Kumar, Rahul2025-01-222023http://192.168.202.180:4000/handle/123456789/445The present study was carried out to understand the temporal changes in structural (richness, diversity, of alpine communities, above and belowground biomass, net biomass accumulation/productivity, and carbon density) and functional attributes (Phenology of species recorded) of different alpine plant communities of alpine meadows. This research work has not only generated information on baseline ecological characteristics of species and communities but also provides valuable management implications. The study is summarized in the following paragraphs. The major objectives of the study are: 1. To study temporal changes in composition, structure, and functional attributes across various herbaceous communities, 2. To study the phenological patterns of dominant plant species across various communities in relation to abiotic parameters (rainfall/snowfall and temperature), 3. To assess the patterns of biomass production, carbon storage and sequestration in various communities and temporal dynamics of soil nutrients The study was carried out in Tungnath region of Western Himalaya which lies on outer fringe of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in the upper catchment of the river Mandakini, a major tributary of the Alaknanda, which finally join the river Ganga at Devprayag. Climate change particularly endangers organisms with fragmented habitat distribution, especially those with narrow ecological ranges, which may lead to extinction. Cold-adapted species are especially vulnerable in high alpine meadows due to rapid warming, potentially exceeding their adaptive capacity. The alpine zone covers 9 % of the total area in Greater Himalaya. In Uttarakhand, there are 5 protected areas encompassing alpine region namely Nandadevi National Park (NP), Valley of Flowers NP, Govind Pashu Vihar NP, and Wildlife Sanctuary (WS), Kedarnath WS and Askot WS of which except Nandadevi NP and Valley of Flowers NP, others are heavily exploited leading to habitat degradation. Exploitative practices such as unsustainable pastoralism, excessive extraction of medicinal plants, pilgrimage pressure, and poorly planned developmental projects are major challenges faced by alpine ecosystems in the Greater Himalaya. Therefore, it is crucial to understand species and community ecology to identify stress mechanisms and develop effective conservation strategies in Greater Himalaya. Numerous studies have shown correlations between temperature, precipitation, productivity, plant interactions, spatial patterns, and species richness in alpine ecosystems outside of the Himalayas. However, knowledge about the Himalayan alpine regions is limited due to their micro-topographic variations, altitudinal gradient, temperature range, and precipitation patterns, which make it challenging to isolate specific variables responsible for environmental-species relationships. These issues can lead to smaller population sizes, habitat degradation, and local extinctions, putting immense stress on alpine meadows. To address these challenges and conserve alpine meadows, it is essential to study sustainable land use practices adopted by local communities and develop conservation plans tailored to specific sites and species.enSpecies diveristyBiomassClimate changeWestern HimalayaKedarnath Wildlife SanctuaryHabitat fragmentationHuman impactalpine meadowsPhenological changeThesis