2018 Vol.24 No.2 PP 311-317
SPECIES DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY PATTERNS ALONG THE DISTURBANCE GRADIENT IN DRY TROPICAL FORESTS OF CHITRAKOOT, BANDA (U.P.) INDIA
*MILAN YADAV AND RAVINDRA SINGH
Department of Botany,
Mahatma Gandhi Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya,
CHITRAKOOT, Distt. Satna (M.P.)
*Corresponding Author :
Email : milanyadav2014@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The magnitude and recurrence of disturbance is the main factor to affect the structure of the forest communities in a variety of ways. A forty KM long disturbance gradient was
identified across the forest of Chitrakoot in Banda Forest Division and the impact of different degrees of disturbance on the community attributes and diversity pattern of the
forests along this gradient, was observed. The sum of frequency for species components of different stands increased along the gradient with marked fluctuations. The sum of
density, however, increased only upto a few peripheral stands and stabilized further. The trend of the two indices and fluctuations in these values indicated highly patchy and
heterogeneous communities along the disturbance gradient. Several potential under trees like Mallotus and Clerodendron dominated the shrub layer with greater abundance under
high disturbance while other non-leguminous species of shrubby habit dominated the stands facing intermediate disturbance. The relative density of leguminous shrubs decreased
along the gradient. The efficiently sprouting trees like Holarrhena and Terminalia have maximum importance value index (IVI) at moderate disturbance while Scleichera oleosa
did so toward the core. A maximum Shannon’s Index of Diversity H of 3.53 was observed for the last but one stand towards the core. The trends of dominance and β-diversity were
reverse to that of α-diversity along the gradient. From these observations, it may be inferred that the disturbance should be contained at the level suited for maximum
diversity beside sparing a few ‘disturbancefriendly’ species in highly disturbed stands from complete destruction in order to provide bare minimum herbage cover, required for
ecosystem attributes for the forests of the region.
Key words : Communities, Density, Disturbance gradient, Diversity, Frequency, Importance value index.