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Assessment of tree diversity in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India

Assessment of tree diversity in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India GeoloGy, ecoloGy, and landscapes, 2018 Vol . 2, no . 3, 216–227 https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1452479 INWASCON OPEN ACCESS Assessment of tree diversity in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India a a b a M. Tarakeswara Naidu   , D. Premavani , Sateesh Suthari   and M. Venkaiah a b d epartment of Botany, andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India; d epartment of plant s ciences, s chool of life s ciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Received 8 november 2017 The rapid inventory study provides information on the tree species diversity and stand structure a ccepted 15 d ecember 2017 in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India. Tree diversity and its relation to habitat was explored using tree data-set of 12 belt transects (5 × 1000 m) totaling 6 ha in the KEYWORDS study area. A total of 135 plant taxa (≥15 cm gbh) belonging to 105 genera of 45 families with diversity indices; eastern 2959 individuals were recorded. Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus collinus and Ghats; stand structure; tree Lannea coromandelica were the predominant plant taxa where the members of Euphorbiaceae, density; tropical forests Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae and Mimosaceae contributed maximum stand density and species −1 richness. The stand density ranged from 395 to 573 individuals ha while basal area varied from 2 −1 13.05 to 28.42 m ha . Shannon-Weiner index (H′) ranged from 3.59 to 4.05 while Simpson index from 0.97 to 0.98, evenness index from 0.66 to 0.78 and species richness Margalef index ranged from 7.29 to 12.99. The study provides a baseline data for the management of protected areas in developing countries like India and it shows the potential of in situ method in the conservation natural areas. 1. Introduction species (Galley, 2014), but these forests are currently dis- appearing at an alarming rate of between 0.8 and 2% per Biodiversity assessment is one of the sub-divisions of year (Sagar, Raghubanshi, & Singh, 2003). Tropical forest conservation biology that has gained much attention due destruction is likely to continue in the future, causing an to the major impact it had on the practice of conser- extinction crisis. Fast paced conversion and destruction vation. Tropical plant diversity assessment is a tool for of tropical forests has led to an unprecedented decline the quantitative studies of regional scale biogeograph- in biodiversity and disruption of ecosystem services ical patterns (Gordon & Newton, 2006). International (Dierick & Hölscher, 2009). conservation organizations have conducted a vari- Tropical deciduous forests occur under varied cli- ety of biodiversity assessment in global and regional matic conditions, but essentially with alternate wet and scales for identifying priority areas where only limited dry tropics (Naidu & Kumar, 2015). The structure and resources available for conservation (Margules, Pressey, composition of deciduous forests can change the length & Williams, 2002). These relied on a variety of primary of wet period, amount of rain fall, latitude, longitude and and secondary information sources that vary in quality altitude. Phytosociological pattern of Indian deciduous and quantity depending on the areas assessed (Phillips forests are not-well known and these have diversified et al., 2003). The results of such assessments represent life-forms but are not considered species-rich (Panda, the best understanding of biodiversity priorities at any Mahapatra, Acharya, & Debata, 2013). Still these forests given time and are being used as a basis for targeting assume unusual significance for conservation since they conservation resources (Redford et al., 2003). are the most used and threatened ecosystems (Thakur & Tropical forests are oen r ft eferred to as the major car - Khare, 2006), especially in India. The natural forest was bon sink and have high standing biomass and greater narrated as irregular mixed forest and thus converted productivity. Tropical forests are important because they into a regular, normal and even-aged forest of valuable provide many ecosystem services such as species con- species in order to improve the quality and quantity of servation, prevention of soil erosion and preservation of future yields. habitat or plants and animals (Armenteras, Rodríguez, & Quantitative analysis on tree species diversity pro- Retana, 2009). Tropical forests occupy 7% of the earth’s vides the floristic status and distribution pattern which land surface, but constitute more than half of the world’s CONTACT s ateesh suthari suthari.botany@uohyd.ac.in © 2018 The a uthor(s). published by Informa UK limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an open a ccess article distributed under the terms of the creative c ommons a ttribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 217 may help in biodiversity conservation. Quantitative data south-west monsoon. e r Th elative humidity varied are oen o ft btained through biodiversity inventories that between 70 and 88%. The forests of this area are clas- are used to determine the nature and distribution of sified as southern moist deciduous and dry deciduous biotic resources of the area to be managed (Rennolls forests (Premavani, Naidu, Kumar, & Venkaiah, 2017). & Laumonier, 2000). Quantification of tree species dis- tribution and abundance is an important aspect as they 2.2. Field methods contribute to the structural characteristics of the forest For determination of biodiversity, methodology was and provides resources and habitat for many species adopted from National Bioresource Development Board, (Huang et al., 2003). Tree species diversity varies signif- Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to icantly from location to location because of variations quantify plant resources of India. In all the six study in biogeography habitat and disturbance (Majumdar, sites, two belt transects of 5 × 1000 m size (totaling 1 ha) Shankar, & Datta, 2012). Central Eastern Ghats consti- were laid in each site during 2009–2013 and all live trees tute rich tree species diversity and as well promote live- with ≥15 cm girth at breast height (gbh) were enumer- lihood security to local communities. But these forests ated. The height of trees was measured using Clinometer. are also under immense anthropogenic pressures (Naidu e r Th epresentative taxa were collected and identified & Kumar, 2015). Thus, the floristic inventories and qual - with the help of floras (Pullaiah & Ramamurthy, 2002; itative studies of these dry deciduous forests claim more Pullaiah, Ramamurthy, & Karuppusamy, 2007; Pullaiah prominence. The information on tree composition and & Rao, 2002) and made into herbarium. The voucher forest structure helps in protecting threatened and eco- specimens were housed in the Botany Department nomic species, and to understand the forest ecosystem Herbarium (BDH), Department of Botany, Andhra dynamics for nature conservation. The present study University, Visakhapatnam. aims at assessing the tree diversity across different veg- etation types in Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India. 2.3. Data analysis 2. Materials and methods Based on the individuals recorded in the discrete plot samples, vegetation data were quantitatively analyzed 2.1. Study area for basal area, relative density, relative frequency and Eastern Ghats are located along the peninsular India relative dominance. The Importance Value Index (IVI) extending over 1750  km with average width about and Family Importance Value (FIV) of tree species were 100  km and lies between latitudes 11°30′ to 22°34′N determined (Panda et al., 2013). The relative diversity of and longitudes 72°22′ to 87°29′E. The Eastern Ghats are family was evaluated as the number of species with the delimited by Similipal hills of Odisha state on the North. family expressed as percentage of total number of species e midd Th le section from river Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) within all the families represented in the community to near about Chennai city (Tamil Nadu) and includes (Pandey & Barik, 2006). The data were used to compute the Nallamalais, Nigidi, Seshachalam and Veligonda hills community indices like species diversity (H′), Species and the last section runs in south–south west direction dominance (c), Evenness index (e) and Margalef index meeting the Western Ghats in the Nilgiris covering an as suggested by Swamy, Sundarapandian, Chandrasekar, area of 75,000 km . The wide range of topography and and Chandrasekaran (2000). other physical features of the Eastern Ghats shaped e S Th hannon’s index was calculated as below: the land to harbor rich and varied flora. The region is phyto-geographically interesting as considered to be a � H = −Σ n ∕N ln n ∕N i i migratory route for plants of Himalayas to the southern peninsula and vice versa. where, H′ is Shannon index of general diversity, n is Our study was confined to the northcentral Eastern importance of value index of species i and N is IVI of Ghats with particular to East Godavari district, all species in that vegetation type. Andhra Pradesh and plots are 245  km south-west of Species dominance (c) was calculated using: Visakhapatnam. The study area includes Gangampalem (GP), Sesharayi (SR), Kakarapadu (KP), Seetapalli (SP), c =Σ n ∕N Cherukumpalem (CP) and Vatangi (VT). East Godavari district is located between 16°18′ and 18°02′ N lati- where, c is index of dominance, n and N being the same tudes and 81°30′ to 82°36′E longitudes (Figure 1). Soil as those for Shannon-Weiner information function. of Northcentral Eastern Ghats is loamy, black, lateritic Equitability of evenness refers to the degree of rela- and alluvial. Lateritic soils are the common type along tive dominance of each species in that area and it was the deciduous forests. The maximum temperature ranges calculated as: from 28 to 46.2 °C and minimum from 12.9 to 27 °C. e = H ∕logS e m Th aximum rainfall is 1300 mm per annum during 218 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Figure 1.  The study area: Map showing the locations of study sites in northcentral eastern Ghats of India. source: c opyright@ premavani (2009). where, H′ is Shannon index, S is number of species. (7.4%) were common to all the six plots, and 42 species Species richness was determined by Margalef index (31.1%) occurred in any one of the plots. Out of these as of below: 42 species, 11 species were restricted to plot SP, and 10, 8, 7 were restricted to CP, SR, VT, respectively, and 3 d = S∕logN species of each restricted to GP and KP plots. The fam- where, S is number of species and N is number of ilies showing the most diversity in terms of the number individuals. of species were the Euphorbiaceae (11), Papilionaceae Structural composition of trees was analyzed by com- (9), Rubiaceae (8), Moraceae (7), Combretaceae and paring the tree height distribution and diameter classes. Caesalpiniaceae (6 species each), Anacardiaceae, e Th number of individuals and richness of tree taxa were Ebenaceae, Rutaceae, Sterculiaceae and Verbenaceae (5 categorized into various groups of population as of pre- species each), Apocynaceae and Sapotaceae (4 species dominant (>50), dominant (25 to  <50), common (10 each), Burseraceae, Annonaceae and Bignoniaceae (3 to <25), rare (2 to <10) and very rare (<2) (Majumdar species each). Eleven families had two species each and et al., 2012). 