Plant diversity thrives in Western Himalayan valley, impacting local ecosystems.
The study looked at different plant species in the Bhabha Valley in the Western Himalayas. They found that as you go higher in altitude, there are more diverse types of plants, with 313 species at higher elevations. Grass-like plants dominate at higher altitudes. The main plant families found were Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae, suggesting the area is mostly grassland. The diversity of plant species decreases at lower altitudes due to human activity, with more unique species found at higher elevations. The variation in plant diversity along the altitude gradient can be explained by statistical analysis. Overall, the study identified 18 threatened species and 41 local species, mostly occurring at higher altitudes.