Graph 6. 13: Shrub distribution pattern with respect to defined locations on all the forts 392 Graph 6. 14: Liana distribution with respect to defined locations 392 Graph 6. 15: Herb distribution with respect to defined locations 393 Graph 6. 16: Climber distribution with respect to defined locations on all the forts 393 Graph 6. 17: Species distributed pattern from Seacoast to Deccan plateau (altitude range Om to 1400 m MSL) 395 Graph 6. 18: Composition and distribution of arboreal and non-arboreal vegetation according to altitude range 395 Graph 6. 19: Community structure in each altitude range 396 Graph 6. 20: Species distribution in the range of 500m from Seacoast to Deccan Plateau 396 Graph 6. 21: Overlapping alrtitude ranges of the vegetation on forts 396 Graph 6. 22: Species distribution pattern on the slope regions of all forts 397 Graph 6. 23: Distribution pattern of selected families from sea-coast to edge of Deccan Plateau 400 Graph 6. 24: Beta diversity in between the defined zones of the forts (Longitudinal) 401 Graph 6. 25: Beta diversity within the forts of same zone (Latitudinal) 402 Graph 6. 26: Pattern of community structure along the altitude gradient (Longitudinal) 402 Graph 6. 27: The trend of alpha diversity distribution on the number of forts under study 402

List of Maps Map 1.1: of 2 Map 1.2: Study area and locations of all the forts under study Map 5.1. 1: fort on Google Earth image 41 Map 5.1. 2: Khanderi fort on Google Earth image overlays with mapped periphery by GPS 41 Map 5.2. 1: Padmadurg fort on Google Earth image 56 Map 5.2. 2: Periphery of Padmadurg fort mapped with GPS, overlays on Google Earth image 56 Map 5.2. 3: Map of Padmadurg fort and locations of tree species by GPS 66 Map 5.3. 1: Map of Vasai fort on Google Earth image 70 Map 5.3. 2: Map of Vasai fort on Google Earth image overlays with GPS data 70 Map 5.3. 3: Periphery of the Vasai fort and locations of the PCQ points 88 Map 5.4. 1: Map of Karlai fort on Google Earth image 93 Map 5.4. 2: Map of on Google Earth image overlays with GPS waypoints and tracks 93 Map 5.4. 3: Periphery of Korlai fort mapped with GPS 105 Map 5.5. 1: Map of fort on Google Earth image 112 Map 5.5. 2: Map of Prabalgad fort overlays with waypoints and periphery by GPS on Google Earth image 112 Map 5.6. 1: Map of the fort on Google Earth image 147 Map 5.6. 2: Map of Bhairavgad fort on Google Earth image overlays with GPS waypoints and tracks 147 Map 5.7. 1: Map of Dhakoba on Google Earth image 181 Map 5.7. 2: Map of Dhakoba on Google Earth image overlays with GPS waypoints and tracks 181

XIV Map 5.8. 1; Map of Makarandgad fort on Google Earth image 219 Map 5.8. 2: Map of Makarandgad fort on Google Earth overlays with GPS waypoints and track 219 Map 5.9. 1: Map of the fort with Google Earth 255 Map 5.9. 2: Map of the Tikona fort with Google Earth overlays with GPS data 255 Map 5.10. 1; Map of fort on Google Earth image292 Map 5.10. 2: Map of Kamalgad fort overlays with GPS waypoints and tracks 292 Map 5.11. 1: Map of the Purandar fort on Google Earth image 328 Map 5.11. 2: Map of the Purandar fort on Google Earth image overlapped with GPS waypoints and tracks 328 Map 5.12. 1: Google Earth map of the fort 361 Map 5.12. 2: The map of Mahimangad fort with Google Earth image overlapped with the GPS tracks and waypoints 361

Abbreviations used in the thesis + Present Abun. Abundance Cl Climber Den. Density DP Deccan Plateau f. After the authority in botanical names ‘filial’ FG Fort ground Fre. Frequency FW Fort wall GBH Girth at breast height Ge. Genus He Herbs Li Liana M Meter MSL Mean sea level pp. Page RC Rock crevices Sh Shrubs SL Hill Slope Sp. Species Ssp. Sub species Tr Trees Var. Variety WG Western Ghats RET Rare or Endemic or Threatened GPS Global Positioning System GIS Geographical Information System DAFOR Dominant, Abundant, Frequent, Occasional and Rare NWG Northern Western Ghats SWG Southern Western Ghats

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