It was hypothesized that multiple environmental factors influence distribution and abundance of
plant species in different vegetation layers of the forest ecosystem=. Here, we have assessed plant
diversity, abundance and its relationship with multiple factors through an integrative modeling
approach. To substantiate or negate our hypothesis, Quadrat quantitative ecological methods
were carried out for the sampling of vegetation in Humid Forest Ecosystem of the Western
Himalayas. Rectangular plots of 100 m, 50 m and 1 m were established for trees, shrubs and herb
species, respectively. All the edaphic, topographic, climatic and disturbance factors were determined
using different standard procedures and protocols. We have applied multiple linear
regression and structural equation models using R-Software on most abundant plant species each
from trees, shrubs and herbs. Preliminary, integrative modeling showed that the species abundance
is significantly associated with a set of soil nutrients (physio-chemical variables), topography
(aspect, slope, elevation) and disturbance factors (anthropogenic and grazing pressure).
The species dominance effects were synchronously influenced (p˂0.025) by the soil physical
characters (sand, silt and clay), canopy and regeneration potentials compared to other factors.
Our results provide bases to understand the underlying mechanisms of species abundance and its
importance of the forest ecosystem in the western Himalayas. This work concludes that ecological
diversity is overall the result of multiple factors but climatic, topographic, anthropogenic and
grazing pressures primarily shape the diversity and functioning in a forest ecosystem. Additionally,
we found a clear pattern that variations in edaphic factors cause the abundance of certain
species over others.