ABSTRACT
The present study was conducted in the Namdapha National Park (NNP), Eastern Himalayas, which is India’s largest Dipterocarpus dominant lowland tropical rainforest. The aim of this study was to examine the spatial pattern of climber species composition and its relationship with tree and environment attributes. Field data was collected by establishing sampling plots (each of a size 20 m × 20 m) in random stratified method. We divided testing variables into four classes to assess the changing pattern in climber attributes viz., altitude classes 300–400 m, 400–500 m, 500–600 m, and > 600 m; slope 72angle classes 0–15°, 15–30°, 30–45° and > 45°; slope aspects as east, west, north, and south while canopy cover classes were < 55%, 55–70%, 70–85% and > 85%. The differences in the climber attributes among the classes were tested applying non-parametric ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis test). A total of 47 climber species belong to 44 genera and 32 families were recorded from 2.28 ha area (400 m2 × 57 plots). Six communities were recognized through TWINSPAN classification using species matrix. Ficus pumila, Thunbergia coccinea, Rhaphidophora hookeri and Erythropalum scandens revealed as indicator taxa for different communities on the basis of indicator value (IV) scores. The present results revealed that the climber abundance, species richness (SR), and diversity dwindle with an increase in canopy cover and slope angles; with a decrease in altitude and tree SR.