15 families were represented by single species. The high values of Shannon index in the range of 3.5–4.05 indicate high tree diversity. Among them, site SP is the most spe- 3. Results cies rich plot with 82 species. Further, the species rich- 3.1. Species richness and diversity ness range of 46–82 species indicates the diverse nature of the forests and tree composition in this region. The A total of 135 angiospermous plant taxa of ≥15 cm gbh high values of Shannon index indicate that in all the that belong to 105 genera and 45 families were recorded. study sites few species have dominated the forest struc- Plot-wise species richness was 60, 61, 46, 82, 68 and ture and many species comprised of fewer individuals. 57 in GP, SR, KP, SP, CP and VT, respectively, with a e E Th venness index-revealed KP as the most diverse plot major difference between the plots (Table 1 ). Ten species and Margalef index had highest in plot SP (Table 1). GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 219 Table 1. summary of tree inventory (≥15 cm) in the six plots of northcentral eastern Ghats. Variable GP SR KP SP CP VT number of species 60 61 46 82 68 57 number of genera 51 52 42 66 57 50 number of families 29 30 27 33 33 32 d ensity 470 573 478 551 492 395 2 −1 Basal area (m  ha ) 13.05 28.42 18.22 21.59 19.33 15.79 shannon_H 3.81 3.7 3.59 4.05 3.9 3.74 simpson_1-d 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.98 0.97 evenness_e 0.75 0.66 0.78 0.69 0.73 0.74 Margalef 9.59 9.45 7.29 12.99 10.81 9.37 elevation (m) 131 712 310 335 216 636 latitude (n) 17°17′95.2″ 17°43′35.3″ 17°30′93.6″ 17°23′03.8″ 17°27′52.6″ 17°27′85.0″ l ongitude (e) 81°44′29.6″ 81°56′38.4″ 81°55′99.4″ 81°47′130″ 82°08′81.8″ 82°14′54.4″ represented by 29 with 16% individuals. Rare species 3.2. Stand density and basal cover having 55 with 8.5% individuals and 12 species are very e t Th otal stand density of trees for the six plots of study rare with 0.4% individuals such as Bischofia javanica , area was 2959 individuals. The mean stand density was Drypetes roxburghii, Erythrina variegata, Euphorbia −1 493 individuals ha . The highest stand density observed antiquorum, Glochidion velutinum, Gyrocarpus ameri- −1 in SR (573 individuals’ ha ), whereas the lowest stand canus, Hibiscus platanifolius, Hymenodictyon orixense, −1 density in VT (395 individuals’ ha ). The other four Kydia calycina, Litsea glutinosa, Salacia chinensis and plots had moderate stand densities. The density of dif- Xantolis tomentosa. The total species rarity is the sum ferent tree species is differ within the six 1-ha plots. The of rare and very rare are 49%. distribution of the basal area across six plots, using gbh interval classes, revealed the dominance of smallest 3.5. Importance value index (IVI) individuals in all the plots. Basal area in all the study 2 −1 2 plots ranges from 13.05 m ha (plot GP) to 28.42 m Analyzing the IVI for the individuals in each site, a dis- −1 ha and the mean basal area for the six 1-ha plots was tinct pattern can be observed, which is present in all 2 −1 19.4 m ha . The site SP has ranked first in tree species study plots. Top ten species accounted for 40.5% in GP, richness, a total of 82 species was exclusive to this area. Anogeissus latifolia was the dominant species with 20.7 e p Th resence of low species remarkably in higher gbh IVI. The co-dominant species were Dalbergia panicu - class has led to greater basal area values. lata, Mangifera indica and Protium serratum. In SR, top ten species contributing 47% and Lannea coromandelica was dominant species with 25.4 IVI. The co-dominant 3.3. Girth class distribution species were Mangifera indica, Anogeissus latifolia and Tree species richness as well as density decreased with Garuga pinnata. Xylia xylocarpa has the dominant tree increasing girth class in all the study plots, except in in plot KP with 18.6 IVI and top ten species accounted first girth class (15–30 class). The girth class distribu- for 42.5% of the total IVI. The co-dominant species were tion has revealed that majority of tree individuals repre- Terminalia alata, Alangium salviifolium and Cleistanthus sented in 31–60 cm class with 41% followed by 61–90 cm collinus. In plot SP, the dominant species is Anogeissus (21%), <30 (20%), 91–120 (11%) and less abundance latifolia (22.9 IVI) with co-dominants are Dalbergia in >120 cm girth class with 7%. A comparison was made paniculata, Lannea coromandelica and Xylia xylocarpa. of the relative distribution of the total number of individ- Top ten species contributed 35.5% IVI. In plot CP, uals and their basal area in each diameter class. The basal Anogeissus latifolia was dominant species with 14.7 IVI 2 −1 area values ranged between 13.05 and 28.42 m  ha . In and top ten species accounted for 32.4%, co-dominant all the six sites except VT the higher gbh class recorded species were Soymida febrifuga, Diospyros melanoxy- higher basal values. 20.3% of tree individuals were pres- lon and Xylia xylocarpa. The plot VT contributing the ent in lower gbh class and they registered 2.3% amount top ten species IVI is 43.2% with dominant tree spe- of basal area (Figure 2). cies Anogeissus latifolia. The co-dominant species were Lannea coromandelica, Canthium dicoccum and Xylia xylocarpa (Appendix 1). 3.4. Tree dominance and rarity e den Th sity of different species varied widely in the six 3.6. Family composition study pots. Based on their density in 1-ha plots, the predominant group represented 18 species with 51% In terms of tree abundance, Combretaceae with 306 indi- of total individuals. The most dominant species are viduals (10.3%) also dominated the deciduous forests of Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus colli- northcentral Eastern Ghats, followed by Euphorbiaceae nus and Lannea coromandelica. Twenty-one species are (253; 8.5%) Rubiaceae (224; 7.5%), Anacardiaceae (219; dominant with 24.1% individuals. Common species 7.4%) and, Mimosaceae and Ebenaceae (213 each; 7.2%). 220 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Figure 2. (a–f ) c ontribution of tree species stands density and basal area based on girth class distribution in northcentral eastern Ghats. e t Th op ten families with an abundance of 1951 individ- gives a reliable instrument to indicate the diversity level uals (66.9%) of total tree abundance contributed 64.4% of a study site (Premavani, Naidu, & Venkaiah, 2014). of total importance value. Twelve families represented e p Th resent data can be compared with the large number by single species with an abundance of 71 individuals of similar plots inventoried in India and elsewhere in the accounted for 3.9% of total FIV. Combretaceae scored tropics. A total of 135 species belonging to 105 genera maximum FIV of 35.2, followed by Euphorbiaceae of 45 families were recorded in the study area. Species −1 (FIV-28.4), Mimosaceae (22.1), Anacardiaceae (21.5), richness ranging from 46 to 82 ha with mean value of −1 Rubiaceae (19.4), Paplionaceae (17.7) and Ebenaceae 62 ha recorded which is very distantly closed to 64–82 −1 (17.2) (Appendix 2). species ha in Sengaltheri-Kakachi (Parthasarathy, −1 2001), 25–61 species ha in Saddle peak of North −1 Andaman Islands (Tripathi et al., 2004) and 18–84 ha 4. Discussion in Little Andaman Island (Rasingam & Parathasarathy, Species richness is one of the characteristic features of the 2009). The mean value in the present study is higher than −1 tropical forests. It is the simplest way to describe com- that of 21 species ha in Kolli hills of India (Chittibabu −1 munity and regional diversity and this variable number & Parthasarathy, 2000), 31 species ha in dry decidu- of species forms the basis of many ecological models of ous forests of western India (Kumar, Kumar, Bhoi, & −1 community structure (Sathish, Vishwanth, Kushalappa, Sajish, 2010), 37 species ha in Kaan forest of Western Jagadish, & Ganeshaiah, 2013). Tree species richness at Ghats (Gunaga, Rajeswari, & Vasudeva, 2013), 38 spe- −1 defined study sites and in minimum diameter classes cies ha in reserved forests of southern Eastern Ghats of GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 221 −1 Andhra Pradesh (Rao et al., 2011) and 58–59 species ha 3.59 to 4.05 which falls within the range of 0.67 to 4.86 in Great Andaman (Padalia, Chauhan, Porwal, & Roy, reported in tropical forests Indian sub-continent (Kumar 2004). Tropical forests of world are highly diverse; the et al., 2010; Panda et al., 2013; Sundarapandian and Swamy, density and richness vary widely between dry and humid 2000). These values indicate that the present tropical decid - zones. Across the peninsular India, richness of tree spe- uous forest is a species diverse system. The concentration cies from low value of 19–35 species in inland and coastal of dominance (Simpson’s index) in the present study is land dry evergreen forests (Mani & Parthasarathy, 2006) within the reported range of 0.64–1.34 in other forests and also in Bannerghatta forests, the richness of woody (Lalfakawma, Roy, Vanlalhritpuia, & Vanlalhluna, 2009; species ranges from 9 to 41 per 0.1 ha (Varma, Anand, Sahu et al., 2012). The Margalef richness index is within Gopalakrishna, Avinash, & Nishant, 2009), through a the range 4.54–23.41 for other tropical forests (Kumar −1 medium value of 99–121 species ha for Ngovayang’s et al., 2010; Sathish, Viswanath, Kushalappa, Jagadish, & lowland forests, Cameroon (Gonmadje et al., 2011) to a Ganeshaiah, 2013). By this comparison, it shows how the −1 very high 137–168 species ha in Amazon Terra Firme current study plots have lost tree species through the influ - Forest (Cintra, Ximenes, Gondim, & Kropf, 2005). ence of anthropogenic and ecological factors. e Th present inventory studies in tropical dry forests of e m Th ost dominant tree species in the study area are −1 Indian sub-continent reported 298 tree ha at Madumalai Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus collinus forest reserve, 689 stems h 1 Sinharaj, Sri Lanka (Condit and Lannea coromandelica. Pragasan and Parthasarathy −1 et al., 2000), 352 stems ha in northern Eastern Ghats (2010) reported dominant species in the southern −1 (Panda et al., 2013), 457 stems ha in southern Eastern Eastern Ghats are Albizia amara, Euphorbia antiquo- −1 Ghats (Pragasan & Parthasarathy, 2010), 832 trees ha rum, Canthium dicoccum var. dicoccum, Memecylon edule (≥10 cm dbh) in tropical montane evergreen forest (shola) and Chloroxylon swietenia whereas in northern Eastern of the Nilgiri Mountains (Mohandass & Davidar, 2009) Ghats, Shorea robusta, Lannea coromandelica, Madhuca and 639–836 stems ha- in Eastern Ghats of northern indica and Diospyros melanoxylon (Panda et al., 2013). Andhra Pradesh (Reddy, Babar, Amarnath, & Pattanaik, Rarity of species 49% obtained in the present study area 2011). In comparison to these forests, the prevailing mean is higher as compared to 43% in Kalrayan hills of Eastern −1 stand density of 493 stems ha and