Database Report

Vegetation of Ladakh Himalaya (India)

Jiri Dolezal

GIVD Database ID: AS-IN-001	Last update: 2023-10-12
Vegetation of Ladakh Himalaya (India)	Web address: http://www.butbn.cas.cz/alpine-ecology
Database manager(s): Jiri Dolezal (jiriddolezal@gmail.com)
Owner: Jiri Dolezal
Scope: Vegetation relevés were taken to sample the treeless steppe and alpine vegetation of Ladakh and the Lahul-Spiti Himalayas in India. Plots were randomly distributed across the landscape to include all major vegetation types, including dominant alpine steppes, semi-deserts, upland Caragana shrubs, salt marshes along saline lakes such as Tso Kar and Tso Moriri, alpine scree and boulder fields, alpine Kobresia grasslands along glacial rivers and lakes, places for animals, etc. Plot sizes ranged from 1 x 1 m to 1 ha plots. There are 4108 plots with 100 x 100 m size, where species presence was recorded. In smaller plots, plants were sampled by visually estimating the percentage cover of each species in each plot (modified Brau-Blanquet). There are 741 plots with 1 x 1 m size, 482 plots with 5 x 5 m size, 502 plots with 10 x 10 m size, and 7 plots with 20 x 20 m size. All vascular plants were identified at the lowest possible taxonomic level.
Abstract: Vegetation relevés were taken to sample the treeless steppe and alpine vegetation of Ladakh and the Lahul-Spiti Himalayas in India. Plots were randomly distributed across the landscape to include all major vegetation types, including dominant alpine steppes, semi-deserts, upland Caragana shrubs, salt marshes along saline lakes such as Tso Kar and Tso Moriri, alpine scree and boulder fields, alpine Kobresia grasslands along glacial rivers and lakes, places for animals, etc. Plot sizes ranged from 1 x 1 m to 1 ha plots. There are 4108 plots with 100 x 100 m size, where species presence was recorded. In smaller plots, plants were sampled by visually estimating the percentage cover of each species in each plot (modified Brau-Blanquet). There are 741 plots with 1 x 1 m size, 482 plots with 5 x 5 m size, 502 plots with 10 x 10 m size, and 7 plots with 20 x 20 m size. All vascular plants were identified at the lowest possible taxonomic level.
Availability: according to a specific agreement	Online upload: no	Online search: no
Database format(s): Excel	Export format(s): Excel, CSV file
Plot type(s): normal plots	Plot-size range (m²): 1 to 10000
Non-overlapping plots: 5840	Estimate of existing plots: 5840	Completeness: 100%	Status: emerging
Total no. of plot observations: 5840	Number of sources (biblioreferences, data collectors): 0	Valid taxa: 0
Countries (%): IN: 100
Formations: Forest: 0% = Terrestrial: 0% // Non Forest: 100% = Semi-aquatic: 6% (Haline water: 5%; Fresh water: 1%); Terrestrial: 94% (Arctic-alpin: 29%; Non arctic-alpin: 65% [Natural: 65%])
Guilds: all vascular plants: 99%
Plot size categories (%): 1-10 m2: 13%; 10-100 m2: 7%; 100-1000 m2: 9%; 1000-10000 m2: 1%; >= 10000 m2: 70%;
Environmental data (%): altitude: 100; slope aspect: 30
Performance measure(s): presence/absence only: 70%; cover: 30%
Geographic localisation: GPS coordinates (precision 25 m or less): 100%
Sampling periods: 1980-1989: 5%; 1990-1999: 10%; 2000-2009: 60%; 2010-2019: 20%; unknown: 5%
Information as of 2026-06-14; further details and future updates available from http://www.givd.info/ID/AS-IN-001

Jiri Dolezal* (jiriddolezal@gmail.com)
Department of Functional Ecology, Institute of Botany CAS, Dukelska 135, 37901 Trebon, CZECH REP.
* corresponding author