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2019 Vimha diversity and Endemism pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats,

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Tree Diversity and Endemism Pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats, India

Species diversity and endemism pattern of the along the elevational gradients were studied in the Makutta Wildlife Range of the Western Ghats in Kodagu district. A total of 604 individuals belonging to 68 species, 55 genera and 30 families were identified between 100 to 800 m. Among these, 26 tree species were endemic to the Western Ghats region belonging to 14 families. The species composition varied from 17 species at 800 m to 27 at 400 m. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index scored a maximum value of 3.02 at 400m indicating higher species diversity in this elevation. The overall species richness and endemism showed a hum shaped pattern along the elevational gradients with peaks at two different elevations each. The study indicates the presence of a diverse flora in the Makutta Wildlife Range, hence continued efforts must be made for conservation of these Vegetation areas. composition of Key words: Elevational gradient, Endemic, Species richness, Trees, Western Ghats. Makutta Wildlife Introduction Range, Kodagu. Mountain ecosystems cover about 24% of the global land area and are important biological diversity centres (Price et al., 2011). These ecosystems play a crucial role with around 10% of the world's population depending on them for water, food, minerals and agricultural products (UNCED, 1992). Studies on species richness have been assessed for decades, where diversity and endemism play important roles in the conservation and understanding of the overall biodiversity (Gentry, 1992; Vetaas and Grytness, 2002; Fu et al., 2006). Species diversity is scale dependent and can have higher diversity at lower elevation and lower diversity at higher elevation due to climatic extremes at higher elevations (Oomen and Shanker, 2005; Bhattarai and Vetaas, 2006) whereas species endemism is maximum at higher elevation due to isolation mechanism governed by terrain (Shrestha and Joshi, 1996). The trends in the species richness and endemism VIMHASENO NEIKHA AND also depends on a number of other factors such as topography, B.C. NAGARAJA inclination of slope, aspect and soil types (Shanks and Nooris, 1950; Department of Environmental Science, Mandal and Joshi, 2014), niche width and niche differentiation with Bangalore University, Bangalore respect to light availability and soil resources (Bisht and Bhat, 2013). (Karnataka) Besides climatic and geographic location, species diversity of a given E-mail: [email protected]; forest area also depends on site representativeness, plot dimensions [email protected] and the extent of human interaction in the past and the present (Parthasarathy, 2001). Because of the geographic isolation during the tertiary and subsequent evolutions, the Western Ghats is one of the richest centres of endemism in India (Ramesh et al., 1997). Endemic Received May, 2018 Accepted March, 2019 species if lost from their native habitats will be lost forever and hence they have been in the centre for conservation (Chitale et al., 2014). Studies on distribution pattern of species along an elevational gradient is relatively few in the Western Ghats as compared to the studies done in the Eastern and Western Himalayas (Behera and Kushwaha, 2006; Acharya et al., 2011; Khan et al., 2013) and other [July 2019] Tree diversity and endemism pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats, India

parts of the world (Tang et al., 2014; Schmiedel et al., experts and published floras and monographs (Pascal The number of genera was highest at 300m and For endemic species, with 5 tree 2015; Rezende et al., 2015). Hence, the present study and Ramesh, 1997; Murthy and Yoganarasimhan, 400m each with 24 each. Genera with a high number species (19.23%) dominated the forest canopy aims to understand the tree diversity and endemism 1990; Neginhal, 2011). Tree endemism was of species include Calophyllum, Diospyros and followed by Lauraceae with 3 tree species (11.53%). along the elevational gradient of the Makutta Wildlife determined by comparing our field information with with three species each. The number of Dipterocarpaceae represented 21.62% of the total Range of Kodagu district of Karnataka. published literature for Western Ghats (Ramesh et al., individuals was highest for Vepris bilocularis (50) families with 64 trees and dominated the forest stand 1997). Material and Methods followed by Olea dioica (46), (30) density wise followed by Rutaceae with 50 trees The vegetation data were analyzed quantitatively and and Myristica malabarica (28). Cinnamomum (16.89%) and Meliaceae with 36 trees (12.16%). The study was carried out in Kodagu (11o55'N-12o50' N tabulated for Density, Frequency and Abundance and riparium, Myristica malabarica and Vepris bilocularis Dipterocarpaceae family was represented by five and 75o20'-76o15' E), which is situated on the eastern Importance Value Index according to Curtis and was found to be common in seven of the eight species, Hopea parviflora with 30 individuals followed slopes of the Western Ghats on the South-West tip of McIntosh (1950). elevations whereas two species were recorded in by Dipterocarpus indicus (21), (8), Karnataka state of India. It occupies about 4100 Km2 six elevations, nine species recorded in five (4) and Hopea utilis (1). of land in the Western Ghats and has an average The Shannon-Wiener