservoirs which conceive alterations in soil properties of the upstream catchment area. An undulating topography and freckly soil properties cause ups and downs in tree diversity, composition and distribution. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of Gobind Sagar reservoir on soil properties relative to the distance from it and aßsess its effect on tree diversity, evenness and their distribution in tropical and subtropical forests. Based on data analysis it was found that the soil moisture and organic carbon decreased along with increasing distance from the reservoir. It played a significant role in varying tree diversity. The sites distributed within 0–2 km showed significantly higher a and β-diversity indices. Tree species richness and diversity indices showed a strong correlation (p < 0.05) with soil moisture and organic carbon content. Simpson’s and McIntosh evenness indices showed a strong negative correlation with soil bulk density. Indirect Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) identified soil moisture and soil organic carbon as two major environmental gradients that influenced tree diversity and their distribution in five tropical and four subtropical forests in an upstream catchment of the reservoir. Mixed forests inhabited moist sites and Acacia-Pinus forests showed an inclination to dry areas. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that the tree species in tropical forests were mainly affected by driving forces such as soil moisture, organic carbon and bulk density whereas, in subtropical forest tree species were influenced by elevation, soil pH, EC and clay content.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen SE, Grimshaw HM, Parkinson JA, et al. (1974) Chemical Analysis of Ecology Materials. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford. p 565.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (2005) Unravelling Bhakra: Assessing the temple of resurgent India. Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, Badwani, India. p 201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baniya CB, Solhoy T, Vetaas OR (2009) Temporal changes in species diversity and composition in abandoned fields in a trans-Himalayan landscape, Nepal. Plant Ecology 201: 383–399. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-008-9473-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Battigelli JP, Spence JR, Langor DW, et al. (2004) Short-term impact of forest soil compaction and organic matter removal on soil meso-fauna density and oribatid mite diversity. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 34(5): 1136–1149. DOI: 10.1139/x03-267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhattarai KR, Vetaas OR, Grytnes JA (2004) Fern species richness along a central Himalayan elevational gradient, Nepal. Journal of Biogeography 31(3): 389–400. DOI: 10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.01013.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bouyoucos GJ (1962) Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analysis of soils. Agronomy Journal 54: 464–465. DOI: 10.2134/agronj1962.00021962005400050028x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaturvedi RK, Raghubanshi AS (2014) Species composition, distribution, and diversity of woody species in a tropical dry forest of India. Journal of Sustainable Forestry 33: 729–756. DOI: 10.1080/10549811.2014.925402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen YN, Zilliacus H, Li WH, et al. (2006) Ground-water level affects plant species diversity along the lower reaches of the Tarim River, Western China. Journal of Arid Environments 66: 231–246. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.11.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunha DDA, Ferreira LV (2012) Impacts of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam construction on pioneer vegetation formations along the Xingu River, Para State, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Botany 35(2): 159–167. DOI: 10.1590/S0100-84042012000200005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis JT, McIntosh RP (1951) An upland forest continuum in the prairie-forest border region of Wisconsin. Ecology 31: 476–496. DOI: 10.2307/1931725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Devi LS, Yadava PS (2006) Floristic diversity assessment and vegetation analysis of tropical semi-evergreen forest of Manipur, north east India. Tropical Ecology 47(1): 89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorgeloh WG (1999) Diversity of the herbaceous layer in mixed bushveld. Journal of Range Management 52: 519–524.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EI-Ghareeb RM, EI-Sheikh MA, Testi A (2006) Diversity of plant communities in coastal salt marshes habitat in Kuwait. Rendiconti Lincei 17(3): 311–331. DOI: 10.1007/BF02904769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Esler K, Cowling RM (1993) Edaphic factors and competition as determinants of pattern in South African Karoo vegetation. South African Journal of Botany 59(3): 287–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gairola S, Sharma CM, Ghildiyal SK, et al. (2012) Chemical properties of soils in relation to forest composition in moist temperate valley slopes of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Environmentalist 32: 512–523. DOI: 10.1007/s10669-012-9420-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautam MK, Manhas RK, Tripathi AK (2014) Plant species diversity in unmanaged moist deciduous forest of Northern India. Current Science 106(2): 277–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gautam MK, Tripathi AK, Manhas RK (2007) Indicator species for the natural regeneration of sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.). Current Science 93: 1359–1361. DOI: 10.1007/s12040-011-0008-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghanbarpour MR, Zolfaghari S, Geiss C (2013) Investigation of river flow alterations using environmental flow assessment and hydrologic indices: Tajan River Watershed, Iran. International Journal of River Basin Management 11(3): 311–321. DOI: 10.1080/15715124.2013.823978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldblatt P, Manning JC (2002) Plant diversity of the Cape region of Southern Africa. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 89: 281–302. DOI: 10.2307/3298566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill MO (1973) Diversity and evenness: A unifying notation and its consequences. Ecology 54: 427–432. DOI: 10.2307/1934352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill MO, Gauch HG (1980) Detrended correspondence analysis: An improved ordination technique. Vegetatio 42(1-3): 47–58. DOI: 10.1007/BF00048870

