Abstract
A forest tree inventory study was conducted in Vallanadu Black buck sanctuary, Tuticorin. The current study was conducted to assess tree density, species richness, basal area (BA) and aboveground biomass (AGB) stockpile. The study area has been classified as Southern Thorn Forest (SFT). One hundred square plots (total area 1 ha), each 10m × 10m (100 m2 each) laid randomly across study area. All live trees with ≥5 cm diameter at breast height (DBH) measured at 137 cm above the ground. As the whole, 1335 individual trees ≥5cm DBH recorded. A total number of 18 species recorded from 14 genera and 11 families in study area. The family Mimosaceae has maximum number of species (7 species) followed by Rhamnaceae (2 species), while 9 families had just single species’ each. The total basal area recorded was 22.046 m2 ha-1, while, the mean wood density (WD) of trees estimated as 0.70±0.093 g cm-3. Total amount of 50.065 Mg ha-1 present in STF. The contribution of different species in terms of total AGB varied significantly. Commiphora berryi stocked 45.13% (22.588 Mg ha-1) of AGB followed by A. planifrons (23.31%, 11.669 Mg ha-1), A. mellifera (7.233%, 3.621 Mg ha-1), whereas remaining 15 species collectively stocked 24.327% (12.187 Mg ha-1) AGB. The STF had a large number of trees compared to some dry forests within Tamil Nadu. Southern Thorn Forest endowed with a moderate number of trees species. Aboveground biomass stockpile of trees is comparable with the range recorded from Indian dry forests. The study area experiences lesser mean annual rainfall and >6 months dry season. Further, endowed with short-bole and smaller leaved trees, hence stocked a relatively lesser AGB in trees.
Highlights
About one half of the existing forests are found in world’s tropical regions, in which about 42% classed as dry forest.[1]
Density and Species Richness A total number of 1335 trees ≥5cm diameter at breast height (DBH) were recorded from one ha area of Southern Thorn Forest (STF)
Commiphora berryi dominated the STF with 334 (25.02%) individuals followed by Acacia planifrons (261, 19.55%), Dichrostachys cinerea (225, 16.85%) and Acacia mellifera (165, 12.36%), while Bauhinia racemosa, Gmelina arborea and Lannea coromandelica were represented by just single individual each
Summary
About one half of the existing forests are found in world’s tropical regions, in which about 42% classed as dry forest.[1]. Soil moisture content acts as one of the determining factors, affecting plant species diversity and dispersion in dry forests.[5, 6] In addition, plants of dry forests are largely subjected to water stress during dry period of the year.[7, 8] Dry forests tends to have moderate to high plant species richness and diversity.[9,10,11]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
