The phytosociological attributes of woody species were investigated along an altitudinal gradient in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary. Detailed sampling was carried out in five altitudinal zones (from 1550 to 3550 m asl). A total of 81 woody species, including 33 trees (28 genera and 22 families) and 48 shrub species (39 genera and 24 families) were reported. Density ranged from 150 ± 19 trees/ha (Zone V, 3350–3550 m asl) to 530 ± 36 trees ha⁻¹ (Zone I, 1550–1750 m asl) and 3.83 ± 0.31 shrubs 25 m-² (Zone-I 1550–1750 m) to 12.3 ± 0.45 shrubs 25 m-² (Zone-III 2900–3100 m). Total Basal Cover (TBC) fluctuated between 2.91 ± 0.74 m² ha⁻¹ (Zone-V) to 37.96 ± 2.95 m² ha⁻¹ (Zone-I). The diversity index (H̅) of trees varied from 2.097 (Zone-V) to 3.373 (Zone-I) and of shrubs ranged from 2.624 (Zone-V) to 4.209 (Zone-I). The correlation (Carl Pearson) test indicated that species richness, Shannon-Wiener diversity index, β-diversity, and TBC declined sharply with increase in altitude. The average maturity index for trees varied from 16.36 to 33.57 and 11.59 to 32.67 for shrubs. The diversity of woody plants declined as altitude increased, indicating that environmental filtering acts as a key factor in shaping the woody vegetation at high altitudes. In lower altitudinal zones, most of the species exhibited a lognormal curve while species of higher altitudes followed geometric curves. The present study could prove beneficial for the foresters, policy-makers to understand the altitudinal behavior of species diversity and its degeneration patterns so that strategic conservation plan could be implemented in the coming future. Thus, the study is expected to provide information to understand the current status, ecology as well as conservational efforts required for this protected area.

沿Kedarnath野生动物保护区的海拔梯度调查了木质物种的植物社会学属性。在五个海拔区域（从1550到3550 m asl）进行了详细的采样。据报告，共有81种木本植物，包括33棵树（28属和22科）和48种灌木（39属和24科）。密度范围从150±19棵树/公顷（V区，3350–3550 m asl）到530±36棵ha ^-1（I区，1550–1750 m asl）和3.83±0.31灌木25 m - ²（I区） 1550–1750 m）至12.3±0.45灌木25 m - ²（Zone-III 2900–3100 m）。总基础覆盖率（TBC）在2.91±0.74 m ²  ha ^-1（Zone-V）之间波动至37.96±2.95 m ²  ha ^-1（一区）。树木的多样性指数（H +）从2.097（Zone-V）到3.373（Zone-I）不等，灌木的多样性指数从2.624（Zone-V）到4.209（Zone-I）不等。相关性（卡尔·皮尔逊）检验表明，物种高度，香农-维纳多样性指数，β多样性和TBC随海拔的升高而急剧下降。乔木的平均成熟度指数从16.36到33.57，从11.59到32.67。木本植物的多样性随着海拔的升高而下降，这表明环境过滤是塑造高海拔木本植物的关键因素。在较低的海拔区域，大多数物种显示出对数正态曲线，而更高海拔的物种则遵循几何曲线。本研究可能对林农有益，政策制定者了解物种多样性的高度行为及其退化模式，以便在未来的将来实施战略性保护计划。因此，预期该研究将提供信息，以了解该保护区的现状，生态以及保护工作。