Patterns of plant diversity in seven temperate forest types of Western Himalaya, India

AbstractPlant biodiversity patterns were analyzed in seven temperate forest types [Populus deltoides (PD), Juglans regia, Cedrus deodara, Pinus wallichiana, mixed coniferous, Abies pindrow (AP) and Betula utilis (BU)] of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 177 plant species (158 genera, 66 families) were recorded. Most of the species are herbs (82.5%), while shrubs account for 9.6% and trees represent 7.9%. Species richness ranged from 24 (PD) to 96 (AP). Shannon, Simpson, and Fisher α indices varied: 0.17–1.06, 0.46–1.22, and 2.01–2.82 for trees; 0.36–0.94, 0.43–0.75, and 0.08–0.35 for shrubs; and 0.35–1.41, 0.27–0.95, and 5.61–39.98 for herbs, respectively. A total of five species were endemic. The total stems and basal area of trees were 35,794 stems (stand mean 330 stems/ha) and 481.1 m2 (stand mean 40.2 m2/ha), respectively. The mean density and basal area ranged from 103 stems/ha (BU) to 1,201 stems/ha (PD), and from 19.4 m2/ha (BU) to 51.9 m2/ha (AP), respectively. Tree density decreased with increase in diameter class. A positive relationship was obtained between elevation and species richness and between elevation and evenness (R2 = 0.37 and 0.19, respectively). Tree and shrub communities were homogenous in nature across the seven forest types, while herbs showed heterogeneous distribution pattern

Assessment of tree diversity in distinctive deciduous forests of Suruli falls, Southern Western Ghats

A quantitative inventory was conducted in two distinctive tropical deciduous forests at Suruli falls forest of southern Western Ghats.  Two one-hectare plots were established and all trees >10cm DBH measured. Species richness, density, family importance value (FIV) and importance value index (IVI) were calculated and the results varied among the two sites. A total of 777 stems and 52 species were documented in both the sites and moist deciduous forest (MDF) had maximum number species richness and density than dry deciduous forest (DDF). The basal area was higher in MDF (502 stems/ha and 16.52 m2/ha) than in DDF (275 stems/ha and 7.23 m2/ha). However, Shannon and evenness indices showed a negative trend (DDF- 2.62, 0.41 and MDF- 2.37, 0.27). Diameter class-wise distribution of trees showed reverse ‘J shaped’ curve in both the forest types. Pterocarpus marsupium was the mono-dominant species holding one-third of the IVI (113), 27% of the stem density and 30% of the total basal area. DDF site is suspected to recurrence of annual fire. Anogeissus latifolia and Strychnos potatorum were the fire-tolerant species only found in lower diameter class. The maximum species shared contiguous distribution in the deciduous forests. The observed variations in the tree community between the two deciduous forest sites are possibly due to variations in altitude, rainfall, temperature, past disturbance, fire and edaphic characteristics

Co-limitation towards lower latitudes shapes global forest diversity gradients

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most recognized global patterns of species richness exhibited across a wide range of taxa. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed in the past two centuries to explain LDG, but rigorous tests of the drivers of LDGs have been limited by a lack of high-quality global species richness data. Here we produce a high-resolution (0.025° × 0.025°) map of local tree species richness using a global forest inventory database with individual tree information and local biophysical characteristics from ~1.3 million sample plots. We then quantify drivers of local tree species richness patterns across latitudes. Generally, annual mean temperature was a dominant predictor of tree species richness, which is most consistent with the metabolic theory of biodiversity (MTB). However, MTB underestimated LDG in the tropics, where high species richness was also moderated by topographic, soil and anthropogenic factors operating at local scales. Given that local landscape variables operate synergistically with bioclimatic factors in shaping the global LDG pattern, we suggest that MTB be extended to account for co-limitation by subordinate drivers

Biomass and carbon stocks of trees in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region, Andhra Pradesh, India

Assessment of biomass and carbon stock (CS) of trees was carried out in three selected study sites (four 0.25 ha [50 m × 50 m] plots in each site) in East Godavari region of Eastern Ghats. Aboveground biomass (AGB) was estimated by the non-harvest method by using allometric equations. The AGB ranged from 58.04 (site I) to 368.39 (site III) Mg/ha and the total CS of trees ranged from 44.51 to 218.84 Mg/ha. The highest CS accumulation in site III could be due to more soil moisture and abundant large diameter trees while the least was obtained in the site I could be due to relatively high human disturbance. Xylia xylocarpa was a dominant biomass and carbon assimilator in the site I and II, while Terminalia arjuna was the highest contributor in site III. The present study revealed that T. arjuna and X. xylocarpa are the vital tree species to endure and sink more carbon in tropical dry forest of East Godavari region under various disturbances

