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 e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society
2020-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
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| Online Access: | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/5524 |
| _version_ | 1819162778303201280 |
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| author | M. Tadwalkar A. Joglekar Monali Mhaskar A. Patwardhan |
| author_facet | M. Tadwalkar A. Joglekar Monali Mhaskar A. Patwardhan |
| author_sort | M. Tadwalkar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:33:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35fd363f771b44e3be62efb60752823e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0974-7893 0974-7907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T17:33:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Threatened Taxa |
| spelling | doaj.art-35fd363f771b44e3be62efb60752823e2022-12-21T18:18:33ZengWildlife Information Liaison Development SocietyJournal of Threatened Taxa0974-78930974-79072020-06-01129160481606310.11609/jott.5524.12.9.16048-160635524Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity managementM. Tadwalkar0A. Joglekar1Monali Mhaskar2A. Patwardhan3Annasaheb Kulkarni Department of Biodiversity, M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India.Annasaheb Kulkarni Department of Biodiversity, M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India.Research and Action in Natural Wealth Administration (RANWA), 16 Swastishree Society, Ganeshnagar, Kothrud, Pune, Maharashtra 411052, India.Annasaheb Kulkarni Department of Biodiversity, M.E.S. Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India.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.https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/5524endemicityprotected area comparisonspecies compositionstand structure |
| spellingShingle | M. Tadwalkar A. Joglekar Monali Mhaskar A. Patwardhan Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management Journal of Threatened Taxa endemicity protected area comparison species composition stand structure |
| title | Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management |
| title_full | Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management |
| title_fullStr | Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management |
| title_short | Woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern Western Ghats: implications for biodiversity management |
| title_sort | woody species diversity from proposed ecologically sensitive area of northern western ghats implications for biodiversity management |
| topic | endemicity protected area comparison species composition stand structure |
| url | https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/5524 |
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