Research Journal of Environmental Sciences1819-34122151-8238Academic Journals Inc.10.3923/rjes.2011.722.729Bombax ceiba Linn.: As an Umbrella Tree Species in Forests of Southern Rajasthan, India]]>JainV. VermaS.K. SharmaS.K. KatewaS.S. 8201158Bombax ceiba Linn. (Red Silk Cotton Tree) commonly known as Semal tree; is a multipurpose tree species of tropical forests; providing food, fodder, fibre, fuel and medicine besides many ecological benefits. It is a dominant plant species of tropical dry deciduous forests of Southern Rajasthan, India. The present work is an attempt to justify the role of B. ceiba as an umbrella or life support tree for many animal species in forest areas of Southern Rajasthan. During the study period, total 43 animal species were observed who visited B. ceiba either for food, shelter or roosting purposes. Out of these, 29 species were from Avian fauna, 11 species belonged to Mammalia, two species belonged to Arthropoda and one from Reptilia. The present study confirms use of B. ceiba for balancing forest ecosystems and further recommends that this drought tolerant, easily propagable plant species should be planted in dotted fashion in forests specially in protected areas and also in home gardens as a keystone resource for many animal species.]]>Ali, S. and S.D. Ripley, 1983Baral, N., R. Gautam and B. Tamang, 2005Gyps bengalensis in Rampur Valley, Nepal.]]>218791Chundawat, B.S. and S.K. Gautam, 1993Farooq, M., R.P. Saxena and M.U. Beg, 198840307316Gupta, A.K., M. Sharma and N. Tandon,2004Vol. 2,Jain, S.K.,1991Jain, V., S.K. Verma and S.S. Katewa,2009Bombax ceiba L.: An appraisal.]]>8638644Jain, V., S.K. Verma, S.S. Katewa, S. Anandjiwala and B. Singh,2011Bombax ceiba Linn. root.]]>5462470Kumar, N.J.I., K. Patel, R.N. Kumar and B.R. Kumar,2011548998Prater, S.H.,1980Raju, A.J.S., S.P. Rao and K. Rangaiah,2005Bombax ceiba L. (Bombacaceae), a tropical dry season flowering tree species in the Eastern Ghats forests of India.]]>48187Ramakrishnappa, A. and R. Krell,20062006Roberts, T.J.,1997Sannigrahi, A.K.,20098335338Sarkar, P.R.,19913rd Edn.,Sharma, S.K.,20072007Singha, H., A.R. Rahmani, M.C. Coulter and S. Javed,200225214220The Wealth of India,2004Warrier, P.K., P.K. Nambiar and P.S. Warrier,1994Vol. 1,pp: 289-292pp: 289-292Verma, S.K., V. Jain and S.S. Katewa,2006Bombax ceiba: A new property of an old plant.]]>10212219Verma, S.K., V. Jain and S.S. Katewa,2011Bombax ceiba root in idiopathic involuntary weight loss a case study.]]>515Pudyatmoko, S., Kaharuddin and S. Nurvianto,20099345350