tree density range of Ghats whereas 41% tropical forests of Eastern Ghats of −1 395–573 stems ha indicate that these forests constitute northern Andhra Pradesh, 40% rarity in Barro Colorado moderate tree density which depends on efficacy of seed Island and 38% in Malaysia and lower than that of other dispersal, survival and establishment and also on the lev- tropical forests 59% rarity in Jengka Forest Reserve els of resource extraction by humans. of Malaysia, 55.4% in New Guinea, 50% in West Java Basal area of a tree is the girth occupied at breast (Gandhi & Sundarapandian, 2014; Reddy et al., 2011). height (gbh) and it is an important attribute to quan- When six plots were considered together, tify the vegetation structure and site quality (Suthari, Combretaceae with 306 stems ranked first in terms of 2013). In the present study, the basal area of tree species stem density followed by Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, varied across the six plots (ranged from 13.05 in GP to Anacardiaceae and Mimosaceae. e Th top 10 families com - 2 −1 28.42 m ha in SR), revealing that the stand structure prised 66.9% of the total number of stems, similarly Panda is considerably poor in plot GP and healthy in plot SR. et al. (2013) has also reported that Dipterocarpaceae, 2 −1 e m Th ean basal area 19.4 m ha was higher than the Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae and Meliaceae were the 2 −1 basal area of dry tropics of Eastern Ghats 11.46 m ha dominant families reported from the northern Eastern (Reddy, Babar, Giriraj, Reddy, & Rao, 2008). Stand basal Ghats while Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae area was measured in the medium range compared to and Anacardiaceae dominated the tropical forests of 2 −1 other Indian tropical forests as 25.32 m ha in Singara southern Eastern Ghats (Pragasan & Parthasarathy, Range of Western Ghats (Singh, Varma, & Jayakumar, 2010) and Combretaceae, Mimosaceae, Meliaceae, 2 −1 2016), 1.3 m ha at Vindhyan hills (Sagar et al., 2003) Rubiaceae and Celastraceae were the predominant fam- 2 −1 to 98.6 m ha at Namdapha National Park, northeast ilies from Bannerghatta National Park in Eastern Ghats India (Nath, Arunachalam, Khan, Arunachalam, & of southern India (Gopalakrishna, Kaonga, Somashekar, Barbhuiya, 2005). Girth class frequency showed popu- Suresh, & Suresh, 2015). The Euphorbiaceae (11 spe- lation structure of trees exhibited in the study sites are cies), Papilionaceae (9), Rubiaceae (8) and Moraceae in conformity with other forest stands (Sahu, Dhal, & (7) were most speciose families in the present study. Mohanty, 2012). Tree density distribution across differ - Interestingly, similar findings were reported by Padalia ent girth classes indicates how well the growing forest et al. (2004) where Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae were is utilizing site resources. A few small to medium sized the most dominant family in all forest types, except man- −1 trees ha may imply that land is not being fully utilized grove. Sandhyarani, Murth, and Pullaiah (2007) resulted by the tree crop (Hitimana, Kiyiapi, & Njunge, 2004). that Euphorbiaceae is the dominant family followed e s Th pecies diversity depends upon adaptation of by Moraceae and Lauceae in the Eastern Ghats, while species and increases with stability of community the Suthari and Raju (2018) reported that Fabaceae constitute Shannon-Weiner (H′) index for all the six plots varied from the predominant family with 26 speceis which is distantly 222 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Chittibabu, C.V., & Parthasarathy, N. (2000). Attenuated tree followed by Rubiaceae (9 species) and Combretaceae (7 species diversity in human-impacted tropical evergreen species) along the gradients in the dry deciduous forests forest sites at Kolli hills, Eastern Ghats, India. Biodiversity of Godavari valley, Telangana State. Reddy et al. 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(2011). exploitation to meet the growing demands for the Tree diversity and conservation value of Ngovayang’s cultivation practices, firewood, fencing and fodder lowland forests, Cameroon. Biodiversity Conservation, 20, for livestock and wood exploitation for domestic 2627–2648. and commercial utilization. Gopalakrishna, S.P., Kaonga, M.L., Somashekar, R.K., Suresh, • Forest fires, grazing, cut stumps and medicinal H.S., & Suresh, R. (2015). Tree diversity in the tropical dry forest of Bannerghatta National Park in Eastern Ghats, plant collection are observed in peripheral areas southern India. European Journal of Ecology, 1(2), 12–27. of some study sites, which results in diminishment Gordon, J.E., & Newton, A.C. (2006). The potential of forests at an alarming pace. e Th immediate atten - misapplication of rapid plant diversity assessment in tion on people participation is most essential for tropical conservation. Journal for Nature Conservation, 14, the effective conservation. 117–126. • e p Th resent study will serve as a primary input Gunaga, S., Rajeswari, N., & Vasudeva, R. (2013). Tree diversity and disturbance of Kaan forests: Relics of a towards maintaining and sustaining the phytodi- community protected climax vegetation in the central versity and also would help in understanding the Western Ghats. Tropical Ecology, 54, 117–131. threats that are faced by the tropical forests and Hitimana, J., Kiyiapi, J.L., & Njunge, J.T. (2004). Forest would help in driving conservation policies. structure characteristics in disturbed and undisturbed sites of Mt. Elgon moist lower montane forest, Western Kenya. Forest Ecology and Management, 194, 269–291. Huang, W ., Pohjonen, V ., Johansson, V ., Nashanda, M., Katigula, Disclosure statement M.I.L., & Luukkanen, O. (2003). Species diversity, forest No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. structure and species composition in Tanzanian tropical forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 173, 111–124. Kumar, J.I.N., Kumar, R.N., Bhoi, R.K., & Sajish, P.R. (2010). Funding Tree species diversity and soil nutrient status in three sites of tropical dry deciduous forest of western India. Tropical This work was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ecology, 51, 273–279. Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India Lalfakawma, S.U.K., Roy, S., Vanlalhritpuia, K., & under Grant [number BT/PR6603/NDB/51/089/2005]. Vanlalhluna, P.C. (2009). Community composition and tree population structure in undisturbed and disturbed ORCID tropical semi-evergreen forest stands of North-East India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 7, 303–318. M. Tarakeswara Naidu    http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8363- Majumdar, K., Shankar, U., & Datta, B.K. (2012). 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Density, basal area and importance value index (IVI) of the tree species in six 1-ha sites GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Acacia chundra – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 1.49 1 0.14 2.26 1 0.01 2.25 Acacia leucophloea 1.5 0.16 3.12 – – – – – – 1 0.1 1.65 1.5 0.18 2.68 1.5 0.03 2.6 Acacia nilotica – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 1.56 1.5 0.07 2.11 – – – Aegle marmelos 5.5 0.1 5.68 2.5 0.1 2.41 – – – 3 0.08 3.16 5.5 0.16 5.38 – – – Alangium salviifolium 4.5 0.06 3.64 2.5 0.03 2.15 15 0.836 13.99 3 0.02 2.85 4 0.51 5.43 3.5 0.09 4.01 Albizia chinensis 1.5 0.4 5 1 0.02 1.6 – – – 1 0.13 1.82 5.5 0.43 6.78 – – – Albizia odoratissima 2.5 0.03 2.58 5.5 0.28 4.11 9.5 0.805 9.95 3.5 0.05 3.19 – – – – – – Alstonia venenata – – – 1 0.06 1.74 – – – 3 0.17 2.71 – – – – – – Annona squamosa – – – – – – 4 0.114 3.86 1.5 0.01 1.44 – – – 3.5 0.09 3.99 Anogeissus acuminata 4.5 0.14 4.28 – – – – – – 3.5 0.4 3.98 – – – – – – Anogeissus latifolia 17.5 1.41 20.8 25.5 0.76 14 9.5 0.542 10.07 13 3.57 22.9 12.5 1.43 14.8 10.5 1.59 18.7 Antidesma bunius – – – 1 0.02 1.6 – – – – – – – – – – – – Antidesma ghaesembilla 1 * 1.73 1.5 0.04 1.84 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.09 – – – – – – Atlantia monophylla 4.5 0.08 3.77 – – – – – – 2 0.04 1.76 – – – 5 0.01 4.28 Azadirachta indica 1.5 0.03 2.11 2 0.04 2.02 5 0.368 7.23 3 0.08 3.16 1.5 0.12 2.4 1.5 0.06 2.82 Barringtonia acutangula – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.15 2.95 – – – Bauhinia malabarica 3.5 0.05 4.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Bauhinia purpurea – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.03 2.3 – – – Bauhinia racemosa 2 0.02 2.29 4.5 0.08 3.04 – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 1.99 – – – Bischofia javanica – – – 0.5 0.02 1.43 – – – – – – – – – – – – Bombax ceiba – – – – – – 2 0.136 3.14 2.5 0.67 5.71 1 0.2 2.61 – – – Boswellia serrata – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.22 – – – – – – Bridelia cinerascens 3.5 0.34 5.34 9.5 0.59 7.76 6.5 0.483 6.93 11 0.49 7.97 2.5 0.52 4.84       Buchanania axillaris – – – – – – – – – – – – 4.5 0.17 3.86 – – – Buchanania cochinchinensis – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.1 2.48 – – – Canthium dicoccum 2 0.02 2.26 – – – 2 0.038 2.60 – – – 9.5 0.48 8.64 17 0.98 16.5 Capparis grandis – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 2.57 Careya arborea – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.13 2.41 1.5 0.35 4.62 Caryota urens – – – 4.5 0.47 5.59 – – – 3 0.67 5.03 – – – – – – Casearia elliptica – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.01 1.82 – – – Cassia fistula 3.5 0.07 3.3 – – – 8.5 0.119 7.33 7 0.22 5.23 – – – 3.5 0.11 4.12 Ceiba pentandra 1.5 0.27 4 – – – – – – 2.5 0.34 4.2 – – – – – – Chloroxylon swietenia 9.5 0.18 7.92 – – – 13.5 0.281 10.32 12.5 0.18 7.04 9 0.41 6.92 5 0.2 5.45 Cleistanthus collinus 12 0.23 9.36 14 0.28 8.26 17.5 0.54 13.41 5 0.08 3.87 10 0.22 7.5 4.5 0.14 4.84 Cleistanthus patulus – – – 1 0.01 1.58 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Cordia dichotoma – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.39 Cochlospermum religiosum 2.5 0.11 3.15 – – – – – – 3.5 0.05 2.34 1 0.08 1.99 – – – Dalbergia lanceolaria – – – 1 0.02 1.61 – – – – – – – – – – – – Dalbergia latifolia – – – – – – 2 0.068 4.33 – – – – – – – – – Dalbergia paniculata 14.5 1.51 20.3 9 0.75 6.98 7 0.557 7.54 16 2.08 17.1 2.5 1.04 7.55 – – – Dalbergia sissoides 1 0.12 2.63 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Dillenia pentagyna – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.18 2.23 – – – – – – Diospyros chloroxylon 10 0.28 8.95 – – – 4 0.058 3.55 5 0.08 3.89 8.5 0.14 5.34 – – – Diospyros melanoxylon 5.5 0.09 5.55 4.5 0.07 3 – – – 9 0.37 6.67 13.5 0.43 10 2 0.07 3.15 Diospyros montana 0.5 0.01 1.54 – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 2.33 – – – – – – Diospyros sylvatica – – – 4.5 0.15 3.29 6.5 0.181 6.83 2.5 0.12 3.15 3 0.05 3.76 5 0.1 6.47 (Continued) GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 225 GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Dolichandrone falcata – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 3.01 – – – Drypetes roxburghii – – – – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.04 1.55 – – – Eriolaena hookeriana – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 1.35 – – – – – – Erythrina suberosa 5.5 0.19 6.29 1.5 0.03 1.83 – – – 2 0.07 1.92 – – – – – – Erythrina variegata – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Erythroxylum monogynum – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.01 2.24 2 0.03 2.86 Euphorbia antiquorum – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.95 Ficus benghalensis -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   -  -  -  - 1 0.21 2.65 1.5 0.28 4.2 Ficus hispida – – – 2 0.22 2.66 2 0.025 4.09 1 0.03 1.34 – – – 2.5 0.39 5.41 Ficus microcarpa – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.33 3.47 1 0.03 2.38 Ficus religiosa -  -  -  1.5 0.1 2.06 – – – 1 0.07 1.56 – – – 1.5 1.25 10.3 Ficus tinctoria – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 1.34 – – – – – – Ficus tomentosa 0.5 0.19 2.94 – – – – – – 1.5 0.38 3.16 – – – – – – Flacourtia indica – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 0.02 4 – – – Gardenia latifolia 4 0.15 5.41 4.5 0.07 4.18  -  -  - 2.5 0.11 2.28 – – – 3 0.04 3.45 Garuga pinnata 6 0.58 9.54 14 1.87 13.9 6.5 0.504 7.04 6 0.41 5.75 2 0.26 3.31 – – – Glochidion velutinum  -  -  - 0.5 0.01 1.