Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management

The Western Ghats of India support an array of tropical forests ranging from wet evergreen to scrub formations. Several endemic and threatened plant species are located in areas other than protected areas (PAs). There is an urgent need to understand species diversity in areas other than PAs, for effective management of tropical forests. In this context, reserve forests and informal PAs of Amboli from northern Western Ghats have been investigated. Woody species composition, diversity, and stand structure were assessed by laying quadrats and transects (n=46, area=2.575ha) in closed and open canopy forest patches covering habitat heterogeneity and environmental gradient of the area. A total of 2,224 individuals (of 87 species, 68 genera, and 35 families) was enumerated. Memecylon umbellatum, Syzygium cumini, and Diospyros nigrescens were found to be the most dominant species as per importance value index. Melastomataceae was the most dominant family as per family importance value, whereas Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae were the most speciose. Fourteen IUCN Red List assessed species and 18 species endemic to the Western Ghats were encountered. Endemic species accounted for nearly 20% of the total number of individuals sampled. Demographic profile exhibited reverse ‘J’ pattern. Average basal area was 27.02m2 per hectare. Woody species diversity of Amboli forests was found comparable with other PAs from northern Western Ghats. Amboli and the adjoining area have been proposed as ecologically sensitive and in the wake of anthropogenic and developmental pressures they experience, it calls for urgent conservation attention.

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Rediscovery of Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C. Fisch. (Rubiaceae) from the Western Ghats of India after a lapse of 83 years

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.5888.13.7.18953-18955 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 18953-18955

Author(s):

Perumal Murugan ◽

Vellingiri Ravichandran ◽

Chidambaram Murugan

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Conservation Status ◽

Type Locality ◽

Adjacent Area ◽

Threatened Plant ◽

Threatened Plant Species ◽

Western Ghats Of India ◽

Southern Western Ghats ◽

The Western Ghats

Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C.Fisch. (Rubiaceae), a threatened plant species of southern Western Ghats is rediscovered from the adjacent area of the type locality after lapse of eight decades. Its distribution and conservation status are discussed.

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Dry tropical forests and woodlands of the Cubango Basin in southern Africa – First classification and assessment of their woody species diversity

Phytocoenologia ◽

10.1127/phyto/2017/0154 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 23-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rasmus Revermann ◽

Jens Oldeland ◽

Francisco Maiato Gonçalves ◽

Jona Luther-Mosebach ◽

Amândio Luis Gomes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Southern Africa ◽

Woody Species ◽

Dry Tropical Forests ◽

Woody Species Diversity

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Stand structure and woody species diversity in relation to stand stratification in a subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest, Okinawa Island

Journal of Plant Research ◽

10.1007/s10265-006-0270-6 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 119 (4) ◽

pp. 293-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

S. M. Feroz ◽

A. Hagihara ◽

M. Yokota

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Stand Structure ◽

Woody Species ◽

Okinawa Island ◽

Broadleaf Forest ◽

Woody Species Diversity

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Freshwater fish fauna of rivers of the southern Western Ghats, India

Earth System Science Data ◽

10.5194/essd-10-1735-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 1735-1752 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anbu Aravazhi Arunkumar ◽

Arunachalam Manimekalan

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Freshwater Fish ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

World Heritage Site ◽

Freshwater Fish Fauna ◽

Western Ghats Of India ◽

Southern Western Ghats ◽

The Western Ghats

Abstract. The Western Ghats of India is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the eight “hotspots” of biological diversity in the world. It is also referred to as the “Great Escarpment of India”. This paper provides information on the diversity of freshwater fish fauna of six river systems of the southern Western Ghats. The study area has been identified geographically using a GPS, and the respective topographic map has been digitized using ArcGIS software. The fish fauna were collected from various streams and rivers using cast nets, dip nets, gill nets and drag nets. Among the 31 georeferenced sites sampled from the rivers of the southern Western Ghats, a total of 64 species, belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera, were recorded. Among them, the order Cypriniformes was dominant, with 3 families, 18 genera and 49 species (76.6 %). Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to express the contribution of the variables and their influence on the species diversity. Interestingly, of the 31 sites, Thunakadavu stream, Gulithuraipatti, Athirapally, Naduthotam, Nadathittu, Mullaithodu, Thonanthikla, Noolpuzha and Sinnaru exhibited high variation in species diversity. Nearly 15 species were found to be threatened in the Western Ghats. Garra periyarensis and Cirrhinus cirrhosus are known to be vulnerable and Hemibagrus punctatus is critically endangered because of various anthropogenic activities. The study clearly indicates that certain timely measures have to be taken immediately to protect the fish fauna in the southern Western Ghats (https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.882214).

