Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India

<p>We investigated the<strong> </strong>frequency of occurrence of plant species in grassy landscapes in northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Using random quadrats, field assessment was undertaken at 11 sites to sample an area of 333.75 ha, at an overall sampling density of 0.01%. A...

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Main Authors: Sumit Srivastava, Ashish Dvivedi, R.P. Shukla
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical 2015-09-01
Series:Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales
Online Access:http://tropicalgrasslands.info/index.php/tgft/article/view/211
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author Sumit Srivastava
Ashish Dvivedi
R.P. Shukla
author_facet Sumit Srivastava
Ashish Dvivedi
R.P. Shukla
author_sort Sumit Srivastava
collection DOAJ
description <p>We investigated the<strong> </strong>frequency of occurrence of plant species in grassy landscapes in northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Using random quadrats, field assessment was undertaken at 11 sites to sample an area of 333.75 ha, at an overall sampling density of 0.01%. A total of 287 plant species belonging to 183 genera and 53 families was recorded. Of these, 254 species were commonly distributed and 33 species exhibited localized occurrences; according to the rarity classes of Rabinowitz, the latter were classified as rare. One hundred and sixty-five species had large population sizes and 122 species exhibited small population sizes. The most common species, which exhibited high frequency and abundance, were predominantly from Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Papilionaceae, Asteraceae, Scrophulariaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Some species, which are known to have narrow geographical distributions, were locally abundant. Rare species showed restricted as well as localized distributions and were typically sampled at low population densities. The rare occurrences of once frequent and widespread species probably reflect acute fragmentation and shrinkage of specialized habitats as a result of intense cultural activities. Several species are to be considered as threatened. Studies on the status of rare plant species and the processes threatening their survival are urgently required.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Community structure, frequency of occurrence, habit groups, habitat fragmentation, native grassland.</p><strong>DOI: </strong><a title="10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186" target="_blank">10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186</a>
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spelling doaj.art-cd1493f5bda24ccb8cadfb43319f98f62022-12-22T02:38:07ZengCentro Internacional de Agricultura TropicalTropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales2346-37752015-09-013316118610.17138/tgft(3)161-186158Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, IndiaSumit Srivastava0Ashish Dvivedi1R.P. Shukla2D. D. U. Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur-273009D. D. U. Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur-273009D. D. U. Gorakhpur University Gorakhpur-273009<p>We investigated the<strong> </strong>frequency of occurrence of plant species in grassy landscapes in northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India. Using random quadrats, field assessment was undertaken at 11 sites to sample an area of 333.75 ha, at an overall sampling density of 0.01%. A total of 287 plant species belonging to 183 genera and 53 families was recorded. Of these, 254 species were commonly distributed and 33 species exhibited localized occurrences; according to the rarity classes of Rabinowitz, the latter were classified as rare. One hundred and sixty-five species had large population sizes and 122 species exhibited small population sizes. The most common species, which exhibited high frequency and abundance, were predominantly from Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Papilionaceae, Asteraceae, Scrophulariaceae and Euphorbiaceae. Some species, which are known to have narrow geographical distributions, were locally abundant. Rare species showed restricted as well as localized distributions and were typically sampled at low population densities. The rare occurrences of once frequent and widespread species probably reflect acute fragmentation and shrinkage of specialized habitats as a result of intense cultural activities. Several species are to be considered as threatened. Studies on the status of rare plant species and the processes threatening their survival are urgently required.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Community structure, frequency of occurrence, habit groups, habitat fragmentation, native grassland.</p><strong>DOI: </strong><a title="10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186" href="http://dx.doi.org/10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186" target="_blank">10.17138/TGFT(3)161-186</a>http://tropicalgrasslands.info/index.php/tgft/article/view/211
spellingShingle Sumit Srivastava
Ashish Dvivedi
R.P. Shukla
Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
Tropical Grasslands-Forrajes Tropicales
title Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
title_full Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
title_fullStr Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
title_full_unstemmed Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
title_short Commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within <i>Terai</i> grassland of northeastern Uttar Pradesh, India
title_sort commonness and rarity pattern of plant species within i terai i grassland of northeastern uttar pradesh india
url http://tropicalgrasslands.info/index.php/tgft/article/view/211
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AT ashishdvivedi commonnessandraritypatternofplantspecieswithiniteraiigrasslandofnortheasternuttarpradeshindia
AT rpshukla commonnessandraritypatternofplantspecieswithiniteraiigrasslandofnortheasternuttarpradeshindia