Plant diversity in sacred forest fragments of Western Ghats: a comparative study of four life forms

A comparative study of the mythological picture of the world, early forms of religion allows us to identify common features characteristic of the worldview and spiritual guidelines of mankind as a whole. These features can be traced in archaic ideas about the structure of the universe, in understanding their spiritual and bodily essence, the infinity of God and the eternity of the soul, the relationship and interdependence of life forms in the world. This allows us to assert the thesis of the unity of mankind in its spiritual origins, despite racial and ethnic diversity. In the process of a comparative analysis of mythology, early forms of religion, the concept of God, the pantheon and the function of the gods, similar moments and ethnological specifics of understanding the essence of the soul and reincarnation in totemistic beliefs, in cosmological and theogonistic concepts are revealed.The author also analyzes the role and significance of the cult of ancestors, traces the evolution of the idea of proto-monotism (the creative function of Tengri and Brahma, the intention of henotheistic faith) and its place in religious knowledge.

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A comparative study on plant diversity in alder (Alnus subcordata) stands of natural and plantation areas

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d150106 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 39-47

Author(s):

SEYED ALIAKBAR REZAEI TALESHI

Keyword(s):

Comparative Study ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Alnus Subcordata

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Successional status, seed dispersal mode and overstorey species influence tree regeneration in tropical rain-forest fragments in Western Ghats, India

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467417000219 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 270-284 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Anand M. Osuri ◽

Dayani Chakravarthy ◽

Divya Mudappa ◽

T. R. Shankar Raman ◽

N. Ayyappan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Seed Dispersal ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Tree Regeneration ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Tropical Rain Forests ◽

Rain Forests ◽

Old Growth ◽

Successional Species ◽

The Western Ghats

Abstract:The effects of fragmentation and overstorey tree diversity on tree regeneration were assessed in tropical rain forests of the Western Ghats, India. Ninety plots were sampled for saplings (1–5 cm diameter at breast height (dbh); 5×5-m plots) and overstorey trees (>9.55 cm dbh; 20×20-m plots) within two fragments (32 ha and 18 ha) and two continuous forests. We tested the hypotheses that fragmentation and expected seed-dispersal declines (1) reduce sapling densities and species richness of all species and old-growth species, and increase recruitment of early-successional species, (2) reduce the prevalence of dispersed recruits and (3) increase influence of local overstorey on sapling densities and richness. Continuous forests and fragments had similar sapling densities and species richness overall, but density and richness of old-growth species declined by 62% and 48%, respectively, in fragments. Fragments had 39% lower densities and 24% lower richness of immigrant saplings (presumed dispersed into sites as conspecific adults were absent nearby), and immigrant densities of old-growth bird-dispersed species declined by 79%. Sapling species richness (overall and old-growth) increased with overstorey species richness in fragments, but was unrelated to overstorey richness in continuous forests. Our results show that while forest fragments retain significant sapling diversity, losses of immigrant recruits and increased overstorey influence strengthen barriers to natural regeneration of old-growth tropical rain forests.

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Floristic enumeration of Torna Fort (Western Ghats, India): a storehouse of endemic plants

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.3705.10.7.11895-11915 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 11895

Author(s):

Mayur D. Nandikar ◽

Priyanka T. Giranje ◽

Durga C. Jadhav

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Present Article ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Floristic Diversity ◽

Endemic Plants ◽

Architectural Style ◽

New Findings ◽

Historical Past ◽

The Western Ghats

The forts on hilltops of the Sahyadri (northern Western Ghats) have seen a turbulent historical past and are famous for their architectural style and cultural heritage. Besides this, these hilltops are home to an incredible plant diversity. One of the highest hilltop forts (ca. 1,403m) the Torna, has been explored since 2012 for floral assessment. The study documented ca. 399 plant species of which about 28% are endemic to the Western Ghats and 16 monotypic species were recorded. A brief account of the immense floristic diversity and new findings from Torna fort are summarized in the present article.

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