Community structure of the herbaceous vegetation in some tourist spots of Doon valley (Uttarakhand), India

The present study was carried out in three tourist spots viz., Maldevta, Lachhiwala and Sahastradhara of Doon Valley. Each study site was sub-divided in three subsites namely Control Site (CS), Moderately Disturbed Site (MDS) and Highly Disturbed Site (HDS). The tourist activities has declined the native species diversity and promoted the introduction of exotic species. It was observed that moderately disturbed sites and highly disturbed sites were dominated by species like Boerhaavia diffusa, Parthenium hysterophorous, Ageratum conyzoides, and Portula capilosa. In control sites, the dominance of native species like Artemesia nilagirica, Eulaliopsis binata, Eragro stistenella, Cynodon dactylon was observed. Tropical America and Tropical South American plants have contributed to 45% and 2% of the total invasive diversity respectively. Asteraceae with 13 species is the most dominant family of the site.