diversity Index (H`) was elevations, five species recorded in four elevations, rainfall of 2725 mm per year (KFD, 2009). Brahmagiri calculated as per Shannon (1948). A total of 604 stems were recorded for the forest stand eleven species recorded in three elevations, eleven Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is divided into two wildlife density in the 0.96ha with a mean density of 629 H`=- Σ (Pi)[log (Pi)] species in two elevations and twenty seven species ranges viz., Srimangala Wildlife range and Makutta stems/ha (Table 1). Stand density was highest at in one elevation. Wildlife range and this study was done in Makutta where, Pi = ni / N (ni = number of individuals of a 600m elevation with 850 stems/ha with a basal area of 2 Wildlife Range (MWR) of Kodagu district which species, N = total number of individuals of all species) The number of families was highest at 400m with 21 61.18 m /ha. The basal area was highest at 100m with 2 2 connects to Talacauvery and Pushpagiri Wildlife Simpson's index (D), which measures the probability followed by 700m with 20 families and the least was 112.96 m /ha followed by 500m (107.58 m /ha). The Sanctuary along the Southern and Western that two individuals randomly selected 12 at 200m. The family Anacardiaceae and species diversity (H´) ranged from 2.20 to 3.02. The boundaries of the district. The protected areas in Dipterocarpaceae with 5 tree species each (7.57%) highest species diversity was observed at 400m with from a sample will belong to the same species Kodagu occupy approximately 30% of the area dominated the forest canopy cover followed by 3.02, followed by 500m (2.87) and 2.80 each at 300 (Simpson,1949). (Bhagwat et al., 2005). The study area is located in the Calophyllaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, and 700m. The lowest species diversity was recorded Central Western Ghats region which is one among the at 800m (2.20). The Simpson's diversity index was D = 1- Σ [ni(ni-1) / N (N-1)] Phyllanthaceae and Meliaceae with 4 tree species 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world (Myers et al., each ( 6.06%). Density wise, Rutaceae with 68 trees highest at 400m with 0.95 followed by 100m (0.94) 2000). Natural vegetation in these areas spread Where, ni is the number of individuals of a species, (11.62%) dominated the forest stand followed by and 500m (0.94) indicating high species diversity in across several floristic types ranging from wet and N is the total number of individuals. Dipterocarpaceae with 64 trees (10.94%) and these elevations and 800 m with 0.81 had the lowest evergreen forests to dry woodlands and thickets Results and Discussion Fabaceae with 47 (8.03%). Rutaceae was represented Simpson's diversity index. (Pascal, 1988). However, there has been a massive by Atalantia monophylla and Vepris bilocularis with 18 landscape degradation and biodiversity depletion in A total of 68 tree species belonging to 55 genera and Stand density consistently decreased with increasing the past 30 years in Kodagu district (Garcia et al., 30 families were recorded between 100 to 800m and 50 individuals respectively (Fig. 2a). stem size classes from 30-60 to 180-210cm GBH 2 2007). elevation in the 9600m study area. A total of 26 endemic tree species was recorded with 296 The vegetation plots were laid at every 100m interval individuals belonging to 14 families and 22 genera. as we go along the imaginary transect from the The overall species richness varied along the altitude of 100 to 800m. At every 100m elevation, three elevational gradients where species richness was quadrats of 20x20 m were laid down at 20m distance taken as a count of the number of species present in from each other. A total of 24 quadrats were laid 2 that elevation and it was highest at 400m with 27 tree covering an area of 9600m . In each quadrat, tree species and 800m had the least number with17 tree species were noted and the Girth at Breast Height species. The regression drawn between the overall (GBH) more than > 30cm was measured. For trees species richness and elevation showed a significant with multiple stems, the basal area was calculated quadratic relation (Fig. 1a). The endemic species separately and summed and for trees with multiple richness was highest at 500m and 600m with 13 tree stems and connected near the ground, were counted species each and was lowest at 800m with 5 species as a single individual (Ayyapan and Parthasarathy, only (Fig. 1b). Fig. 2(a): Family wise density Fig. 2 (b): Girth class distribution of individuals of overall species 1999). The trees were identified with the help of local and endemic species in MWR of BWS, Kodagu.

Table 1: Vegetation characteristics of trees along an elevational gradient in Makutta Wildlfie Range of Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu. Elevation (m) Characteristics Overall 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Species Richness 20 18 26 27 23 24 25 17 68 Number of Families 16 12 19 21 16 16 20 13 30 Number of Genera 19 16 24 24 22 22 23 16 55 Number of Tree Stems 66 53 86 78 86 102 67 66 604 Number of Endemic Species 9 9 12 12 13 13 10 5 26 Stand Density (Stems/ha) 550 441 716 650 716 850 558 550 629 Basal Area (m²/ha) 112.96 54.65 56.71 51.42 107.58 61.18 33.87 39.50 64.73 Shannon - Weiner Index(H´) 2.74 2.53 2.80 3.02 2.87 2.77 2.80 2.20 3.86 Fig. 1 (a): Overall species richness Fig. 1 (b): Endemic species richness of trees along an Simpson's Diversity 0.94 0.91 0.93 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.92 0.81 0.97 elevational gradient in MWR of BWS, Kodagu.