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain MS, Sultana A, Khan JA, et al. (2008). Species composition and community structure of forest stands in Kumaon Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. Tropical Ecology 49(2): 167–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jahantigh M, Pessarakli M (2011) Causes and effects of gully erosion on agricultural lands and the environment. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 42 (18): 2250–2255. DOI:10.1080/00103624.2011.602456

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jia X, Shao M, Wei X, et al. (2014) Response of soil CO2 efflux to water addition in temperate semiarid grassland in northern China: The importance of water availability and species composition. Biology and Fertility of Soils 50(5): 839–850. DOI: 10.1007/s00374-014-0901-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazimierski LD, Irigoyen M, Re M, et al. (2013) Impact of climate change on sediment yield from the upper Plata Basin. International Journal of River Basin Management 11(4): 411–421. DOI: 10.1080/15715124.2013.828066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirsch JL, Fischer DG, Kazakova AN, et al. (2012). Diversitycarbon flux relationships in a northwest forest. Diversity 4(1): 33–58. DOI: 10.3390/d4010033

    Google Scholar 

  • Konollova I, Chytry M (2004) Oak hornbeam forests of the Czech Republic: Geo-graphical and ecological approach to vegetation classification. Preslia Praha 76: 291–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar A, Bruce GM, Ajai S (2006) Tree species diversity and distribution patterns in tropical forests of Garo Hills. Current Science 91: 1370–1381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar JIN, Patel K, Kumar RN, et al. (2011) Forest structure, diversity and soil properties in a dry tropical forest in Rajasthan, Western India. Annals of Forest Research 54(1): 89–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loiseau P, Louault F, Le RX (2005) Does extensification of rich grasslands alter the C and N cycles, directly or via species composition? Basic and Applied Ecology 6(3): 275–287. DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2004.07.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magurran AE (1988) Ecological Diversity and Its Measurement. Chapman and Hall, London. p 410.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mani S, Parthasarathy N (2006) Tree diversity and stand structure in inland and coastal tropical dry evergreen forests of peninsular India. Current Science 90: 1238–1246.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCartney MP, Sullivan C, Acreman MC (2001) Ecosystem Impacts of Large Dams. Background Paper Nr. 2 Prepared for IUCN /UNEP /WCD. IUCN and UNEP, Switzerland. p 81.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh RP (1967) An index of diversity and the relation of certain concepts to diversity. Ecology 48: 392–402. DOI: 10.2307/1932674

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moeslund JE, Arge L, Bocher PK, et al. (2013) Topographically controlled soil moisture drives plant diversity patterns within grasslands. Biodiversity Conservation 22: 2151–2166. DOI: 10.1007/s10531-013-0442-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Namgail T, Rawat GS, Mishra C, et al. (2012) Biomass and diversity of dry alpine plant communities along altitudinal gradients in the Himalayas. Journal of Plant Research 125: 93–101. DOI: 10.1007/s10265-011-0430-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naqinezhad A, Hamzehee B, Attar F (2008) Vegetationenvironment relationships in the alder wood communities of Caspian lowlands, N. Iran (toward an ecological classification). Flora 203: 567–577. DOI: 10.1016/j.flora.2007.09.007

    Google Scholar 

  • Ndomba PM (2010) Modelling of sedimentation upstream of Nyumba Ya Mungu reservoir in Pangani river basin. Nile Basin Water Science and Engineering Journal 3(2): 25–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Okland RH, Rydgren K, Okland T (2008) Species richness in boreal swamp forests of SE Norway: The role of surface microtopography. Journal of Vegetation Science 19(1): 67–74. DOI: 10.3170/2007-8-18330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey B, Agrawal M, Singh S (2014) Coal mining activities change plant community structure due to air pollution and soil degradation. Ecotoxicology 23: 1474–1483. DOI: 10.1007/s10646-014-1289-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patrick R (1997) Biodiversity: What is important? In: Reaka-Kudla ML et al. (eds.), Biodiversity II: Understanding and Protecting Our Biological Resources. Joseph Henry Press, Washington, DC, USA. pp 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pausas JG, Austin MP (2001) Patterns of plant species richness in relation to different environments: An appraisal. Journal of Vegetation Science 12: 153–166. DOI: 10.2307/3236601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peyre A, Guidal A, Wiersum KF, et al. (2006) Dynamics of homegarden structure and function in Kerala, India. Agroforestry Systems 66: 101–115. DOI: 10.1007/s10457-005-2919-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poorbabaei H, Poor-Rostam A (2009) The effect of shelterwood silvicultural method on the plant species diversity in a beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) forest in the north of Iran. Journal of Forest Science 55(8): 387–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ram J, Kumar A, Bhatt J (2004) Plant diversity in six forest types of Uttaranchal, Central Himalaya, India. Current Science 86: 975–978.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rautela P, Rakshit R, Jha VK, et al. (2002) GIS and remote sensing-based study of the reservoir-induced land-use/landcover changes in the catchment of Tehri dam in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttaranchal (India). Current Science 83(3): 308–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raverkar KP, Tripathi D, Kaushal R (2012) Capability of wasteland soils of north-western Himalayas to support nodulation and growth of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Indian Journal of Soil Conservation 40(1): 78–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy RA, Balkwill K, McLellan T (2009) Plant species richness and diversity of the serpentine areas on the Witwatersrand. Plant Ecology 201: 365–381. DOI: 10.1007/s11258-008-9455-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ru W, Zhang JT (2012) Ecological study of forests dominated by endangered species, Taxus chinensis var. Mairei, in Shanxi of China. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 10(4): 457–470. DOI: 10.15666/aeer/1004_457470