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – Glochidion zeylanicum – – – 0.5 0.01 1.39 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.1 – – – – – – Gmelina arborea – – – – – – – – – 3 0.22 2.94 – – – – – – Grewia tiliaefolia 1 0.03 1.89 5.5 0.19 4.98 4.5 0.203 4.55 6.5 0.27 5.3 1 0.04 1.74 – – – Gyrocarpus americanus – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 1.12 – – – – – – Haldinia cordifolia – – – 9.5 2.03 12.8 10 0.575 10.46 8.5 0.55 7.31 3.5 0.66 6 3.5 0.45 6.31 Helicteres isora – – – – – – – – – – – – 4.5 0.05 4.38 2.5 0.03 3.1 Hibiscus platanifolius – – – 0.5 0.01 1.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – Holarrhena pubescens 7.5 0.1 6.45 – – – – – – 2.5 0.02 1.83 1.5 0.02 1.84 – – – Holoptelea integrifolia 2 0.36 4.89 – – – 4 1.101 9.27  -  -  - 2 0.46 4.34 – – – Hymenodictyon orixense – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Ixora pavetta 1 0.02 1.84       2 0.02 2.5 1 0.02 1.3 1.5 0.03 1.9       Jatropha curcas – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.04 2.9 Kydia calycina 0.5 0.11 2.29 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Lagerstroemia parviflora 1.5 0.08 2.53 5.5 0.49 6.03 5.5 0.44 7.84 3 0.08 3.14 1.5 0.31 3.39 2 0.06 3.09 Lannea coromandelica 7 0.51 9.43 14.5 5.13 25.5 8.5 0.751 10.81 11 0.95 10.1 9.5 0.65 9.55 10 1.55 18.2 Leea indica – – – 1 0.11 1.91 – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 2.07 Limonia acidissima – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 1.48 3.5 0.26 5.04 – – – Litsea deccanensis – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.06 2.5 – – – – – – Litsea glutinosa – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Maba buxifolia – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.01 1.45 12 0.37 7.93 7.5 0.21 6.79 Macaranga peltata – – – 3 0.23 3.03 – – – – – – – – – 3.5 0.1 4.09 Madhuca longifolia – – – 4.5 0.41 5.41 1.5 0.135 2.93 – – – 2 0.23 3.16 4 0.21 5.03 Mallotus philippensis – – – – – – 2 0.146 3.2 2 0.09 1.98 – – – 3 0.12 3.94 Mangifera indica 3 1.26 13.5 6 4.45 20.1 1 0.036 2.17 4 1.61 9.77 – – – – – – Manilkara hexandra – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.19 2.62 4 0.24 5.19 4 0.05 4.04 Memecylon edule – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.02 2.08 – – – Miliusa tomentosa – – – 1 0.04 1.66 – – – 2 0.06 2.7 1.5 0.17 2.63 – – – Mimusops elengi – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.05 1.62 – – – – – – Mitragyna parvifolia 2.5 0.09 2.99 3.5 0.06 2.61 2 0.021 2.51 1.5 0.06 1.66 – – – – – – Morinda pubescens 3.5 0.04 3.07 2 0.03 1.98 6 0.399 7.82 2.5 0.12 2.31 – – – – – – Murraya paniculata – – – – – – – – – 3 0.05 2.16 – – – 1.5 0.02 2.56 Naringi crenulata 3 0.06 2.98 4 0.06 2.81 4 0.055 3.53 1.5 0.07 1.72 1 0.04 1.75 – – – (Continued) 226 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Nyctanthes arbor-tristis 4 0.09 4.94 – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 0.07 3.63 Oroxylum indicum – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.36 Ougeinia oojeinensis – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.09 2.2 7 1.2 12.8 Pavetta indica 2 0.02 2.26 – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.01 2.23 Phoenix sylvestris – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.16 3.01 0.5 0.02 2.02 Phyllanthus emblica 3 0.09 3.27 2 0.03 1.98 – – – – – – 6 0.14 5.47 – – – Polyalthia cerasoides 2.5 0.06 2.79 4 0.04 3.93 2 0.027 2.55 2.5 0.01 2.63 – – – 2 0.01 2.73 Pomgamia pinnata – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.43 3.99 – – – Premna latifolia – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 2.7 Premna tomentosa 2.5 0.02 2.5 4 0.11 4.17 2 0.465 4.95 4 0.06 2.57 3.5 0.09 3.02 – – – Protium serratum 7.5 0.93 12.8 7 1.39 9.71 3 0.523 5.68 7.5 0.77 7.98 – – – 5 0.47 7.18 Pterocarpus marsupium 1.5 0.08 2.53 2 0.15 2.4   – – – – – 2 0.2 3 – – – Pterospermum heyneanum 2.5 0.24 4.15 – – – – – – 4 0.34 4.72 1.5 0.23 2.93 1 0.02 2.32 Salacia chinensis 3 0.05 2.96 – – – – – – 2.5 0.02 2.69 2 0.19 2.94 – – – Salacia oblonga – – – – – – 0.5 0.016 1.86 – – – – – – – – – Sapindus emarginatus – – – – – – 2 0.054 2.69 – – – – – – – – – Saraca asoca – – – 2 0.11 2.27 – – – – – – – – – – – – Schleichera oleosa 4 0.23 4.73 12.5 1.54 12.2 5.5 0.446 6.31 – – – 2 0.34 3.7 4.5 0.84 9.24 Semecarpus anacardium 2 0.07 2.65 6 0.8 7.29 4.5 0.168 5.93 5 0.42 5.44 3.5 0.62 6.9 7.5 1.06 12.2 Soymida febrifuga 4 0.36 7 – –  - 2.5 0.506 5.38 1.5 0.09 1.83 12.5 1.36 14.4 – – – Sterculia urens 1.5 0.08 2.54 1 0.05 1.73 2.5 0.075 3.02 5 0.32 5.01 3 0.23 4.71 5.5 0.27 6.15 Sterculia villosa 1 0.03 1.89 0.5 0.05 1.54 – – – 0.5 0.05 1.26 – – – – – – Stereospermum personatum – – – 1.5 0.05 1.9 – – – 1 0.02 1.31 – – – – – – Streblus asper – – – 1.5 0.02 1.77 – – – – – – – – – – – – Strychnos nux-vomica 3 0.07 3.11 – – – 1.5 0.022 2.31 2.5 0.15 2.43 4.5 0.15 4.9 2 0.15 3.6 Strychnos potatorum 5.5 0.18 6.24 4 0.09 4.08 – – – 2.5 0.09 3.02 3 0.43 4.57 1.5 0.03 2.61 Syzygium cumini  -  -  - 2 0.06 2.11 – – – 1.5 0.07 1.74 3 0.42 4.54 1.5 0.03 2.64 Tamarindus indica – – – 3 0.18 4.07 5.5 1.362 12.9 2.5 0.66 4.83 2 0.78 5.99  -  -  - Tectona grandis – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.05 1.61 – – – – – – Terminalia alata  -  -  - 13.5 1.91 13.8 8.5 2.029 17.82 4 0.85 7.1 4.5 0.94 7.86 – – – Terminalia arjuna – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.09 2 3.5 0.19 4.63 Terminalia bellirica 2 0.05 2.49 5.5 0.73 6.86 3 0.663 6.45 3.5 0.54 5.45 2 0.09 2.4 4 0.83 8.95 Terminalia chebula – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 1.14 1 0.06 1.84 – – – Trema orientalis – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.09 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.98 Vitex pinnata – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.26 4.32 Wrightia arborea 4.5 0.1 3.91 9.5 0.27 6.66 3 0.058 3.13 – – – – – – – – – Wrightia tinctoria 7 0.11 6.34 7 0.12 4.07 7 0.253 7.44 8 0.12 5.17 – – – 5 0.07 4.67 Xantolis tomentosa – – – 0.5 0.02 1.45 – – – – – – – – – – – – Xylia xylocarpa 6 0.7 9.19 14.5 1.34 12.2 11.5 1.96 18.7 11 0.94 10.1 10 0.64 9.67 11.5 1.37 16.2 Ziziphus mauritiana – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 0.04 3.42 Ziziphus xylopyrus 1.5 0.01 1.98 2.5 0.05 2.24 2.5 0.051 2.88 – – – – – – – – –   235 13.05 300 287 28.42 300 239 18.2 300 276 21.59 300 246 19.33 300 198 15.79 300 *value < 0.001; Gp = Gangampalem; sR = s esharavi; Kp = Kakarapadu; sp = s eetapalli; cp = cherukumpalem; VT = Vatangi; d = d ensity; Ba = Basal area; IVI = Importance Value Index GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 227 Appendix 2. Family-wise tree species richness, genera, basal area and family index value (FIV) in six 1-ha sites Sl. No. Family Genera Species Abundance BA R.D. R.Dom R.Div FIV 1 c ombretaceae 2 6 306 0.294 10.3 20.45 4.44 35.2 2 euphorbiaceae 9 11 253 0.168 8.55 11.67 8.14 28.4 3 Mimosaceae 3 6 213 0.15 7.2 10.47 4.44 22.1 4 anacardiaceae 4 5 219 0.149 7.4 10.38 3.70 21.5 5 Rubiaceae 8 8 224 0.085 7.57 5.92 5.92 19.4 6 Fabaceae 5 9 156 0.082 5.27 5.73 6.66 17.7 7 ebenaceae 2 5 213 0.091 7.2 6.31 3.70 17.2 8 Burseraceae 3 3 131 0.066 4.43 4.62 2.22 11.3 9 apocynaceae 4 4 133 0.051 4.49 3.52 2.96 11 10 c aesalpiniaceae 4 6 103 0.024 3.48 1.68 4.44 9.61 11 Flindersiaceae 1 1 99 0.078 3.35 5.41 0.74 9.51 12 Rutaceae 5 5 102 0.02 3.45 1.39 3.70 8.55 13 s terculiaceae 4 5 75 0.015 2.53 1.05 3.70 7.29 14 Moraceae 2 7 42 0.003 1.42 0.20 5.185 6.81 15 s apindaceae 2 2 76 0.029 2.57 1.99 1.481 6.05 16 Verbenaceae 4 5 48 0.009 1.62 0.6 3.70 5.93 17 alangiaceae 1 1 65 0.034 2.2 2.33 0.74 5.27 18 Meliaceae 2 2 70 0.02 2.37 1.39 1.48 5.24 19 s apotaceae 4 4 49 0.008 1.66 0.56 2.96 5.19 20 annonaceae 3 3 53 0.009 1.79 0.59 2.22 4.61 21 l oganiaceae 1 2 60 0.014 2.03 1 1.481 4.51 22 l ythraceae 1 1 38 0.011 1.28 0.79 0.74 2.82 23 Tiliaceae 1 1 37 0.011 1.25 0.75 0.74 2.75 24 Bignoniaceae 3 3 10 * 0.34 0.02 2.22 2.58 25 arecaceae 2 2 24 0.003 0.81 0.19 1.48 2.49 26 Rhamnaceae 1 2 19 0.002 0.64 0.11 1.48 2.24 27 Ulmaceae 2 2 18 0.002 0.61 0.14 1.48 2.23 28 Bombacaceae 2 2 19 0.001 0.64 0.1 1.48 2.23 29 Flacourtiaceae 2 2 11 * 0.37 0.04 1.48 1.89 30 s tilaginaceae 1 2 8 * 0.27 0.02 1.48 1.77 31 Barringtoniaceae 2 2 8 * 0.27 0.01 1.48 1.77 32 lauraceae 1 2 4 * 0.14 0.006 1.48 1.62 33 Malvaceae 2 2 2 * 0.07 0.001 1.48 1.55 34 Myrtaceae 1 1 16 0.002 0.54 0.14 0.74 1.42 35 c ochlospermaceae 1 1 14 0.002 0.47 0.108 0.741 1.32 36 oleaceae 1 1 14 0.002 0.47 0.108 0.74 1.32 37 erythroxylaceae 1 1 9 * 0.3 0.045 0.741 1.09 38 Melastomataceae 1 1 4 * 0.14 0.009 0.741 0.88 39 c apparaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 40 dilleniaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 41 l eeaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 42 c ordiaceae 1 1 2 * 0.07 0.002 0.74 0.81 43 Bischofiaceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78 44 Hernandiaceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78 45 Hippocrataceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78    Total 105 135 2959 1.437 100 100 100 300 *value < 0.001; Ba = Basal area; R.d . = Relative d ensity; R.d om = Relative d ominance; R.div = Relative diversity; FIV = Family Index Value. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Geology Ecology and Landscapes Taylor & Francis

Assessment of tree diversity in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India

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Taylor & Francis
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© 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
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2474-9508
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10.1080/24749508.2018.1452479
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Abstract

