The Alpine Vegetation of the Khangchendzonga Landscape, Sikkim Himalaya

Alpine vegetation in Khangchendzonga National Park, part of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, exhibits distinct patterns shaped by rainfall, elevation, and soil conditions. The study identifies 11 alpine vegetation types, including dominant scrub and sedge meadows, with a notable absence of extensive grassy meadows compared to the Western Himalaya. Numerical classification revealed that this region's alpine zone is narrower, more fragmented, and depauperated, contributing to lower alpha species diversity. Environmental gradients were primary determinants of vegetation distribution, highlighting the unique ecological dynamics of this third-highest landscape in the world.

Tambe, S., & Rawat, G. S. (2010). The Alpine Vegetation of the Khangchendzonga Landscape, Sikkim Himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, 30(3), 266. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd-journal-d-09-00058.1