Endemism in the evergreen forests of Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

Abstract

In the present study analysed the pattern of tree endemism in the evergreen biotype of Western Ghats part of Karnataka, a biodiversity hotspot. Sampling has been done in various forest types of evergreen biotype and the recorded species were evaluated to analyse endemic status. A total of 267 plots sampled randomly across various forest types in evergreen biotype revealed 340 tree species (girth at breast height 30 cm) of which 112 endemics to them. Overall tree endemism observed in the Western Ghats part of Karnataka is 33%. The forest types studied are Myristica swamps, Riparian fringing forests, Southern hill top evergreen forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and West coast tropical evergreen forests. Myristica swamps had the highest number of endemic trees (45.10%) followed by Southern hill top evergreen forests (39.78%). More than 50% tree endemism was observed in 14 families of the recorded 33 families. Cluster analysis of endemic species revealed distinct species composition in Southern hill top evergreen forests.