GeoloGy, ecoloGy, and landscapes, 2018 Vol . 2, no . 3, 216–227 https://doi.org/10.1080/24749508.2018.1452479 INWASCON OPEN ACCESS Assessment of tree diversity in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India a a b a M. Tarakeswara Naidu   , D. Premavani , Sateesh Suthari   and M. Venkaiah a b d epartment of Botany, andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India; d epartment of plant s ciences, s chool of life s ciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY Received 8 november 2017 The rapid inventory study provides information on the tree species diversity and stand structure a ccepted 15 d ecember 2017 in tropical deciduous forests of Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India. Tree diversity and its relation to habitat was explored using tree data-set of 12 belt transects (5 × 1000 m) totaling 6 ha in the KEYWORDS study area. A total of 135 plant taxa (≥15 cm gbh) belonging to 105 genera of 45 families with diversity indices; eastern 2959 individuals were recorded. Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus collinus and Ghats; stand structure; tree Lannea coromandelica were the predominant plant taxa where the members of Euphorbiaceae, density; tropical forests Rubiaceae, Anacardiaceae and Mimosaceae contributed maximum stand density and species −1 richness. The stand density ranged from 395 to 573 individuals ha while basal area varied from 2 −1 13.05 to 28.42 m ha . Shannon-Weiner index (H′) ranged from 3.59 to 4.05 while Simpson index from 0.97 to 0.98, evenness index from 0.66 to 0.78 and species richness Margalef index ranged from 7.29 to 12.99. The study provides a baseline data for the management of protected areas in developing countries like India and it shows the potential of in situ method in the conservation natural areas. 1. Introduction species (Galley, 2014), but these forests are currently dis- appearing at an alarming rate of between 0.8 and 2% per Biodiversity assessment is one of the sub-divisions of year (Sagar, Raghubanshi, & Singh, 2003). Tropical forest conservation biology that has gained much attention due destruction is likely to continue in the future, causing an to the major impact it had on the practice of conser- extinction crisis. Fast paced conversion and destruction vation. Tropical plant diversity assessment is a tool for of tropical forests has led to an unprecedented decline the quantitative studies of regional scale biogeograph- in biodiversity and disruption of ecosystem services ical patterns (Gordon & Newton, 2006). International (Dierick & Hölscher, 2009). conservation organizations have conducted a vari- Tropical deciduous forests occur under varied cli- ety of biodiversity assessment in global and regional matic conditions, but essentially with alternate wet and scales for identifying priority areas where only limited dry tropics (Naidu & Kumar, 2015). The structure and resources available for conservation (Margules, Pressey, composition of deciduous forests can change the length & Williams, 2002). These relied on a variety of primary of wet period, amount of rain fall, latitude, longitude and and secondary information sources that vary in quality altitude. Phytosociological pattern of Indian deciduous and quantity depending on the areas assessed (Phillips forests are not-well known and these have diversified et al., 2003). The results of such assessments represent life-forms but are not considered species-rich (Panda, the best understanding of biodiversity priorities at any Mahapatra, Acharya, & Debata, 2013). Still these forests given time and are being used as a basis for targeting assume unusual significance for conservation since they conservation resources (Redford et al., 2003). are the most used and threatened ecosystems (Thakur & Tropical forests are oen r ft eferred to as the major car - Khare, 2006), especially in India. The natural forest was bon sink and have high standing biomass and greater narrated as irregular mixed forest and thus converted productivity. Tropical forests are important because they into a regular, normal and even-aged forest of valuable provide many ecosystem services such as species con- species in order to improve the quality and quantity of servation, prevention of soil erosion and preservation of future yields. habitat or plants and animals (Armenteras, Rodríguez, & Quantitative analysis on tree species diversity pro- Retana, 2009). Tropical forests occupy 7% of the earth’s vides the floristic status and distribution pattern which land surface, but constitute more than half of the world’s CONTACT s ateesh suthari suthari.botany@uohyd.ac.in © 2018 The a uthor(s). published by Informa UK limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an open a ccess article distributed under the terms of the creative c ommons a ttribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 217 may help in biodiversity conservation. Quantitative data south-west monsoon. e r Th elative humidity varied are oen o ft btained through biodiversity inventories that between 70 and 88%. The forests of this area are clas- are used to determine the nature and distribution of sified as southern moist deciduous and dry deciduous biotic resources of the area to be managed (Rennolls forests (Premavani, Naidu, Kumar, & Venkaiah, 2017). & Laumonier, 2000). Quantification of tree species dis- tribution and abundance is an important aspect as they 2.2. Field methods contribute to the structural characteristics of the forest For determination of biodiversity, methodology was and provides resources and habitat for many species adopted from National Bioresource Development Board, (Huang et al., 2003). Tree species diversity varies signif- Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, to icantly from location to location because of variations quantify plant resources of India. In all the six study in biogeography habitat and disturbance (Majumdar, sites, two belt transects of 5 × 1000 m size (totaling 1 ha) Shankar, & Datta, 2012). Central Eastern Ghats consti- were laid in each site during 2009–2013 and all live trees tute rich tree species diversity and as well promote live- with ≥15 cm girth at breast height (gbh) were enumer- lihood security to local communities. But these forests ated. The height of trees was measured using Clinometer. are also under immense anthropogenic pressures (Naidu e r Th epresentative taxa were collected and identified & Kumar, 2015). Thus, the floristic inventories and qual - with the help of floras (Pullaiah & Ramamurthy, 2002; itative studies of these dry deciduous forests claim more Pullaiah, Ramamurthy, & Karuppusamy, 2007; Pullaiah prominence. The information on tree composition and & Rao, 2002) and made into herbarium. The voucher forest structure helps in protecting threatened and eco- specimens were housed in the Botany Department nomic species, and to understand the forest ecosystem Herbarium (BDH), Department of Botany, Andhra dynamics for nature conservation. The present study University, Visakhapatnam. aims at assessing the tree diversity across different veg- etation types in Northcentral Eastern Ghats, India. 2.3. Data analysis 2. Materials and methods Based on the individuals recorded in the discrete plot samples, vegetation data were quantitatively analyzed 2.1. Study area for basal area, relative density, relative frequency and Eastern Ghats are located along the peninsular India relative dominance. The Importance Value Index (IVI) extending over 1750  km with average width about and Family Importance Value (FIV) of tree species were 100  km and lies between latitudes 11°30′ to 22°34′N determined (Panda et al., 2013). The relative diversity of and longitudes 72°22′ to 87°29′E. The Eastern Ghats are family was evaluated as the number of species with the delimited by Similipal hills of Odisha state on the North. family expressed as percentage of total number of species e midd Th le section from river Krishna (Andhra Pradesh) within all the families represented in the community to near about Chennai city (Tamil Nadu) and includes (Pandey & Barik, 2006). The data were used to compute the Nallamalais, Nigidi, Seshachalam and Veligonda hills community indices like species diversity (H′), Species and the last section runs in south–south west direction dominance (c), Evenness index (e) and Margalef index meeting the Western Ghats in the Nilgiris covering an as suggested by Swamy, Sundarapandian, Chandrasekar, area of 75,000 km . The wide range of topography and and Chandrasekaran (2000). other physical features of the Eastern Ghats shaped e S Th hannon’s index was calculated as below: the land to harbor rich and varied flora. The region is phyto-geographically interesting as considered to be a � H = −Σ n ∕N ln n ∕N i i migratory route for plants of Himalayas to the southern peninsula and vice versa. where, H′ is Shannon index of general diversity, n is Our study was confined to the northcentral Eastern importance of value index of species i and N is IVI of Ghats with particular to East Godavari district, all species in that vegetation type. Andhra Pradesh and plots are 245  km south-west of Species dominance (c) was calculated using: Visakhapatnam. The study area includes Gangampalem (GP), Sesharayi (SR), Kakarapadu (KP), Seetapalli (SP), c =Σ n ∕N Cherukumpalem (CP) and Vatangi (VT). East Godavari district is located between 16°18′ and 18°02′ N lati- where, c is index of dominance, n and N being the same tudes and 81°30′ to 82°36′E longitudes (Figure 1). Soil as those for Shannon-Weiner information function. of Northcentral Eastern Ghats is loamy, black, lateritic Equitability of evenness refers to the degree of rela- and alluvial. Lateritic soils are the common type along tive dominance of each species in that area and it was the deciduous forests. The maximum temperature ranges calculated as: from 28 to 46.2 °C and minimum from 12.9 to 27 °C. e = H ∕logS e m Th aximum rainfall is 1300 mm per annum during 218 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Figure 1.  The study area: Map showing the locations of study sites in northcentral eastern Ghats of India. source: c opyright@ premavani (2009). where, H′ is Shannon index, S is number of species. (7.4%) were common to all the six plots, and 42 species Species richness was determined by Margalef index (31.1%) occurred in any one of the plots. Out of these as of below: 42 species, 11 species were restricted to plot SP, and 10, 8, 7 were restricted to CP, SR, VT, respectively, and 3 d = S∕logN species of each restricted to GP and KP plots. The fam- where, S is number of species and N is number of ilies showing the most diversity in terms of the number individuals. of species were the Euphorbiaceae (11), Papilionaceae Structural composition of trees was analyzed by com- (9), Rubiaceae (8), Moraceae (7), Combretaceae and paring the tree height distribution and diameter classes. Caesalpiniaceae (6 species each), Anacardiaceae, e Th number of individuals and richness of tree taxa were Ebenaceae, Rutaceae, Sterculiaceae and Verbenaceae (5 categorized into various groups of population as of pre- species each), Apocynaceae and Sapotaceae (4 species dominant (>50), dominant (25 to  <50), common (10 each), Burseraceae, Annonaceae and Bignoniaceae (3 to <25), rare (2 to <10) and very rare (<2) (Majumdar species each). Eleven families had two species each and et al., 2012). 15 families were represented by single species. The high values of Shannon index in the range of 3.5–4.05 indicate high tree diversity. Among them, site SP is the most spe- 3. Results cies rich plot with 82 species. Further, the species rich- 3.1. Species richness and diversity ness range of 46–82 species indicates the diverse nature of the forests and tree composition in this region. The A total of 135 angiospermous plant taxa of ≥15 cm gbh high values of Shannon index indicate that in all the that belong to 105 genera and 45 families were recorded. study sites few species have dominated the forest struc- Plot-wise species richness was 60, 61, 46, 82, 68 and ture and many species comprised of fewer individuals. 