Tree Species Diversity and Population Structure in the Tropical Forests of North Central Eastern Ghats, India

Authors

  • Dumpa PREMAVANI Department of BotanyAndhra UniversityVisakhapatnam-530 003Andhra Pradesh, INDIA (IN)
  • Maradana TARAKESWARA NAIDU Department of Botany Andhra University Visakhapatnam-530 003 Andhra Pradesh, INDIA
  • Malleboyina VENKAIAH Department of Botany Andhra University Visakhapatnam-530 003 Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb649382

Keywords:

diversity index; dominance; girth class; population structure; tree basal area

Abstract

The tree species diversity and population structure were studied in four stands of the tropical forests in the north-central Eastern Ghats, based on tree inventories conducted on four 1-ha plots. In the four independent plots, two 5 x 1000 m transects were established and all trees with ≥ 15 cm girth at breast height were enumerated. The density, frequency, basal area and IVI along with diversity indices viz. Shannon index, species richness, equitability and species dominance were computed to see the variation in tree community. A total of 92 species representing 73 genera under 40 families of angiosperms were recorded. Tree species richness was as low as 34 species per hectare plot in Geddapalli to as high as 48 species in Koruturu. Tree density ranged from 360 stems per hectare in plot Geddapalli to 526 stems in plot Chintapalli and that of total basal area from 16.31 m2 ha-1 in Koruturu to 31.15 m2 ha-1 in Chintapalli. The number of species and stems decreased from the smaller to the largest girth classes. The tree inventories of the study area when compared to those of the other tropical forests showed great differences in density and basal area. This may probably be due to differences in geography and annual rainfall patterns. The information on tree species structure and function can provide baseline information for conservation of the biodiversity.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Downloads

Published

2014-12-08

How to Cite

PREMAVANI, D., NAIDU, M. T., & VENKAIAH, M. (2014). Tree Species Diversity and Population Structure in the Tropical Forests of North Central Eastern Ghats, India. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 6(4), 448–453. https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb649382

Issue

Section

Review articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nsb649382

Most read articles by the same author(s)