Open AccessAssessment of tree species diversity and above-ground biomass in two disturbed tropical dry evergreen forests of Coromandel coast of India
Author(s) -
Preetham Elumalai,
Narayanaswamy Parthasarathy,
Balaraman Tamil Selvan
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied and natural science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2231-5209
pISSN - 0974-9411
DOI - 10.31018/jans.v13i3.2832
Subject(s) - evergreen , basal area , diameter at breast height , forestry , evergreen forest , species richness , hectare , tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests , biology , diversity index , species diversity , botany , ecology , agroforestry , geography , agriculture
The tree diversity and carbon stock of all woody plants were investigated in two-hectare square plots (100 m x 100 m) were established in Suryanpet (SP) and Velleripet (VP) which is tropical dry evergreen forest (TDEF) sites on the Coromandel Coast of peninsular India. All trees ? 10 cm girth at breast height measured at 1.3 m from the rooting point were enumerated. A total of 35 tree species (? 10 cm gbh) belonging to 34 genera and 23 families were recorded in tropical dry evergreen forests. Tree species richness in 27 (dominant species Dimorphocalyx glabellus Thw.) and 18 (dominant species Strychnos nux-vomica L.) in SP and VP respectively. A total density of woody plants 671 and 1154 individuals in SP and VP respectively. The basal area of trees in the two study sites SP (40.70 m2 ha-1) and VP (45.46 m2 ha-1). Most abundant families are Loganiaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Rutaceae and its family index value (FIV) is 56.14, 39.12 and 21.40 respectively. The aboveground biomass (AGB) of trees totaled in site SP (405.3 Mg ha-1) and VP (721.3 Mg ha-1). The extent of tree species diversity and estimated carbon stock of the TDEF sites, which provides the baseline data on the floristic structure and diversity of this forest for better management and conservation.