Plant Diversity, Structure And Regeneration Potential In Tropical Forests Of Western Ghats, India

Diversity, structure and regeneration potential are the key elements of forests. For this study, seven sites were selected in tropical forests across Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, India. The sites were classified based on the similarity: tropical dry deciduous sites (TDDs I and II), tropical semi-evergreen sites (TSEs I and II) and tropical evergreen sites (TEFs I-III). The phytosociological survey was done following standard methods by laying a total of 70 plots (10 plots in each site). A total of 267 species (205 genera, 70 families) were recorded. The tree species richness ranged 24 (TDD II) - 76 (TEF III). A total of 66 species were endemic. The total tree density and tree basal area (seedlings, saplings, juveniles and adults) were 18,790 individuals (mean 2684) and 137.6 m2 (mean 19.7 m2) respectively. The mean tree adult density and basal area ranged 370 (TDD I) - 900 (TEF I) individuals/ha and 24.2 (TDD I) - 75.3 (TEF III) m2/ha respectively. The overall species richness was highest in TDD I, but TEF III had the highest tree species richness. Most tree species were ‘newly recruited‚’. The dominant species had ‘fair‚’ to ‘good‚’ regeneration potential. However, 12 tree species showed ‘no‚’ regeneration. The overall regeneration pattern of trees was ‘good‚’, but ‘no‚’ or ‘poor‚’ regeneration patterns in some tree species, especially endemics is a point of concern. The results obtained would help in understanding diversity patterns, structural attributes and regeneration potential in tropical forests of protected areas for better forest management and conservation.