57 in GP, SR, KP, SP, CP and VT, respectively, with a e E Th venness index-revealed KP as the most diverse plot major difference between the plots (Table 1 ). Ten species and Margalef index had highest in plot SP (Table 1). GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 219 Table 1. summary of tree inventory (≥15 cm) in the six plots of northcentral eastern Ghats. Variable GP SR KP SP CP VT number of species 60 61 46 82 68 57 number of genera 51 52 42 66 57 50 number of families 29 30 27 33 33 32 d ensity 470 573 478 551 492 395 2 −1 Basal area (m  ha ) 13.05 28.42 18.22 21.59 19.33 15.79 shannon_H 3.81 3.7 3.59 4.05 3.9 3.74 simpson_1-d 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.97 0.98 0.97 evenness_e 0.75 0.66 0.78 0.69 0.73 0.74 Margalef 9.59 9.45 7.29 12.99 10.81 9.37 elevation (m) 131 712 310 335 216 636 latitude (n) 17°17′95.2″ 17°43′35.3″ 17°30′93.6″ 17°23′03.8″ 17°27′52.6″ 17°27′85.0″ l ongitude (e) 81°44′29.6″ 81°56′38.4″ 81°55′99.4″ 81°47′130″ 82°08′81.8″ 82°14′54.4″ represented by 29 with 16% individuals. Rare species 3.2. Stand density and basal cover having 55 with 8.5% individuals and 12 species are very e t Th otal stand density of trees for the six plots of study rare with 0.4% individuals such as Bischofia javanica , area was 2959 individuals. The mean stand density was Drypetes roxburghii, Erythrina variegata, Euphorbia −1 493 individuals ha . The highest stand density observed antiquorum, Glochidion velutinum, Gyrocarpus ameri- −1 in SR (573 individuals’ ha ), whereas the lowest stand canus, Hibiscus platanifolius, Hymenodictyon orixense, −1 density in VT (395 individuals’ ha ). The other four Kydia calycina, Litsea glutinosa, Salacia chinensis and plots had moderate stand densities. The density of dif- Xantolis tomentosa. The total species rarity is the sum ferent tree species is differ within the six 1-ha plots. The of rare and very rare are 49%. distribution of the basal area across six plots, using gbh interval classes, revealed the dominance of smallest 3.5. Importance value index (IVI) individuals in all the plots. Basal area in all the study 2 −1 2 plots ranges from 13.05 m ha (plot GP) to 28.42 m Analyzing the IVI for the individuals in each site, a dis- −1 ha and the mean basal area for the six 1-ha plots was tinct pattern can be observed, which is present in all 2 −1 19.4 m ha . The site SP has ranked first in tree species study plots. Top ten species accounted for 40.5% in GP, richness, a total of 82 species was exclusive to this area. Anogeissus latifolia was the dominant species with 20.7 e p Th resence of low species remarkably in higher gbh IVI. The co-dominant species were Dalbergia panicu - class has led to greater basal area values. lata, Mangifera indica and Protium serratum. In SR, top ten species contributing 47% and Lannea coromandelica was dominant species with 25.4 IVI. The co-dominant 3.3. Girth class distribution species were Mangifera indica, Anogeissus latifolia and Tree species richness as well as density decreased with Garuga pinnata. Xylia xylocarpa has the dominant tree increasing girth class in all the study plots, except in in plot KP with 18.6 IVI and top ten species accounted first girth class (15–30 class). The girth class distribu- for 42.5% of the total IVI. The co-dominant species were tion has revealed that majority of tree individuals repre- Terminalia alata, Alangium salviifolium and Cleistanthus sented in 31–60 cm class with 41% followed by 61–90 cm collinus. In plot SP, the dominant species is Anogeissus (21%), <30 (20%), 91–120 (11%) and less abundance latifolia (22.9 IVI) with co-dominants are Dalbergia in >120 cm girth class with 7%. A comparison was made paniculata, Lannea coromandelica and Xylia xylocarpa. of the relative distribution of the total number of individ- Top ten species contributed 35.5% IVI. In plot CP, uals and their basal area in each diameter class. The basal Anogeissus latifolia was dominant species with 14.7 IVI 2 −1 area values ranged between 13.05 and 28.42 m  ha . In and top ten species accounted for 32.4%, co-dominant all the six sites except VT the higher gbh class recorded species were Soymida febrifuga, Diospyros melanoxy- higher basal values. 20.3% of tree individuals were pres- lon and Xylia xylocarpa. The plot VT contributing the ent in lower gbh class and they registered 2.3% amount top ten species IVI is 43.2% with dominant tree spe- of basal area (Figure 2). cies Anogeissus latifolia. The co-dominant species were Lannea coromandelica, Canthium dicoccum and Xylia xylocarpa (Appendix 1). 3.4. Tree dominance and rarity e den Th sity of different species varied widely in the six 3.6. Family composition study pots. Based on their density in 1-ha plots, the predominant group represented 18 species with 51% In terms of tree abundance, Combretaceae with 306 indi- of total individuals. The most dominant species are viduals (10.3%) also dominated the deciduous forests of Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus colli- northcentral Eastern Ghats, followed by Euphorbiaceae nus and Lannea coromandelica. Twenty-one species are (253; 8.5%) Rubiaceae (224; 7.5%), Anacardiaceae (219; dominant with 24.1% individuals. Common species 7.4%) and, Mimosaceae and Ebenaceae (213 each; 7.2%). 220 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Figure 2. (a–f ) c ontribution of tree species stands density and basal area based on girth class distribution in northcentral eastern Ghats. e t Th op ten families with an abundance of 1951 individ- gives a reliable instrument to indicate the diversity level uals (66.9%) of total tree abundance contributed 64.4% of a study site (Premavani, Naidu, & Venkaiah, 2014). of total importance value. Twelve families represented e p Th resent data can be compared with the large number by single species with an abundance of 71 individuals of similar plots inventoried in India and elsewhere in the accounted for 3.9% of total FIV. Combretaceae scored tropics. A total of 135 species belonging to 105 genera maximum FIV of 35.2, followed by Euphorbiaceae of 45 families were recorded in the study area. Species −1 (FIV-28.4), Mimosaceae (22.1), Anacardiaceae (21.5), richness ranging from 46 to 82 ha with mean value of −1 Rubiaceae (19.4), Paplionaceae (17.7) and Ebenaceae 62 ha recorded which is very distantly closed to 64–82 −1 (17.2) (Appendix 2). species ha in Sengaltheri-Kakachi (Parthasarathy, −1 2001), 25–61 species ha in Saddle peak of North −1 Andaman Islands (Tripathi et al., 2004) and 18–84 ha 4. Discussion in Little Andaman Island (Rasingam & Parathasarathy, Species richness is one of the characteristic features of the 2009). The mean value in the present study is higher than −1 tropical forests. It is the simplest way to describe com- that of 21 species ha in Kolli hills of India (Chittibabu −1 munity and regional diversity and this variable number & Parthasarathy, 2000), 31 species ha in dry decidu- of species forms the basis of many ecological models of ous forests of western India (Kumar, Kumar, Bhoi, & −1 community structure (Sathish, Vishwanth, Kushalappa, Sajish, 2010), 37 species ha in Kaan forest of Western Jagadish, & Ganeshaiah, 2013). Tree species richness at Ghats (Gunaga, Rajeswari, & Vasudeva, 2013), 38 spe- −1 defined study sites and in minimum diameter classes cies ha in reserved forests of southern Eastern Ghats of GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 221 −1 Andhra Pradesh (Rao et al., 2011) and 58–59 species ha 3.59 to 4.05 which falls within the range of 0.67 to 4.86 in Great Andaman (Padalia, Chauhan, Porwal, & Roy, reported in tropical forests Indian sub-continent (Kumar 2004). Tropical forests of world are highly diverse; the et al., 2010; Panda et al., 2013; Sundarapandian and Swamy, density and richness vary widely between dry and humid 2000). These values indicate that the present tropical decid - zones. Across the peninsular India, richness of tree spe- uous forest is a species diverse system. The concentration cies from low value of 19–35 species in inland and coastal of dominance (Simpson’s index) in the present study is land dry evergreen forests (Mani & Parthasarathy, 2006) within the reported range of 0.64–1.34 in other forests and also in Bannerghatta forests, the richness of woody (Lalfakawma, Roy, Vanlalhritpuia, & Vanlalhluna, 2009; species ranges from 9 to 41 per 0.1 ha (Varma, Anand, Sahu et al., 2012). The Margalef richness index is within Gopalakrishna, Avinash, & Nishant, 2009), through a the range 4.54–23.41 for other tropical forests (Kumar −1 medium value of 99–121 species ha for Ngovayang’s et al., 2010; Sathish, Viswanath, Kushalappa, Jagadish, & lowland forests, Cameroon (Gonmadje et al., 2011) to a Ganeshaiah, 2013). By this comparison, it shows how the −1 very high 137–168 species ha in Amazon Terra Firme current study plots have lost tree species through the influ - Forest (Cintra, Ximenes, Gondim, & Kropf, 2005). ence of anthropogenic and ecological factors. e Th present inventory studies in tropical dry forests of e m Th ost dominant tree species in the study area are −1 Indian sub-continent reported 298 tree ha at Madumalai Anogeissus latifolia, Xylia xylocarpa, Cleistanthus collinus forest reserve, 689 stems h 1 Sinharaj, Sri Lanka (Condit and Lannea coromandelica. Pragasan and Parthasarathy −1 et al., 2000), 352 stems ha in northern Eastern Ghats (2010) reported dominant species in the southern −1 (Panda et al., 2013), 457 stems ha in southern Eastern Eastern Ghats are Albizia amara, Euphorbia antiquo- −1 Ghats (Pragasan & Parthasarathy, 2010), 832 trees ha rum, Canthium dicoccum var. dicoccum, Memecylon edule (≥10 cm dbh) in tropical montane evergreen forest (shola) and Chloroxylon swietenia whereas in northern Eastern of the Nilgiri Mountains (Mohandass & Davidar, 2009) Ghats, Shorea robusta, Lannea coromandelica, Madhuca and 639–836 stems ha- in Eastern Ghats of northern indica and Diospyros melanoxylon (Panda et al., 2013). Andhra Pradesh (Reddy, Babar, Amarnath, & Pattanaik, Rarity of species 49% obtained in the present study area 2011). In comparison to these forests, the prevailing mean is higher as compared to 43% in Kalrayan hills of Eastern −1 stand density of 493 stems ha and tree density range of Ghats whereas 41% tropical forests of Eastern Ghats of −1 395–573 stems ha indicate that these forests constitute northern Andhra Pradesh, 40% rarity in Barro Colorado moderate tree density which depends on efficacy of seed Island and 38% in Malaysia and lower than that of other dispersal, survival and establishment and also on the lev- tropical forests 59% rarity in Jengka Forest Reserve els of resource extraction by humans. of Malaysia, 55.4% in New Guinea, 50% in West Java Basal area of a tree is the girth occupied at breast (Gandhi & Sundarapandian, 2014; Reddy et al., 2011). height (gbh) and it is an important attribute to quan- When six plots were considered together, tify the vegetation structure and site quality (Suthari, Combretaceae with 306 stems ranked first in terms