Spatial ecology of plant communities in a mixed dry deciduous forest of Western Ghats

Abstract

Degradation of the tropical forest is one of the most pressing ecological issues of our times. The present study assesses the tropical forest degradation from landscape to species levels in the Attapady landscape of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot. Satellite data analysis of land use / land cover showed that the area is predominantly covered with thorny scrublands and agriculture/plantations. Change assessment for the last three decades observed a considerable change in intact forest cover to degraded forests and non-forest categories. Fragmentation analysis using landscape matrices also indicated an increase in number of patches both at the scales of landscape as well as forest types. Ground based studies on phyto-diversity enumerated 106 species of trees, 122 species of shrubs and 145 species of herbs. Regeneration assessment of trees listed 27 species which had neither sapling nor seedling. Detrended Correspondence Analysis and post-hoc environmental correlations revealed that tree population assemblages are determined by both altitude and disturbance gradients, while species assemblages of the regenerating populations are primarily influenced by disturbance gradient. The comparison of different structural attributes among the regeneration classes indicated the possible replacement of primary forest species with secondary/generalist species. The impact of disturbance was prevalent in shaping the community structure. The study indicated a possible development of disturbance adapted community in the area and calls for urgent conservation and eco-restoration strategies to stop further erosion of biological richness.