632 633 [July 2019] Tree diversity and endemism pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats, India

parts of the world (Tang et al., 2014; Schmiedel et al., experts and published floras and monographs (Pascal The number of genera was highest at 300m and For endemic species, Dipterocarpaceae with 5 tree 2015; Rezende et al., 2015). Hence, the present study and Ramesh, 1997; Murthy and Yoganarasimhan, 400m each with 24 each. Genera with a high number species (19.23%) dominated the forest canopy aims to understand the tree diversity and endemism 1990; Neginhal, 2011). Tree endemism was of species include Calophyllum, Diospyros and followed by Lauraceae with 3 tree species (11.53%). along the elevational gradient of the Makutta Wildlife determined by comparing our field information with Hopea with three species each. The number of Dipterocarpaceae represented 21.62% of the total Range of Kodagu district of Karnataka. published literature for Western Ghats (Ramesh et al., individuals was highest for Vepris bilocularis (50) families with 64 trees and dominated the forest stand 1997). Material and Methods followed by Olea dioica (46), Hopea parviflora (30) density wise followed by Rutaceae with 50 trees The vegetation data were analyzed quantitatively and and Myristica malabarica (28). Cinnamomum (16.89%) and Meliaceae with 36 trees (12.16%). The study was carried out in Kodagu (11o55'N-12o50' N tabulated for Density, Frequency and Abundance and riparium, Myristica malabarica and Vepris bilocularis Dipterocarpaceae family was represented by five and 75o20'-76o15' E), which is situated on the eastern Importance Value Index according to Curtis and was found to be common in seven of the eight species, Hopea parviflora with 30 individuals followed slopes of the Western Ghats on the South-West tip of McIntosh (1950). elevations whereas two species were recorded in by Dipterocarpus indicus (21), Hopea ponga (8), Karnataka state of India. It occupies about 4100 Km2 six elevations, nine species recorded in five Vateria indica (4) and Hopea utilis (1). of land in the Western Ghats and has an average The Shannon-Wiener diversity Index (H`) was elevations, five species recorded in four elevations, rainfall of 2725 mm per year (KFD, 2009). Brahmagiri calculated as per Shannon (1948). A total of 604 stems were recorded for the forest stand eleven species recorded in three elevations, eleven Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) is divided into two wildlife density in the 0.96ha with a mean density of 629 H`=- Σ (Pi)[log (Pi)] species in two elevations and twenty seven species ranges viz., Srimangala Wildlife range and Makutta stems/ha (Table 1). Stand density was highest at in one elevation. Wildlife range and this study was done in Makutta where, Pi = ni / N (ni = number of individuals of a 600m elevation with 850 stems/ha with a basal area of 2 Wildlife Range (MWR) of Kodagu district which species, N = total number of individuals of all species) The number of families was highest at 400m with 21 61.18 m /ha. The basal area was highest at 100m with 2 2 connects to Talacauvery and Pushpagiri Wildlife Simpson's index (D), which measures the probability followed by 700m with 20 families and the least was 112.96 m /ha followed by 500m (107.58 m /ha). The Sanctuary along the Southern and Western that two individuals randomly selected 12 at 200m. The family Anacardiaceae and species diversity (H´) ranged from 2.20 to 3.02. The boundaries of the district. The protected areas in Dipterocarpaceae with 5 tree species each (7.57%) highest species diversity was observed at 400m with from a sample will belong to the same species Kodagu occupy approximately 30% of the area dominated the forest canopy cover followed by 3.02, followed by 500m (2.87) and 2.80 each at 300 (Simpson,1949). (Bhagwat et al., 2005). The study area is located in the Calophyllaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, and 700m. The lowest species diversity was recorded Central Western Ghats region which is one among the at 800m (2.20). The Simpson's diversity index was D = 1- Σ [ni(ni-1) / N (N-1)] Phyllanthaceae and Meliaceae with 4 tree species 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world (Myers et al., each ( 6.06%). Density wise, Rutaceae with 68 trees highest at 400m with 0.95 followed by 100m (0.94) 2000). Natural vegetation in these areas spread Where, ni is the number of individuals of a species, (11.62%) dominated