of 2013). In the present study, the basal area of tree species stem density followed by Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae, varied across the six plots (ranged from 13.05 in GP to Anacardiaceae and Mimosaceae. e Th top 10 families com - 2 −1 28.42 m ha in SR), revealing that the stand structure prised 66.9% of the total number of stems, similarly Panda is considerably poor in plot GP and healthy in plot SR. et al. (2013) has also reported that Dipterocarpaceae, 2 −1 e m Th ean basal area 19.4 m ha was higher than the Euphorbiaceae, Anacardiaceae and Meliaceae were the 2 −1 basal area of dry tropics of Eastern Ghats 11.46 m ha dominant families reported from the northern Eastern (Reddy, Babar, Giriraj, Reddy, & Rao, 2008). Stand basal Ghats while Mimosaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rubiaceae area was measured in the medium range compared to and Anacardiaceae dominated the tropical forests of 2 −1 other Indian tropical forests as 25.32 m ha in Singara southern Eastern Ghats (Pragasan & Parthasarathy, Range of Western Ghats (Singh, Varma, & Jayakumar, 2010) and Combretaceae, Mimosaceae, Meliaceae, 2 −1 2016), 1.3 m ha at Vindhyan hills (Sagar et al., 2003) Rubiaceae and Celastraceae were the predominant fam- 2 −1 to 98.6 m ha at Namdapha National Park, northeast ilies from Bannerghatta National Park in Eastern Ghats India (Nath, Arunachalam, Khan, Arunachalam, & of southern India (Gopalakrishna, Kaonga, Somashekar, Barbhuiya, 2005). Girth class frequency showed popu- Suresh, & Suresh, 2015). The Euphorbiaceae (11 spe- lation structure of trees exhibited in the study sites are cies), Papilionaceae (9), Rubiaceae (8) and Moraceae in conformity with other forest stands (Sahu, Dhal, & (7) were most speciose families in the present study. Mohanty, 2012). Tree density distribution across differ - Interestingly, similar findings were reported by Padalia ent girth classes indicates how well the growing forest et al. (2004) where Euphorbiaceae and Rubiaceae were is utilizing site resources. A few small to medium sized the most dominant family in all forest types, except man- −1 trees ha may imply that land is not being fully utilized grove. Sandhyarani, Murth, and Pullaiah (2007) resulted by the tree crop (Hitimana, Kiyiapi, & Njunge, 2004). that Euphorbiaceae is the dominant family followed e s Th pecies diversity depends upon adaptation of by Moraceae and Lauceae in the Eastern Ghats, while species and increases with stability of community the Suthari and Raju (2018) reported that Fabaceae constitute Shannon-Weiner (H′) index for all the six plots varied from the predominant family with 26 speceis which is distantly 222 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. Chittibabu, C.V., & Parthasarathy, N. (2000). Attenuated tree followed by Rubiaceae (9 species) and Combretaceae (7 species diversity in human-impacted tropical evergreen species) along the gradients in the dry deciduous forests forest sites at Kolli hills, Eastern Ghats, India. Biodiversity of Godavari valley, Telangana State. Reddy et al. (2011) and Conservation, 9, 1493–1519. also indicated that, Rubiaceae and Papilionaceae were the Cintra, R., Ximenes, A.C., Gondim, F.R., & Kropf, M.S. (2005). most domiant families in the Eastern Ghats of northern Forest spatial heterogeneity and palm richness, abundance Andhra Pradesh. But in tropics, Leguminosae was a most and community composition in Terra Firme Forest, Central Amazon. Revista Brazilian Botany, 28(1), 75–84. speciose family in neotropical deciduous forests (Steege et Condit, R., Ashton, P.S., Baker, P., Bunyavejohewin, S., al., 2000). This trend indicates that across various tropical Gunatileke, S., Gunatileke, N., … Yamakura, T. (2000). forests a greater similarity is evident at the family level. Spatial patterns in the distribution of tropical tree species. Science, 288, 1414–1418. Dierick, D., & Hölscher, D. (2009). Species-specific tree 5. Conclusion water use characteristics in reforestation stands in the Philippines. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 149, Measures of biodiversity provide baseline information 1317–1326. on the distribution richness and relative abundance of Galley, R.E. (2014). Ecology of tropical rain forests. In R.K. taxa required for conservation decisions. Monson (Ed.), Ecology and the environment (pp. 247–272). New York, NY: The Plant Sciences 8, Springer. • e p Th resent study inferred the presence of more Gandhi, D.S., & Sundarapandian, S. (2014). Inventory of species richness and mean stand density, and the trees in tropical dry deciduous forests of Tiruvannamalai study plots indicate the uniqueness and potentiality district, Tamil Nadu, India. Biodiversitas, Journal of for conservation of ecosystem in its totality. Biological Diversity, 15(2), 169–179. • e f Th orests in the study region are subjected to over Gonmadje, C.F., Doumenge, C., McKey, D., Tchouto, G.P.M., Sunderland, T.C.H., Malinga, M.P.B., & Sonke, B. (2011). exploitation to meet the growing demands for the Tree diversity and conservation value of Ngovayang’s cultivation practices, firewood, fencing and fodder lowland forests, Cameroon. Biodiversity Conservation, 20, for livestock and wood exploitation for domestic 2627–2648. and commercial utilization. Gopalakrishna, S.P., Kaonga, M.L., Somashekar, R.K., Suresh, • Forest fires, grazing, cut stumps and medicinal H.S., & Suresh, R. (2015). Tree diversity in the tropical dry forest of Bannerghatta National Park in Eastern Ghats, plant collection are observed in peripheral areas southern India. European Journal of Ecology, 1(2), 12–27. of some study sites, which results in diminishment Gordon, J.E., & Newton, A.C. (2006). The potential of forests at an alarming pace. e Th immediate atten - misapplication of rapid plant diversity assessment in tion on people participation is most essential for tropical conservation. Journal for Nature Conservation, 14, the effective conservation. 117–126. • e p Th resent study will serve as a primary input Gunaga, S., Rajeswari, N., & Vasudeva, R. (2013). Tree diversity and disturbance of Kaan forests: Relics of a towards maintaining and sustaining the phytodi- community protected climax vegetation in the central versity and also would help in understanding the Western Ghats. Tropical Ecology, 54, 117–131. threats that are faced by the tropical forests and Hitimana, J., Kiyiapi, J.L., & Njunge, J.T. (2004). Forest would help in driving conservation policies. structure characteristics in disturbed and undisturbed sites of Mt. Elgon moist lower montane forest, Western Kenya. Forest Ecology and Management, 194, 269–291. Huang, W ., Pohjonen, V ., Johansson, V ., Nashanda, M., Katigula, Disclosure statement M.I.L., & Luukkanen, O. (2003). Species diversity, forest No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. structure and species composition in Tanzanian tropical forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 173, 111–124. Kumar, J.I.N., Kumar, R.N., Bhoi, R.K., & Sajish, P.R. (2010). Funding Tree species diversity and soil nutrient status in three sites of tropical dry deciduous forest of western India. Tropical This work was supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Ecology, 51, 273–279. Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India Lalfakawma, S.U.K., Roy, S., Vanlalhritpuia, K., & under Grant [number BT/PR6603/NDB/51/089/2005]. Vanlalhluna, P.C. (2009). Community composition and tree population structure in undisturbed and disturbed ORCID tropical semi-evergreen forest stands of North-East India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 7, 303–318. M. Tarakeswara Naidu    http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8363- Majumdar, K., Shankar, U., & Datta, B.K. (2012). 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Density, basal area and importance value index (IVI) of the tree species in six 1-ha sites GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Acacia chundra – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 1.49 1 0.14 2.26 1 0.01 2.25 Acacia leucophloea 1.5 0.16 3.12 – – – – – – 1 0.1 1.65 1.5 0.18 2.68 1.5 0.03 2.6 Acacia nilotica – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 1.56 1.5 0.07 2.11 – – – Aegle marmelos 5.5 0.1 5.68 2.5 0.1 2.41 – – – 3 0.08 3.16 5.5 0.16 5.38 – – – Alangium salviifolium 4.5 0.06 3.64 2.5 0.03 2.15 15 0.836 13.99 3 0.02 2.85 4 0.51 5.43 3.5 0.09 4.01 Albizia chinensis 1.5 0.4 5 1 0.02 1.6 – – – 1 0.13 1.82 5.5 0.43 6.78 – – – Albizia odoratissima 2.5 0.03 2.58 5.5 0.28 4.11 9.5 0.805 9.95 3.5 0.05 3.19 – – – – – – Alstonia venenata – – – 1 0.06 1.74 – – – 3 0.17 2.71 – – – – – – Annona squamosa – – – – – – 4 0.114 3.86 1.5 0.01 1.44 – – – 3.5 0.09 3.99 Anogeissus acuminata 4.5 0.14 4.28 – – – – – – 3.5 0.4 3.98 – – – – – – Anogeissus latifolia 17.5 1.41 20.8 25.5 0.76 14 9.5 0.542 10.07 13 3.57 22.9 12.5 1.43 14.8 10.5 1.59 18.7 Antidesma bunius – – – 1 0.02 1.6 – – – – – – – – – – – – Antidesma ghaesembilla 1 * 1.73 1.5 0.04 1.84 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.09 – – – – – – Atlantia monophylla 4.5 0.08 3.77 – – – – – – 2 0.04 1.76 – – – 5 0.01 4.28 Azadirachta indica 1.5 0.03 2.11 2 0.04 2.02 5 0.368 7.23 3 0.08 3.16 1.5 0.12 2.4 1.5 0.06 2.82 Barringtonia acutangula – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.15 2.95 – – – Bauhinia malabarica 3.5 0.05 4.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Bauhinia purpurea – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.03 2.3 – – – Bauhinia racemosa 2 0.02 2.29 4.5 0.08 3.04 – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 1.99 – – – Bischofia javanica – – – 0.5 0.02 1.43 – – – – – – – – – – – – Bombax ceiba – – – – – – 2 0.136 3.14 2.5 0.67 5.71 1 0.2 2.61 – – – Boswellia serrata – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.22 – – – – – – Bridelia cinerascens 3.5 0.34 5.34 9.5 0.59 7.76 6.5 0.483 6.93 11 0.49 7.97 2.5 0.52 4.84       Buchanania axillaris – – – – – – – – – – – – 4.5 0.17 3.86 – – – Buchanania cochinchinensis – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.1 2.48 – – – Canthium dicoccum 2 0.02 2.26 – – – 2 0.038 2.60 – – – 9.5 0.48 8.64 17 0.98 16.5 Capparis grandis – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 2.57 Careya arborea – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.13 2.41 1.5 0.35 4.62 Caryota urens – – – 4.5 0.47 5.59 – – – 3 0.67 5.03 – – – – – – Casearia elliptica – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.01 1.82 – – – Cassia fistula 3.5 0.07 3.3 – – – 8.5 0.119 7.33 7 0.22 5.23 – – – 3.5 0.11 4.12 Ceiba pentandra 1.5 0.27 4 – – – – – – 2.5 0.34 4.2 – – – – – – Chloroxylon swietenia 9.5 0.18 7.92 – – – 13.5 0.281 10.32 12.5 0.18 7.04 9 0.41 6.92 5 0.2 5.45 Cleistanthus collinus 12 0.23 9.36 14 0.28 8.26 17.5 0.54 13.41 5 0.08 3.87 10 0.22 7.5 4.5 0.14 4.84 Cleistanthus patulus – – – 1 0.01 1.58 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Cordia dichotoma – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.39 Cochlospermum religiosum 2.5 0.11 3.15 – – – – – – 3.5 0.05 2.34 1 0.08 1.99 – – – Dalbergia lanceolaria – – – 1 0.02 1.61 – – – – – – – – – – – – Dalbergia latifolia – – – – – – 2 0.068 4.33 – – – – – – – – – Dalbergia paniculata 14.5 1.51 20.3 9 0.75 6.98 7 0.557 7.54 16 2.08 17.1 2.5 1.04 7.55 – – – Dalbergia