Biomass and carbon stock assessment in two savannahs of Western Ghats, India

Carbon inventory was done on two savannah ecosystems (sites I & II) of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. Ten plots of 20 m × 20 m each were laid in each site to study woody vegetation and a total of forty quadrats (4 in each plot) of 1 m × 1 m were laid in each site for the understorey. Both sites showed remarkable variations in biomass and carbon accumulation patterns. Site I (213 Mg C/ha) had higher woody biomass carbon than site II (185.9 Mg C/ha). However, the latter had greater understorey biomass carbon (site I – 3.2 Mg C/ha; site II –20.7 Mg C/ha). Overall, the total vegetation carbon accounted to 216.2 Mg C/ha in site I and 206.6 Mg C/ha in site II. On the other hand, soil carbon was higher in site II (183.5 Mg C/ha) than site I (172.3 Mg C/ha). Soil bulk density increased with increase in soil depth in both sites. Cumulatively, even though both sites had almost equal carbon stocks, they show considerable variation in the amount of carbon stocked in their carbon pools. Woody biomass was the largest carbon pool, followed by soil and understorey biomass. The observed variations could be due to differences in terrain characteristics, edaphic factors, incidence of fires, etc. The study emphasizes the important role of savannahs in stocking considerable amounts of carbon in their different carbon pools

Structure of plant community in tropical deciduous forests of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Abstract. Kothandaraman S, Sundarapandian S.2017. Structure of plant community in tropical deciduous forests of Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, India. Biodiversitas 18: 391-400. Plantcommunity structure of two tropical deciduous forest sites (I and II which are in different locations with different terrain characteristics viz., elevation and slope pattern) in Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats were assessed using standard phytosociological methods. Ten plots of 20 m x 20 m each were laid for woody species enumeration and 40 quadrats of 1 m x 1 m (4 in each plot) for understorey vegetation (herbs and plant species that are < 1 m in height) in each site. Overall, 76 plant species were recorded from 41 families, of which 23 contribute to understory. Site I (62) was twice as speciose as site II (31). Greater diversity index of adult woody vegetation was observed in site I (2.30) than site II (2.01). The woody individuals (diameter at breast height, DBH ≥ 10 cm) were more abundant in site I (518 individuals ha-1) than site II (448 individuals ha-1). The basal area of adult trees in sites I and II are 34.7 m2 ha-1 and 30.8 m2 ha-1 respectively. Euphorbiaceae was the most speciose family in both the sites. Twenty-five families in site I and seventeen families in site II were represented by singletons. Diameter class-wise distribution of adult trees showed a typical ‘reverse J-shaped’ curve indicating good regeneration status. Concerning understory, site I (19 species) has a greater diversity than site II (six species). The observed differences in the vegetation patterns between the two deciduous forest sites are possibly due to variations in elevation, terrain features and edaphic characteristics. Keywords: Phytodiversity, species richness, tropical forests, Western Ghat

TREE DIVERSITY IN TROPICAL FOREST IN THE JAVADI HILLS IN THE EASTERN GHATS, INDIA

Forest resource is considered as an important to sink carbon and has been widely recognized as a fundamental to sustain the local and global concern in terms of global carbon cycle and economic development. Anthropogenic activities alter the biodiversity. The present study intends to evaluate the tree diversity and population structure in the tropical forests in Javadi hills in the Eastern Ghats, India. High species richness (number of species) was observed in the mid-elevation (relatively undisturbed forest) compared to other elevations. The least species richness was observed in low–elevation forests. In contrast, tree abundance showed greater value in low-elevation forest than that of other elevation forests. Similarly, Shannon diversity index showed greater value in low-elevation forest than in other forests, this may be due to high evenness in this forest than that of mid-elevation forest. Albizia amara was the dominant tree species in low- and Mid-elevation forests followed by Azadirachta indica, Premna tomentosa, Anogeissus latifolia, Phyllanthus emblica and Santalum album whereas, in high elevation forests, Diospyros ferrea, Cassia fistula and Celtis tetrandra were the dominant species. Sapling (≥3 cm - &lt;10 cm DBH) populations showed more contribution in high elevation forest followed by low- and mid- elevation forests. On the contrary, seedling (&lt; 3 cm DBH) contribution showed reverse trend. Cut-stem enumeration indicated that greater value was recorded in low-elevation forest followed by high- and mid- elevation forests. Disturbance index showed significant negative relationship with species richness. The present study reveals that the forest ecosystem restores substantial tree species richness here which is under more threat due to anthropogenic pressure. Therefore immediate conservation measure is required to preserve the vanishing resources