the forest stand followed by and 500m (0.94) indicating high species diversity in across several floristic types ranging from wet and N is the total number of individuals. Dipterocarpaceae with 64 trees (10.94%) and these elevations and 800 m with 0.81 had the lowest evergreen forests to dry woodlands and thickets Results and Discussion Fabaceae with 47 (8.03%). Rutaceae was represented Simpson's diversity index. (Pascal, 1988). However, there has been a massive by Atalantia monophylla and Vepris bilocularis with 18 landscape degradation and biodiversity depletion in A total of 68 tree species belonging to 55 genera and Stand density consistently decreased with increasing the past 30 years in Kodagu district (Garcia et al., 30 families were recorded between 100 to 800m and 50 individuals respectively (Fig. 2a). stem size classes from 30-60 to 180-210cm GBH 2 2007). elevation in the 9600m study area. A total of 26 endemic tree species was recorded with 296 The vegetation plots were laid at every 100m interval individuals belonging to 14 families and 22 genera. as we go along the imaginary transect from the The overall species richness varied along the altitude of 100 to 800m. At every 100m elevation, three elevational gradients where species richness was quadrats of 20x20 m were laid down at 20m distance taken as a count of the number of species present in from each other. A total of 24 quadrats were laid 2 that elevation and it was highest at 400m with 27 tree covering an area of 9600m . In each quadrat, tree species and 800m had the least number with17 tree species were noted and the Girth at Breast Height species. The regression drawn between the overall (GBH) more than > 30cm was measured. For trees species richness and elevation showed a significant with multiple stems, the basal area was calculated quadratic relation (Fig. 1a). The endemic species separately and summed and for trees with multiple richness was highest at 500m and 600m with 13 tree stems and connected near the ground, were counted species each and was lowest at 800m with 5 species as a single individual (Ayyapan and Parthasarathy, only (Fig. 1b). Fig. 2(a): Family wise density Fig. 2 (b): Girth class distribution of individuals of overall species 1999). The trees were identified with the help of local and endemic species in MWR of BWS, Kodagu.

Table 1: Vegetation characteristics of trees along an elevational gradient in Makutta Wildlfie Range of Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu. Elevation (m) Characteristics Overall 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Species Richness 20 18 26 27 23 24 25 17 68 Number of Families 16 12 19 21 16 16 20 13 30 Number of Genera 19 16 24 24 22 22 23 16 55 Number of Tree Stems 66 53 86 78 86 102 67 66 604 Number of Endemic Species 9 9 12 12 13 13 10 5 26 Stand Density (Stems/ha) 550 441 716 650 716 850 558 550 629 Basal Area (m²/ha) 112.96 54.65 56.71 51.42 107.58 61.18 33.87 39.50 64.73 Shannon - Weiner Index(H´) 2.74 2.53 2.80 3.02 2.87 2.77 2.80 2.20 3.86 Fig. 1 (a): Overall species richness Fig. 1 (b): Endemic species richness of trees along an Simpson's Diversity 0.94 0.91 0.93 0.95 0.94 0.93 0.92 0.81 0.97 elevational gradient in MWR of BWS, Kodagu.

632 633 [July 2019] Tree diversity and endemism pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats, India

edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat] if'peh ?kkV] Hkkjr esa o`{k fofo/rk Fu C., Hua X., Li J., Chang Z., Pu Z. and Chen J. (2006). Elevational patterns of frog species richness and endemic vkSj LFkkfudrk iSVuZ richness in the Hengduan Mountains, China: geometric foEgklhuks uh[kk vkSj ch-lh- ukxjktk constraints, area and climate effects. Ecography, 29(6):919- 927. lkjka'k Garcia C., Marie-Vivien D., Kushalappa C.G., Chengappa dksMkxw ftys esa if'peh ?kkVksa dh edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat esa P.G. and Nanaya K.M. (2007). Geographical indications and mUurka'kh; izo.krkvksa ds lkFk&lkFk o`{kksa dh iztkfr fofo/rk vkSj biodiversity in the Western Ghats, India. Can labeling benefit producers and the environment in a mountain agroforestry LFkkfudrk iSVuZ dk vè;;u fd;k x;kA 68 iztkfr;ksa] 55 oa'kksa landscape? Mountain Research and Development, 27 ,oa 30 dqyksa ls lacaf/r dqy 604 ,dyksa dh igpku 100 ls (3):206-210. 