sissoides 1 0.12 2.63 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Dillenia pentagyna – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.18 2.23 – – – – – – Diospyros chloroxylon 10 0.28 8.95 – – – 4 0.058 3.55 5 0.08 3.89 8.5 0.14 5.34 – – – Diospyros melanoxylon 5.5 0.09 5.55 4.5 0.07 3 – – – 9 0.37 6.67 13.5 0.43 10 2 0.07 3.15 Diospyros montana 0.5 0.01 1.54 – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 2.33 – – – – – – Diospyros sylvatica – – – 4.5 0.15 3.29 6.5 0.181 6.83 2.5 0.12 3.15 3 0.05 3.76 5 0.1 6.47 (Continued) GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 225 GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Dolichandrone falcata – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 3.01 – – – Drypetes roxburghii – – – – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.04 1.55 – – – Eriolaena hookeriana – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 1.35 – – – – – – Erythrina suberosa 5.5 0.19 6.29 1.5 0.03 1.83 – – – 2 0.07 1.92 – – – – – – Erythrina variegata – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Erythroxylum monogynum – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.01 2.24 2 0.03 2.86 Euphorbia antiquorum – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.95 Ficus benghalensis -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   -  -  -  - 1 0.21 2.65 1.5 0.28 4.2 Ficus hispida – – – 2 0.22 2.66 2 0.025 4.09 1 0.03 1.34 – – – 2.5 0.39 5.41 Ficus microcarpa – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.33 3.47 1 0.03 2.38 Ficus religiosa -  -  -  1.5 0.1 2.06 – – – 1 0.07 1.56 – – – 1.5 1.25 10.3 Ficus tinctoria – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 1.34 – – – – – – Ficus tomentosa 0.5 0.19 2.94 – – – – – – 1.5 0.38 3.16 – – – – – – Flacourtia indica – – – – – – – – – – – – 4 0.02 4 – – – Gardenia latifolia 4 0.15 5.41 4.5 0.07 4.18  -  -  - 2.5 0.11 2.28 – – – 3 0.04 3.45 Garuga pinnata 6 0.58 9.54 14 1.87 13.9 6.5 0.504 7.04 6 0.41 5.75 2 0.26 3.31 – – – Glochidion velutinum  -  -  - 0.5 0.01 1.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – Glochidion zeylanicum – – – 0.5 0.01 1.39 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.1 – – – – – – Gmelina arborea – – – – – – – – – 3 0.22 2.94 – – – – – – Grewia tiliaefolia 1 0.03 1.89 5.5 0.19 4.98 4.5 0.203 4.55 6.5 0.27 5.3 1 0.04 1.74 – – – Gyrocarpus americanus – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 1.12 – – – – – – Haldinia cordifolia – – – 9.5 2.03 12.8 10 0.575 10.46 8.5 0.55 7.31 3.5 0.66 6 3.5 0.45 6.31 Helicteres isora – – – – – – – – – – – – 4.5 0.05 4.38 2.5 0.03 3.1 Hibiscus platanifolius – – – 0.5 0.01 1.4 – – – – – – – – – – – – Holarrhena pubescens 7.5 0.1 6.45 – – – – – – 2.5 0.02 1.83 1.5 0.02 1.84 – – – Holoptelea integrifolia 2 0.36 4.89 – – – 4 1.101 9.27  -  -  - 2 0.46 4.34 – – – Hymenodictyon orixense – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Ixora pavetta 1 0.02 1.84       2 0.02 2.5 1 0.02 1.3 1.5 0.03 1.9       Jatropha curcas – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.04 2.9 Kydia calycina 0.5 0.11 2.29 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Lagerstroemia parviflora 1.5 0.08 2.53 5.5 0.49 6.03 5.5 0.44 7.84 3 0.08 3.14 1.5 0.31 3.39 2 0.06 3.09 Lannea coromandelica 7 0.51 9.43 14.5 5.13 25.5 8.5 0.751 10.81 11 0.95 10.1 9.5 0.65 9.55 10 1.55 18.2 Leea indica – – – 1 0.11 1.91 – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 2.07 Limonia acidissima – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.02 1.48 3.5 0.26 5.04 – – – Litsea deccanensis – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.06 2.5 – – – – – – Litsea glutinosa – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.07 – – – – – – Maba buxifolia – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.01 1.45 12 0.37 7.93 7.5 0.21 6.79 Macaranga peltata – – – 3 0.23 3.03 – – – – – – – – – 3.5 0.1 4.09 Madhuca longifolia – – – 4.5 0.41 5.41 1.5 0.135 2.93 – – – 2 0.23 3.16 4 0.21 5.03 Mallotus philippensis – – – – – – 2 0.146 3.2 2 0.09 1.98 – – – 3 0.12 3.94 Mangifera indica 3 1.26 13.5 6 4.45 20.1 1 0.036 2.17 4 1.61 9.77 – – – – – – Manilkara hexandra – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.19 2.62 4 0.24 5.19 4 0.05 4.04 Memecylon edule – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.02 2.08 – – – Miliusa tomentosa – – – 1 0.04 1.66 – – – 2 0.06 2.7 1.5 0.17 2.63 – – – Mimusops elengi – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.05 1.62 – – – – – – Mitragyna parvifolia 2.5 0.09 2.99 3.5 0.06 2.61 2 0.021 2.51 1.5 0.06 1.66 – – – – – – Morinda pubescens 3.5 0.04 3.07 2 0.03 1.98 6 0.399 7.82 2.5 0.12 2.31 – – – – – – Murraya paniculata – – – – – – – – – 3 0.05 2.16 – – – 1.5 0.02 2.56 Naringi crenulata 3 0.06 2.98 4 0.06 2.81 4 0.055 3.53 1.5 0.07 1.72 1 0.04 1.75 – – – (Continued) 226 M. TARAKESWARA NAIDU ET AL. GP SR KP SP CP VT Species name D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IV I D BA IVI D BA IVI D BA IVI Nyctanthes arbor-tristis 4 0.09 4.94 – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 0.07 3.63 Oroxylum indicum – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.03 2.36 Ougeinia oojeinensis – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.09 2.2 7 1.2 12.8 Pavetta indica 2 0.02 2.26 – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.01 2.23 Phoenix sylvestris – – – – – – – – – – – – 2.5 0.16 3.01 0.5 0.02 2.02 Phyllanthus emblica 3 0.09 3.27 2 0.03 1.98 – – – – – – 6 0.14 5.47 – – – Polyalthia cerasoides 2.5 0.06 2.79 4 0.04 3.93 2 0.027 2.55 2.5 0.01 2.63 – – – 2 0.01 2.73 Pomgamia pinnata – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.43 3.99 – – – Premna latifolia – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.04 2.7 Premna tomentosa 2.5 0.02 2.5 4 0.11 4.17 2 0.465 4.95 4 0.06 2.57 3.5 0.09 3.02 – – – Protium serratum 7.5 0.93 12.8 7 1.39 9.71 3 0.523 5.68 7.5 0.77 7.98 – – – 5 0.47 7.18 Pterocarpus marsupium 1.5 0.08 2.53 2 0.15 2.4   – – – – – 2 0.2 3 – – – Pterospermum heyneanum 2.5 0.24 4.15 – – – – – – 4 0.34 4.72 1.5 0.23 2.93 1 0.02 2.32 Salacia chinensis 3 0.05 2.96 – – – – – – 2.5 0.02 2.69 2 0.19 2.94 – – – Salacia oblonga – – – – – – 0.5 0.016 1.86 – – – – – – – – – Sapindus emarginatus – – – – – – 2 0.054 2.69 – – – – – – – – – Saraca asoca – – – 2 0.11 2.27 – – – – – – – – – – – – Schleichera oleosa 4 0.23 4.73 12.5 1.54 12.2 5.5 0.446 6.31 – – – 2 0.34 3.7 4.5 0.84 9.24 Semecarpus anacardium 2 0.07 2.65 6 0.8 7.29 4.5 0.168 5.93 5 0.42 5.44 3.5 0.62 6.9 7.5 1.06 12.2 Soymida febrifuga 4 0.36 7 – –  - 2.5 0.506 5.38 1.5 0.09 1.83 12.5 1.36 14.4 – – – Sterculia urens 1.5 0.08 2.54 1 0.05 1.73 2.5 0.075 3.02 5 0.32 5.01 3 0.23 4.71 5.5 0.27 6.15 Sterculia villosa 1 0.03 1.89 0.5 0.05 1.54 – – – 0.5 0.05 1.26 – – – – – – Stereospermum personatum – – – 1.5 0.05 1.9 – – – 1 0.02 1.31 – – – – – – Streblus asper – – – 1.5 0.02 1.77 – – – – – – – – – – – – Strychnos nux-vomica 3 0.07 3.11 – – – 1.5 0.022 2.31 2.5 0.15 2.43 4.5 0.15 4.9 2 0.15 3.6 Strychnos potatorum 5.5 0.18 6.24 4 0.09 4.08 – – – 2.5 0.09 3.02 3 0.43 4.57 1.5 0.03 2.61 Syzygium cumini  -  -  - 2 0.06 2.11 – – – 1.5 0.07 1.74 3 0.42 4.54 1.5 0.03 2.64 Tamarindus indica – – – 3 0.18 4.07 5.5 1.362 12.9 2.5 0.66 4.83 2 0.78 5.99  -  -  - Tectona grandis – – – – – – – – – 1.5 0.05 1.61 – – – – – – Terminalia alata  -  -  - 13.5 1.91 13.8 8.5 2.029 17.82 4 0.85 7.1 4.5 0.94 7.86 – – – Terminalia arjuna – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 0.09 2 3.5 0.19 4.63 Terminalia bellirica 2 0.05 2.49 5.5 0.73 6.86 3 0.663 6.45 3.5 0.54 5.45 2 0.09 2.4 4 0.83 8.95 Terminalia chebula – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.02 1.14 1 0.06 1.84 – – – Trema orientalis – – – – – – – – – 0.5 0.01 1.09 – – – 0.5 0.01 1.98 Vitex pinnata – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 2 0.26 4.32 Wrightia arborea 4.5 0.1 3.91 9.5 0.27 6.66 3 0.058 3.13 – – – – – – – – – Wrightia tinctoria 7 0.11 6.34 7 0.12 4.07 7 0.253 7.44 8 0.12 5.17 – – – 5 0.07 4.67 Xantolis tomentosa – – – 0.5 0.02 1.45 – – – – – – – – – – – – Xylia xylocarpa 6 0.7 9.19 14.5 1.34 12.2 11.5 1.96 18.7 11 0.94 10.1 10 0.64 9.67 11.5 1.37 16.2 Ziziphus mauritiana – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 3 0.04 3.42 Ziziphus xylopyrus 1.5 0.01 1.98 2.5 0.05 2.24 2.5 0.051 2.88 – – – – – – – – –   235 13.05 300 287 28.42 300 239 18.2 300 276 21.59 300 246 19.33 300 198 15.79 300 *value < 0.001; Gp = Gangampalem; sR = s esharavi; Kp = Kakarapadu; sp = s eetapalli; cp = cherukumpalem; VT = Vatangi; d = d ensity; Ba = Basal area; IVI = Importance Value Index GEOLOGY, ECOLOGY, AND LANDSCAPES 227 Appendix 2. Family-wise tree species richness, genera, basal area and family index value (FIV) in six 1-ha sites Sl. No. Family Genera Species Abundance BA R.D. R.Dom R.Div FIV 1 c ombretaceae 2 6 306 0.294 10.3 20.45 4.44 35.2 2 euphorbiaceae 9 11 253 0.168 8.55 11.67 8.14 28.4 3 Mimosaceae 3 6 213 0.15 7.2 10.47 4.44 22.1 4 anacardiaceae 4 5 219 0.149 7.4 10.38 3.70 21.5 5 Rubiaceae 8 8 224 0.085 7.57 5.92 5.92 19.4 6 Fabaceae 5 9 156 0.082 5.27 5.73 6.66 17.7 7 ebenaceae 2 5 213 0.091 7.2 6.31 3.70 17.2 8 Burseraceae 3 3 131 0.066 4.43 4.62 2.22 11.3 9 apocynaceae 4 4 133 0.051 4.49 3.52 2.96 11 10 c aesalpiniaceae 4 6 103 0.024 3.48 1.68 4.44 9.61 11 Flindersiaceae 1 1 99 0.078 3.35 5.41 0.74 9.51 12 Rutaceae 5 5 102 0.02 3.45 1.39 3.70 8.55 13 s terculiaceae 4 5 75 0.015 2.53 1.05 3.70 7.29 14 Moraceae 2 7 42 0.003 1.42 0.20 5.185 6.81 15 s apindaceae 2 2 76 0.029 2.57 1.99 1.481 6.05 16 Verbenaceae 4 5 48 0.009 1.62 0.6 3.70 5.93 17 alangiaceae 1 1 65 0.034 2.2 2.33 0.74 5.27 18 Meliaceae 2 2 70 0.02 2.37 1.39 1.48 5.24 19 s apotaceae 4 4 49 0.008 1.66 0.56 2.96 5.19 20 annonaceae 3 3 53 0.009 1.79 0.59 2.22 4.61 21 l oganiaceae 1 2 60 0.014 2.03 1 1.481 4.51 22 l ythraceae 1 1 38 0.011 1.28 0.79 0.74 2.82 23 Tiliaceae 1 1 37 0.011 1.25 0.75 0.74 2.75 24 Bignoniaceae 3 3 10 * 0.34 0.02 2.22 2.58 25 arecaceae 2 2 24 0.003 0.81 0.19 1.48 2.49 26 Rhamnaceae 1 2 19 0.002 0.64 0.11 1.48 2.24 27 Ulmaceae 2 2 18 0.002 0.61 0.14 1.48 2.23 28 Bombacaceae 2 2 19 0.001 0.64 0.1 1.48 2.23 29 Flacourtiaceae 2 2 11 * 0.37 0.04 1.48 1.89 30 s tilaginaceae 1 2 8 * 0.27 0.02 1.48 1.77 31 Barringtoniaceae 2 2 8 * 0.27 0.01 1.48 1.77 32 lauraceae 1 2 4 * 0.14 0.006 1.48 1.62 33 Malvaceae 2 2 2 * 0.07 0.001 1.48 1.55 34 Myrtaceae 1 1 16 0.002 0.54 0.14 0.74 1.42 35 c ochlospermaceae 1 1 14 0.002 0.47 0.108 0.741 1.32 36 oleaceae 1 1 14 0.002 0.47 0.108 0.74 1.32 37 erythroxylaceae 1 1 9 * 0.3 0.045 0.741 1.09 38 Melastomataceae 1 1 4 * 0.14 0.009 0.741 0.88 39 c apparaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 40 dilleniaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 41 l eeaceae 1 1 3 * 0.1 0.005 0.74 0.85 42 c ordiaceae 1 1 2 * 0.07 0.002 0.74 0.81 43 Bischofiaceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78 44 Hernandiaceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78 45 Hippocrataceae 1 1 1 * 0.03 * 0.74 0.78    Total 105 135 2959 1.437 100 100 100 300 *value < 0.001; Ba = Basal area; R.d . = Relative d ensity; R.d om = Relative d ominance; R.div = Relative diversity; FIV = Family Index Value.

Journal

Geology Ecology and LandscapesTaylor & Francis

Published: Jul 3, 2018

Keywords: Diversity indices; Eastern Ghats; stand structure; tree density; tropical forests

References