Current World Environment

Invasive alien species that is non-indigenous to an area, and which may have harmful effect on human, animal, plant health as habitat destruction, degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems. During the study observed the present status of plant diversity of invasive alien species (IAS) in Tehri District of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand. Data were collected through extensive field survey and quadrat method. Result observed that 75 Forest Invasive Species (FIS) and 47 weed species documented from the area. Among the 75 FIS, 12 species belonging from Asteraceae, 7 species from Poaceae, 7 species of Solanaceae, 5 species of Lamiaceae, followed by four species of each Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae while the other belongs to Papilionaceae, Cyperacea, Euphorbiaceae and various other angiospermic families were recorded. Weed Species from 5 different angiospermic families were recorded. The highest diversity was reported for Asteraceae family. Species diversity of IAS indicated that study area was distinctly dissimilar or unlike in diversity and unhealthy. An investigation of the habitat depicts that herbs prevail (11 species) followed by shrubs (8 species) and trees (2 species). However, major impact of these species on the indigenous flora, change in hydrology and function of ecosystems is yet to be studied. There is an urgent need to develop regional data, information on their ecology, morphology, reproductive biology, phenology and physiology for effective management and control of IAS. Present Study will helpful in further study on developing effective management and control protocol of IAS on spreading outside their natural habitat and  most prominent menaces to biodiversity.