800 eh- ds eè; dh xbZ A buesa ls 14 dqyksa ls lacaf/r 26 o`{k Gentry A.H. (1992). Tropical Forest Biodiversity: Distributional Patterns and Their Conservational Significance. Oikos, 63 iztkfr;ka if'peh ?kkVksa ds fy, LFkkfud FkhA iztkfr la;kstu 800 (1):19-28. Fig. 3(a): Importance value index (IVI) of the top 20 tree Fig. 3(b): Species area curve of MWR in BWS, Kodagu. species based on their contribution to relative eh ij 17 iztkfr;ksa ls 400 eh- ij 27 iztkfr;ksa rd FkkA Joseph S., Anitha K., Srivastava V.K., Reddy C.S., Thomas density (Rd), Relative frequency (Rf) and Relative al., 2012) and so the value of 3.02 from this study falls 'kSukWu&ohuj fofo/rk rkfydk us 400 eh- ij 3-02 dk vf/dre A.P. and Murthy M.S.R. (2012). Rainfall and elevation dominance (Rd). within the range. The tree density in this inventory was influence the local-scale distribution of tree community in the 629 stems ha-1 which was higher than the tree density eku Ldksj fd;k] tks bl Å¡pkbZ ij mPp iztkfr fofo/rk dks Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India). Inter. J. Forestry Research, 4387. except in the last class of >210cm. The lowest class of 419 stems ha-1in the evergreen forest and 302 n'kkZrk gSA lexz iztkfr le`¼rk vkSj LFkkfudrk us izfr nks size captured 46.52% of the stand density followed by -1 stems ha in the semi-evergreen forest of the Western fofHkUu Å¡pkbZ;ksa ij 'kh"kZ ds lkFk mUurka'kh; izo.krkvksa ds Kadavul K. and Parthasarathy N. (1999). Plant biodiversity 60-90cm with 23.01% and 90-120cm with 12.42%.For Ghats (Utkarsh et al., 1998) but lower than the and conservation of tropical semi-evergreen forest in the the endemic species, the stand density decreased with lkFk&lkFk dwoj iSVuZ dks n'kkZ;kA vè;;u us edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat Shervarayan hills of Eastern Ghats, India. Biodiversity and undisturbed forests of tropical wet evergreen forest in Conservation, 8(3): 419-437. increasing stem size. Class size of 30-60cm Kalakad Mudanthurai Tiger Reserve India with 720 esa fofo/ ouLifr dh mifLFkfr dks n'kkZ;kA vr% bu {ks=kksa ds contributed to 46.52% of the stand density followed by stems/ha (Parthasarathy,1999), 815 in the Eastern KFD (2009). Karnataka Forest Department (Internal laj{k.k ds fy, lrr iz;kl fd, tkus pkfg,A Evaluation Report, 2008-2009). Aranya Bhavan, Bangalore. 60-90cm with 24.66% and 90-120cm with 10.13%. Ghats (Kadavul and Parthsarathy, 1999) and 1367 in The girth class of 30-60cm which was the lowest size the Coromandel coast, South India. The basal area of References Khan S.M., Page S., Ahmad H. and Harper D. (2013). 2 Identifying plant species and communities across class for the non-endemic species contributed to 64.10 m /ha from this study is higher than the tropical Acharya B.K., Chettri B. and Vijayan L. (2011). Distribution environmental gradients in the Western Himalayas: Method 46.52 % of the tree density followed by 60- lowland evergreen forest of Agumbe, Central Western pattern of trees along an elevation gradient of Eastern Himalaya, India. Acta Oecologica, 37(4): 329-336. development and conservation use. Ecological Informatics, 90(22.18%), 90-120 (11.92%),120-150 (5.62%), 150- Ghats (Srinivas and Parthasarathy, 2000) and in the 14: 99-103. 180 (4.96%), 180-210(2.64%) and >210 (6.12%). The Courtallum reserved forest of the Southern Western Ayyapan N. and Parthasarathy N. (1999). Biodiversity Mandal G. and Joshi S.P. (2014). Analysis of vegetation Ghats (Parthasarathy and Kartikeyan, 1997). inventory of trees in a large scale permanet plot of tropical total number of plant families from the eight study sites dynamics and phytodiversity from three dry deciduous forests was 30. Rutaceae (68), Ebenanceae (55), Meliaceae evergreen forest at Varagalaiar, Anamalais, Western Ghats, Factors such as temperature, rainfall, evaporation and India. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8 (11):1533-1554. of Doon valley, Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Asia- (49), Oleaceae (46) and Dipterocarpaceae (43) were transpiration rate, productivity, past history and human Pacific Biodiversity, 7(3): 292-304. the predominant families. The girth class for the Behera M.D. and Kushwaha S.P.S. (2006). An analysis of disturbance should be assessed to gain better elevational behavior of tree species in Subansiri district, Murthy K.K.R. and Yoganarasimhan S.N. (1990).Flora of endemic species from 30-60cm contributed to 43.91% understanding of distribution of plant communities Coorg (Kodagu). Karnataka, India. Vismat publishers. of the stand density followed by 60-90 (24.66%), 90- Eastern Himalaya. Biodiversity and Conservation, along elevation (Acharya et al., 2011). The overall 16(6):1851-1865. Myers N., Mittermelert R.A., Mittermelert C.G., da Fonseca 120 (10.13%), 120-150 (6.75%),150-180 (4.05),180- species diversity and endemism showed a hum G.A.B. and Kent J. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for 210 (2.36%) and >210(8.10%) (Fig. 2b). Bhagwat S.A., Kushalappa C.G., Williams P.H. and Brown shaped pattern along the elevational gradients. The N.D. (2005). A landscape approach to biodiversity conservation priorities. Nature, 403(6772): 853-858. The IVI of a species gives the total structure of the overall species richness peaked at two elevations i.e., conservation of sacred groves in the Western Ghats of India. Neginhal S.G. (2011). Forest trees of the Western Ghats species in a community and a measure of the the larger peak at 400 m and the smaller peak at Conservation Biology, 19 (6):1853-1862 (includes Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau). Published by dominant species. Among the eight study plots, Hopea 700m; for the endemic species, it peaked at 500 and Bhattarai K.R. and Vetaas O.R. (2006). Can Rapoport's rule S.G. Neginhal: 1-491. parviflora with an IVI value of 16.69 was the most 600 m. The observed changes in the vegetation can explain tree species richness along the Himalayan elevation Oommen M.A. and Shanker K. (2005). Elevational species important species followed by Vepris bilocularis thus be attributed to the climatic conditions and gradient, Nepal? Diversity and Distributions, 12 (4): 373-378. richness patterns emerge from multiple local mechanisms in (15.23) and Olea dioica (13.42) (Fig. 3a). edaphic factors with altitude. Bisht A.S. and Bhat A.B. (2013). Vegetational structure and Himalayan woody . Ecology, 86 (11):3039- 3047. The species-area curve did not reach an asymptote on Conclusion plant diversity relation in a sub-alpine region of Garhwal Parthasarathy N. and Karthikeyan R. (1997). Biodiversity and Himalaya, Uttarakhand India. African J. Plant Science, 7(8): 0.96 hectare scale indicating that the sample size is population density of woody species in a tropical evergreen The study indicates the presence of a diverse flora 401-406. forest in Courtallum reserve forest, Western Ghats, India. not sufficient to sample all the species in the study and also documented a number of species which are Tropical Ecology, 28(2):297-306. area (Fig. 3b). Chandran M.D.S., Rao G.R., Gururaja K.V. and endemic to the Western Ghats and so these areas Ramachandra T.V. (2010). Ecology of the swampy relic Parthasarathy N. (1999). Tree diversity and distribution in Although there are several studies on plant should be given priority in conservation. Studies in the forests of Kathalekan from Central Western Ghats, India. undisturbed and human-impacted sites of tropical wet communities, there are relatively few studies on the past few decades on Kodagu district have shown a Bioremediation, Biodiversity and Bioavailablity, Global evergreen forests in Southern Western Ghats, India. vegetation of the protected areas of Kodagu in the large area of the forests cover being converted to science books, 4(1): 54-68. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8:1365-1381. Western Ghats. Our results showing a decrease in coffee plantations which has drastically reduced the Chitale V.S., Behera M.D. and Roy P.S. (2014). Future of Parthasarathy N. (2001). Changes in forest composition and tree diversity with increased altitude supports the forest cover. Hence, protected areas are important in endemic flora of Biodiversity hotspots in India. Plos One, structure in three sites of tropical evergreen forest around findings of Rana and Gairola (2009). The species the conservation of the endemic and threatened 9(12):1-15. (DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0115264) Sengaltheri, Western Ghats. Current Science, 80(3):389-393. diversity (H`) of the forests in the Western Ghats was species and therefore efforts must be made to protect Curtis J.T. and McIntosh R.P. (1950). The interrelations of Pascal J.P. (1988). Wet Evergreen Forests of the Western found to range from 0.00 to 4.175 (Ayyapan and biodiversity hotspots of Western Ghats. certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ghats of India. Institut Francias De Pondichery, publication Parthasarathy, 1999; Chandran et al., 2010; Joseph et Ecology, 31(3): 434- 455. du departement d'ecologie-23:11-309.