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Structure and floristic composition of a tropical evergreen forest in south-west India

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s026646740000941x ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 191-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Jean-Pierre Pascal ◽

Raphael Pelissier

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Basal Area ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Evergreen Forest ◽

Systematic Sampling ◽

Importance Value Index ◽

Importance Value ◽

Tropical Evergreen Forest ◽

Western Ghats Of India ◽

The Western Ghats

ABSTRACTA permanent plot of 28 ha was established in a dense wet evergreen forest in the Western Ghats of India to study the functioning of the ecosystem. Since April 1990, 1981 trees of ≥30 cm gbh have been enumerated in a systematic sampling of five strips totalling 3.12 ha. This paper describes the main structural and floristic characteristics of the plot.The density (635 trees ≥30 cm gbh per hectare) and basal area (39.7 m2 ha−1) are high. Despite the high diversity (Simpson's D = 0.92 and Shannon's H' = 4.56), four species are distinctly, dominant in terms of an importance value index (relative density + relative basal area). Each of these four species occupies a different layer in the ecosystem: Humboldtia brunonis Wall. (Fabaceae) dominates the undergrowth, Myristica dactyloïdes Gaertn. (Myristicaceae) the intermediate strata, Valeria indica L. (Dipterocarpaceae) the higher canopy level and Dipterocarpus indicus Bedd. (Dipterocarpaceae) the emergents. This pronounced species hierarchy is one of the most important characteristics of the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The two dipterocarps account for 20.1% of the total number of trees and contribute 40.9% to the total basal area. This formation can, therefore, be considered as the westernmost lowland dipterocarp forest of Asia.Analysis of the spatial variations in the floristic composition and in the structure of the main species populations shows that two kinds of mature phases can be identified: where the topography is raised and gently sloping, the vertical structure of the stand is discontinuous, with Dipterocarpus indicus and Vateria indica forming an emergent layer above a dense undergrowth; on slopes, the stand is lower, vertically continuous and saturated with Valeria indica and Myristica dactyloïdes. The link between the structure of the stand and dynamic processes is discussed.

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Effects of coffee management intensification in natural forests on woody species diversity and structure in Yayo district, south western Ethiopia

International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research ◽

10.14741/ijmcr/v.7.3.4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (03) ◽

Author(s):

Fikiru I. Gamachu ◽

Tefera Jegora

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Woody Species ◽

Home Garden ◽

Natural Forests ◽

Importance Value ◽

Southwestern Ethiopia ◽

Woody Species Diversity ◽

The Difference ◽

Total Species ◽

Western Ethiopia

This study was conducted to evaluate the difference between woody species diversity, structure and similarity in natural forests and adjacent coffee farms in Yayo district, southwestern Ethiopia. Vegetation data were collected from both land use systems using transects walk lines. The Shannon, Simpson’s, similarity and importance values index were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. The result revealed 64 woody species belongs to 31 families from both land uses. Moraceae had the most diverse family having each 5 and 8 species in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. The species richness was higher in natural forests (54) than coffee farms (38). Coffea arabica (42.85%) and Celtis africana (21.14%) those frequently occurred had the highest importance value indices in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. Of total species recorded, 28 (43.75%) are common, 26 (40.63%) and 10 (15.62%) were unique to natural forests and coffee farms respectively. The highest number of woody plants per hectare were distributed in diameter at breast height 5-10cm having 1250 ha−1 (64.10%) in natural forests and 471 ha−1 (72.33 %) in coffee farms. The total basal areas were 364.44 and 669.84 m2 ha−1 in coffee farms and natural forests respectively. The result indicated that planting coffee in natural forests with intensified management system causes significant differences on the overall woody species diversity i.e. the structure, composition and regeneration rates of the forest. Therefore, it is recommended to plant coffees in home garden and open lands with planting multipurpose shade trees rather than cultivating it in natural forests.

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