Pastoralism in the highest peaks: Role of the traditional grazing systems in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the alpine Himalaya

showed the lowest values for all indices (Fig 4). As is evidenced from the size of the circle G5 has markedly higher species richness than U14. The color and size of the circles indicate spe- cies richness and rarity among grazed plots compared to ungrazed plots. Rarity and richness was higher in grazed quadrats (G) than ungrazed quadrats (Fig 4). Species proportional dominance All plots were dominated by Graminoid species (Cyperaceae, Juncaceae and Poaceae). They represented 70.58%, 44.34% and 78.19% of PD in all quadrats combined, grazed quadrats and ungrazed quadrats, respectively. These included sixteen species (Cyperaceae (n = 7), Juncaceae (n = 2(, Poaceae (n = 7)) in total. In grazed quadrats I found thirteen graminoid species (Cyperaceae (n = 6), Juncaceae (n = 2), Poaceae (n = 5)) and ten graminoid species (Cypera- ceae (n = 4), Juncaceae (n = 1), Poaceae (n = 5)) in ungrazed quadrats. Forbs showed high PD in grazed quadrats than ungrazed quadrats with Polygonaceae, Primulaceae, Rosaceae, Astera- ceace and Orchidaceae families representing 37.75% of PD. Fig 2. A-J Boxplots of diversity indices and above ground net primary productivity (ANPP) for 153 species sampled from 72 plots. A-E diversity indices and ANPP in grazed vs ungrazed plot in all elevations combined (All) and in each elevation zone (lower, middle and higher). F-J diversity indices and ANPP in each elevation zone for all species. K -ANPP in each elevation zone per month (June to October). L -Linear relationship between species richness (quadrate scale) and ANPP in lower, middle and

higher elevation zone quadrates. R2 values indicated. ��� represents statistical significance (p<0.01). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245221.g002 PLOS ONE Role of the traditional grazing systems in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in alpine Himalaya PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245221 January 7, 2021 7 / 19