634 635 [July 2019] Tree diversity and endemism pattern in Makutta Wildlife Range, Western Ghats, India

edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat] if'peh ?kkV] Hkkjr esa o`{k fofo/rk Fu C., Hua X., Li J., Chang Z., Pu Z. and Chen J. (2006). Elevational patterns of frog species richness and endemic vkSj LFkkfudrk iSVuZ richness in the Hengduan Mountains, China: geometric foEgklhuks uh[kk vkSj ch-lh- ukxjktk constraints, area and climate effects. Ecography, 29(6):919- 927. lkjka'k Garcia C., Marie-Vivien D., Kushalappa C.G., Chengappa dksMkxw ftys esa if'peh ?kkVksa dh edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat esa P.G. and Nanaya K.M. (2007). Geographical indications and mUurka'kh; izo.krkvksa ds lkFk&lkFk o`{kksa dh iztkfr fofo/rk vkSj biodiversity in the Western Ghats, India. Can labeling benefit producers and the environment in a mountain agroforestry LFkkfudrk iSVuZ dk vè;;u fd;k x;kA 68 iztkfr;ksa] 55 oa'kksa landscape? Mountain Research and Development, 27 ,oa 30 dqyksa ls lacaf/r dqy 604 ,dyksa dh igpku 100 ls (3):206-210. 800 eh- ds eè; dh xbZ A buesa ls 14 dqyksa ls lacaf/r 26 o`{k Gentry A.H. (1992). Tropical Forest Biodiversity: Distributional Patterns and Their Conservational Significance. Oikos, 63 iztkfr;ka if'peh ?kkVksa ds fy, LFkkfud FkhA iztkfr la;kstu 800 (1):19-28. Fig. 3(a): Importance value index (IVI) of the top 20 tree Fig. 3(b): Species area curve of MWR in BWS, Kodagu. species based on their contribution to relative eh ij 17 iztkfr;ksa ls 400 eh- ij 27 iztkfr;ksa rd FkkA Joseph S., Anitha K., Srivastava V.K., Reddy C.S., Thomas density (Rd), Relative frequency (Rf) and Relative al., 2012) and so the value of 3.02 from this study falls 'kSukWu&ohuj fofo/rk rkfydk us 400 eh- ij 3-02 dk vf/dre A.P. and Murthy M.S.R. (2012). Rainfall and elevation dominance (Rd). within the range. The tree density in this inventory was influence the local-scale distribution of tree community in the 629 stems ha-1 which was higher than the tree density eku Ldksj fd;k] tks bl Å¡pkbZ ij mPp iztkfr fofo/rk dks Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India). Inter. J. Forestry Research, 4387. except in the last class of >210cm. The lowest class of 419 stems ha-1in the evergreen forest and 302 n'kkZrk gSA lexz iztkfr le`¼rk vkSj LFkkfudrk us izfr nks size captured 46.52% of the stand density followed by -1 stems ha in the semi-evergreen forest of the Western fofHkUu Å¡pkbZ;ksa ij 'kh"kZ ds lkFk mUurka'kh; izo.krkvksa ds Kadavul K. and Parthasarathy N. (1999). Plant biodiversity 60-90cm with 23.01% and 90-120cm with 12.42%.For Ghats (Utkarsh et al., 1998) but lower than the and conservation of tropical semi-evergreen forest in the the endemic species, the stand density decreased with lkFk&lkFk dwoj iSVuZ dks n'kkZ;kA vè;;u us edwV~Vk oU;tho jsat Shervarayan hills of Eastern Ghats, India. Biodiversity and undisturbed forests of tropical wet evergreen forest in Conservation, 8(3): 419-437. increasing stem size. Class size of 30-60cm Kalakad Mudanthurai Tiger Reserve India with 720 esa fofo/ ouLifr dh mifLFkfr dks n'kkZ;kA vr% bu {ks=kksa ds contributed to 46.52% of the stand density followed by stems/ha (Parthasarathy,1999), 815 in the Eastern KFD (2009). Karnataka Forest Department (Internal laj{k.k ds fy, lrr iz;kl fd, tkus pkfg,A Evaluation Report, 2008-2009). Aranya Bhavan, Bangalore. 60-90cm with 24.66% and 90-120cm with 10.13%. Ghats (Kadavul and Parthsarathy, 1999) and 1367 in The girth class of 30-60cm which was the lowest size the Coromandel coast, South India. The basal area of References Khan S.M., Page S., Ahmad H. and Harper D. (2013). 2 Identifying plant species and communities across class for the non-endemic species contributed to 64.10 m /ha from this study is higher than the tropical Acharya B.K., Chettri B. and Vijayan L. (2011). Distribution environmental gradients in the Western Himalayas: Method 46.52 % of the tree density followed by 60- lowland evergreen forest of Agumbe, Central Western pattern of trees along an elevation gradient of Eastern Himalaya, India. Acta Oecologica, 37(4): 329-336. development and conservation use. Ecological Informatics, 90(22.18%), 90-120 (11.92%),120-150 (5.62%), 150- Ghats (Srinivas and Parthasarathy, 2000) and in the 14: 99-103. 180 (4.96%), 180-210(2.64%) and >210 (6.12%). The Courtallum reserved forest of the Southern Western Ayyapan N. and Parthasarathy N. (1999). Biodiversity Mandal G. and Joshi S.P. (2014). Analysis of vegetation Ghats (Parthasarathy and Kartikeyan, 1997). inventory of trees in a large scale permanet plot of tropical total number of plant families from the eight study sites dynamics and phytodiversity from three dry deciduous forests was 30. Rutaceae (68), Ebenanceae (55), Meliaceae evergreen forest at Varagalaiar, Anamalais, Western Ghats, Factors such as temperature, rainfall, evaporation and India. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8 (11):1533-1554. of Doon valley, Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Asia- (49), Oleaceae (46) and Dipterocarpaceae (43) were transpiration rate, productivity, past history and human Pacific Biodiversity, 7(3): 292-304. the predominant families. The girth class for the Behera M.D. and Kushwaha S.P.S. (2006). An analysis of disturbance should be assessed to gain better elevational behavior of tree species in Subansiri district, Murthy K.K.R. and Yoganarasimhan S.N. (1990).Flora of endemic species from 30-60cm contributed to 43.91% understanding of distribution of plant communities Coorg (Kodagu). Karnataka, India. Vismat publishers. of the stand density followed by 60-90 (24.66%), 90- Eastern Himalaya. Biodiversity and Conservation, along elevation (Acharya et al., 2011). The overall 16(6):1851-1865. Myers N., Mittermelert R.A., Mittermelert C.G., da Fonseca 120 (10.13%), 120-150 (6.75%),150-180 (4.05),180- species diversity and endemism showed a hum G.A.B. and Kent J. (2000). Biodiversity hotspots for 210 (2.36%) and >210(8.10%) (Fig. 2b). Bhagwat S.A., Kushalappa C.G., Williams P.H. and Brown shaped pattern along the elevational gradients. The N.D. (2005). A landscape approach to biodiversity conservation priorities. Nature, 403(6772): 853-858. The IVI of a species gives the total structure of the overall species richness peaked at two elevations i.e., conservation of sacred groves in the Western Ghats of India. Neginhal S.G. (2011). Forest trees of the Western Ghats species in a community and a measure of the the larger peak at 400 m and the smaller peak at Conservation Biology, 19 (6):1853-1862 (includes Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau). Published by dominant species. Among the eight study plots, Hopea 700m; for the endemic species, it peaked at 500 and Bhattarai K.R. and Vetaas O.R. (2006). Can Rapoport's rule S.G. Neginhal: 1-491. parviflora with an IVI value of 16.69 was the most 600 m. The observed changes in the vegetation can explain tree species richness along the Himalayan elevation Oommen M.A. and Shanker K. (2005). Elevational species important species followed by Vepris bilocularis thus be attributed to the climatic conditions and gradient, Nepal? Diversity and Distributions, 12 (4): 373-378. richness patterns emerge from multiple local mechanisms in (15.23) and Olea dioica (13.42) (Fig. 3a). edaphic factors with altitude. Bisht A.S. and Bhat A.B. (2013). Vegetational structure and Himalayan woody plants. Ecology, 86 (11):3039- 3047. The species-area curve did not reach an asymptote on Conclusion plant diversity relation in a sub-alpine region of Garhwal Parthasarathy N. and Karthikeyan R. (1997). Biodiversity and Himalaya, Uttarakhand India. African J. Plant Science, 7(8): 0.96 hectare scale indicating that the sample size is population density of woody species in a tropical evergreen The study indicates the presence of a diverse flora 401-406. forest in Courtallum reserve forest, Western Ghats, India. not sufficient to sample all the species in the study and also documented a number of species which are Tropical Ecology, 28(2):297-306. area (Fig. 3b). Chandran M.D.S., Rao G.R., Gururaja K.V. and endemic to the Western Ghats and so these areas Ramachandra T.V. (2010). Ecology of the swampy relic Parthasarathy N. (1999). Tree diversity and distribution in Although there are several studies on plant should be given priority in conservation. Studies in the forests of Kathalekan from Central Western Ghats, India. undisturbed and human-impacted sites of tropical wet communities, there are relatively few studies on the past few decades on Kodagu district have shown a Bioremediation, Biodiversity and Bioavailablity, Global evergreen forests in Southern Western Ghats, India. vegetation of the protected areas of Kodagu in the large area of the forests cover being converted to science books, 4(1): 54-68. Biodiversity and Conservation, 8:1365-1381. Western Ghats. Our results showing a decrease in coffee plantations which has drastically reduced the Chitale V.S., Behera M.D. and Roy P.S. (2014). Future of Parthasarathy N. (2001). Changes in forest composition and tree diversity with increased altitude supports the forest cover. Hence, protected areas are important in endemic flora of Biodiversity hotspots in India. Plos One, structure in three sites of tropical evergreen forest around findings of Rana and Gairola (2009). The species the conservation of the endemic and threatened 9(12):1-15. (DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0115264) Sengaltheri, Western Ghats. Current Science, 80(3):389-393. diversity (H`) of the forests in the Western Ghats was species and therefore efforts must be made to protect Curtis J.T. and McIntosh R.P. (1950). The interrelations of Pascal J.P. (1988). Wet Evergreen Forests of the Western found to range from 0.00 to 4.175 (Ayyapan and biodiversity hotspots of Western Ghats. certain analytic and synthetic phytosociological characters. Ghats of India. Institut Francias De Pondichery, publication Parthasarathy, 1999; Chandran et al., 2010; Joseph et Ecology, 31(3): 434- 455. du departement d'ecologie-23:11-309.

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