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarkar M, Devi A (2014) Assessment of diversity, population structure and regeneration status of tree species in Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, Northeast India. Tropical Plant Research 1(2): 26–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shannon CE, Weiner W (1963) The Mathematical Theory of Communication. University of Illinois Press, Urana, USA. p 144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma CM, Suyal S, Gairola S, et al. (2009) Species richness and diversity along altitudinal gradient in moist temperate forest of Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of American Science 5(5): 119–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson EH (1949) Measurement of diversity. Nature (London). 163: 688–688.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh G, Gupta GN, Kuppusamy V (2000) Seasonal variations in organic carbon and nutrient availability in arid zone agroforestry systems. Tropical Ecology 41(1): 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh JS (2002) The biodiversity crisis: A multifaceted review. Current Science 82: 638–647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh RA (1980) Soil Physical Analysis. Kalyani Publishers. New Delhi, India. p 62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith B, Wilson JB (1996) A consumer’s guide to evenness indices. Oikos 76: 70–82. DOI: 10.2307/3545749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soethe N, Lehmann J, Engels C (2008) Nutrient availability at different altitudes in a tropical montane forest in Ecuador. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24: 397–406. DOI: 10.1017/S026646740800504X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teodoru C, Wehrli B (2005) Retention of sediments and nutrients in the Iron Gate-I reservoir on the Danube river. Biogeochemistry 76(3): 539–565. DOI: 10.1007/s10533-005-0230-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TerBraak CJF (1987) The analysis of vegetation-environment relationship by canonical correspondence analysis. Vegetatio 69 (1-3): 69–77. DOI: 10.1007/BF00038688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TerBraak CJF, Prentice JC (1988) A theory of gradient analysis. Advances in Ecological Research 18: 93–138. DOI 10.1016/S0065-2504(03)34003-6

    Google Scholar 

  • Tideman EM (2007) Watershed Management: Guidelines for Indian Conditions. Omega Scientific Publishers, New Delhi, India. pp 372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walkley AJ, Black CA (1934) Estimation of soil organic carbon by chromic acid titration method. Soil Science 37: 29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb EL, Stanfield BJ, Jensen ML (1999) Effects of topography on rainforest tree community structure and diversity in American Samoa, and implications for frugivore and nectarivore populations. Journal of Biogeography 26: 887–897. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2699.1999.00326.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittaker RH (1972) Evolution and measurement of species diversity. Taxon 21: 213–251. DOI: 10.2307/1218190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson MV, Shmida A (1984) Measuring beta-diversity with presence absence data. Journal of Ecology 72: 1055–1064. DOI: 10.2307/2259551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woldewahid G, Werf W, Sykorac K, et al. (2007) Description of plant communities on the Red Sea coastal plain of Sudan. Journal of Arid Environment 68: 113–131. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.04.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu H, Ye M, Song Y, et al. (2007) The natural vegetation responses to the groundwater change resulting from ecological water conveyances to the lower Tarim River. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 131(1-3): 37–48. DOI: 10.1007/s10661-006-9455-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yadav RS, Yadav BL, Chhipa BR (2008) Litter dynamics and soil properties under different tree species in a semi-arid region of Rajasthan, India. Agroforestry Systems 73: 1–12. DOI: 10.1007/s10457-008-9106-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Wang R, Kaplan D, et al. (2014) Which components of plant diversity are most correlated with ecosystem properties? A case study in a restored wetland in northern China. Ecological Indicators 49: 228–236. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2014.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Somanath Sarvade.

Additional information

http://dx.doi.org/0000-0002-6812-3766

http://dx.doi.org/0000-0002-6252-9810

http://dx.doi.org/0000-0001-7252-4557

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sarvade, S., Gupta, B. & Singh, M. Composition, diversity and distribution of tree species in response to changing soil properties with increasing distance from water source — a case study of Gobind Sagar Reservoir in India. J. Mt. Sci. 13, 522–533 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-015-3493-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-015-3493-y

Keywords

Navigation