Forest ecosystem structure and composition along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Ghats South India

Sundarapandian S.M., . and Swamy P.S., . Forest ecosystem structure and composition along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Ghats South India. pp. 104-123. ISSN 0128-1283

Forest ecosystem structure and composition along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Ghats South India. Vegetation structure and composition of deciduous and evergreen forest ecosystems were studied along an altitudinal gradient (250-1150 m) at Kodayar in the Western Ghats of South India. Plants more than 10 cm in DBH were enumerated to measure the diversity dominance similarity evenness and species richness indices of plant communities and also to assess the regeneration status of tree species. A total of 58 77 125 and 105 plant species belonging to 30 28 52 and 45 families were recorded in moist deciduous forests (MDF sites I II) an evergreen forest (EF site III) and a forest at higher elevation (HEF site IV) respectively. Species diversity indices (Shannon index) of tree community were 2.20 2.37 2.65 and 2.48 ranking low compared to other studies available in the Western Ghats. Terminalia paniculata Pterocarpus marsupium and Aporosa lindleyana were the dominant species in the moist deciduous forests whereas Hopea parviflora Vateria indica and Xanthophyllum flavescens dominated in the evergreen forest. The forest at higher elevation was dominated by Agrostistachys meeboldii Cullenia excelsa and Drypetes oblongifolia. Stem density and basal area of the evergreen forest (748 trees per ha 81.38 square metres per ha) were twice those of the moist deciduous forests (352-450 trees per ha 28.05-33.77 square metres per ha) while the forest at higher elevation showed higher density and lower basal area (1173 trees per ha 72.72 square metres per ha). The L shaped curved of different DBH classes of trees and saplings indicated good regeneration in these forests. Eupatorium and Ageratum are two dominant exotic weeds that form part of the ecosystem in open and disturbed sites here. The changes in species composition are largely due to transition in vegetation types influence by anthropogenic perturbations and other abiotic factors.

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Abstract

Forest ecosystem structure and composition along an altitudinal gradient in the Western Ghats South India. Vegetation structure and composition of deciduous and evergreen forest ecosystems were studied along an altitudinal gradient (250-1150 m) at Kodayar in the Western Ghats of South India. Plants more than 10 cm in DBH were enumerated to measure the diversity dominance similarity evenness and species richness indices of plant communities and also to assess the regeneration status of tree species. A total of 58 77 125 and 105 plant species belonging to 30 28 52 and 45 families were recorded in moist deciduous forests (MDF sites I II) an evergreen forest (EF site III) and a forest at higher elevation (HEF site IV) respectively. Species diversity indices (Shannon index) of tree community were 2.20 2.37 2.65 and 2.48 ranking low compared to other studies available in the Western Ghats. Terminalia paniculata Pterocarpus marsupium and Aporosa lindleyana were the dominant species in the moist deciduous forests whereas Hopea parviflora Vateria indica and Xanthophyllum flavescens dominated in the evergreen forest. The forest at higher elevation was dominated by Agrostistachys meeboldii Cullenia excelsa and Drypetes oblongifolia. Stem density and basal area of the evergreen forest (748 trees per ha 81.38 square metres per ha) were twice those of the moist deciduous forests (352-450 trees per ha 28.05-33.77 square metres per ha) while the forest at higher elevation showed higher density and lower basal area (1173 trees per ha 72.72 square metres per ha). The L shaped curved of different DBH classes of trees and saplings indicated good regeneration in these forests. Eupatorium and Ageratum are two dominant exotic weeds that form part of the ecosystem in open and disturbed sites here. The changes in species composition are largely due to transition in vegetation types influence by anthropogenic perturbations and other abiotic factors.

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Summaries (En Ms)
AGROVOC Term:	FORESTS
AGROVOC Term:	EVERGREEN MIXED FORESTS
AGROVOC Term:	ECOSYSTEMS
AGROVOC Term:	VEGETATION
AGROVOC Term:	BIODIVERSITY
AGROVOC Term:	DOMINANT SPECIES
AGROVOC Term:	INDIGENOUS ORGANISMS
AGROVOC Term:	REGENERATION
AGROVOC Term:	INDIA BOSQUES
AGROVOC Term:	BOSQUE MIXTO SIEMPREVERDE
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:52
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/17943

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