Abstract:
This study inventoried three tropical dry deciduous forest tree communities
in Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh, India. Three 1 ha plots area were
established one each in Nallamalais, Seshachalam and Nigidi hills. A total of
137 tree species, 2205 stems (735 ha-1) of ≥10 cm girth were enumerated.
Tree communities at the three sites differed in dominance, composition, diversity
and structure. Tree stand density varied from 674 to 796 ha-1 with
average basal area of 11.46 m2 ha-1. Shannon-Wiener index
(H) ranges from 4.11 to 4.89. Site 1 is dominated by Pterocarpus marsupium
(28.1) and Anogeissus latifolia (26.2), site 2 by Pterocarpus santalinus
(44.5) and Terminalia pallida (42.4) and site 3 by Chloroxylon swietenia
(46.2) and Albizia amara (25.9). Site 1 (Nallamalais) forests are
more diverse at spatial scale and all taxonomic levels than their counterparts,
due to high rainfall and favourable edaphic conditions. The present study can
serve as baseline information for monitoring and sustaining the phytodiversity
of tropical dry deciduous forests in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
C. Sudhakar Reddy, Shilpa Babar, A. Giriraj, K. N. Reddy and K. Thulsi Rao, 2008. Structure and Floristic Composition of Tree Diversity in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest of Eastern Ghats, Southern Andhra Pradesh, India. Asian Journal of Scientific Research, 1: 57-64.
Subscribe Today 
