Reintroduction of Indian Grey Hornbills in Gir, India: Insights into Ranging, Habitat Use, Nesting and Behavioural Patterns

Seed germination and seedling survival percentage of Shorea robusta was studied in Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) from 2010 to 2011. During the investigation period it was found that larger seeds (12 to 14 mm diameter) exhibited higher germination percentage (70 ± 6.5%) and all the seedlings survived. On the other hand, smaller seeds showed a very low percentage of germination (25 ± 4.24%) and none of the seedlings survived. It was also noticed from the study that the growth phase of the parent tree has a prominent effect on the germination potential of seeds. Juvenile trees with Girth at Breast Height (GBH) 75 to 80 cm as well as over mature (GBH: 91 to105 cm) or senile trees (GBH: 106 to 150 cm) produce seeds with a lesser germination capacity. However, young trees (GBH: 81 to 90 cm) produce seeds with a higher germination potential. Not only these aspects but also the orientation of seeds showed a peculiar phenomenon during natural germination. Maximum percentage (85 ± 12.75%) of seed germination was marked in case of seeds fallen on the forest floor in inverted position in comparison to other seed orientation types i.e. upright and horizontal. The uprightly falling seeds on the forest floor exhibited the minimum percentage (32 ± 6.84%) of germination, while horizontally falling seeds showed an intermediate range of germination percentage. Percentage survival of seedlings also followed the same pattern.

Provenance and family variation in growth performance of Eucalyptus tereticornis (Sm.) in a provenance cum progeny trial in Midnapore, India

We selected 28 populations of Leucaena leucocephala from different geographical locations in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Orissa of India on the basis of height and girth at breast height (GBH). We evaluated fiber length, optical density, wall thickness, vessel element length, vessel element diameter, specific gravity and lignin of these populations of L. leucocephala in different sites. Populations had significant variations for all growth, wood and paper parameters. Girth at breast height (GBH) and specific gravity were the most important parameters for heritability and genetic gain, respectively. The minimum heritability was reported for vessel element length and genetic gain for fiber length. The populations were grouped into six clusters, cluster II had maximum number of populations (14) and clusters IV and VI had one population each. GBH contributed maximum of 34.39 % towards total divergence followed by specific gravity (14.02%). An economic technique to produce quality seed by establishing seed orchards with genetically divergent parents was suggested. The hybridization among the populations selected from diverse clusters could produce greater heterosis needed for higher growth and suitable wood and paper manufacturing parameters.

Teak (Tectona grandis) is a high-value timber species in tropical regions. In Brazil, although teak has a high productivity, there are few studies related to its genetic improvement. This work aimed to estimate genetic parameters and evaluate potential gains of selection in a clonal test of teak installed in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experimente is in a randomized block design, with five replications, 3x3 m spacing, 22 treatments, and plots with six individuals. At five years, the genotypes were evaluated for survival (S), tree total height (H) and girth at breast height (GBH). There was significance and feasibility of selection for S and GBH. For H, the result was not significant, indicating few gains with the selection. The genetic parameters of clonal mean heritabilities and accuracy were of moderate magnitude for S and GBH and low for H. To best of our knowledge, this is the first work that estimates genetic parameters in a clonal teak test in the field in Brazil.

The surveys were conducted in natural populations of Haldina cordifolia in the forest areas of three states of central India namely Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Based on the growth parameters of the individual tree, a total of thirty trees from nine forest divisions of these three states were selected as candidate plus trees (CPTs). Variation was observed in girth at breast height (GBH), total height, and clear bole height (CBH) of trees surveyed. The maximum GBH was recorded in the CPTs of Balrampur (243.75 cm) while the minimum was recorded in Balaghat (115 cm). The maximum height of CPTs was recorded in Dindori (30.25 m) while the minimum was recorded in Allapalli (19 m). The maximum CBH% of total height was recorded in Bilaspur (44.22) while the minimum was recorded in Katghora (37.31). Higher GBH and height of trees may be resulted due to more age of trees. CPTs of Bilaspur were of middle age and showed the highest CBH% (44.22) and relatively low GBH and height when compared with those of Dindori and Balrampur. With age, the trees of Bilaspur will gain more height and girth which will result in higher yield.

Teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) is one of the most preferred tropical timber species for afforestation, reforestation, and commercial plantation in the world. In the event of global warming caused by projected climate change, water-use-efficient teak planting stock would become essential for breeding and plantation activities. To characterize and to evaluate the association of water-use efficiency (WUE) with other growth and wood quality traits, we measured height, girth at breast height (GBH), wood density (WD), and carbon isotope discrimination (CID) values of 162 teak plus trees in a national teak germplasm bank (NTGB). The genetic diversity and structure of these accessions were also confirmed through 21 microsatellite markers for confirmation of their representation of teak meta-population in India. Results indicate 30.43% variation in average height (11.17 ± 3.40 m), 25.51% variation in GBH (67.18 ± 17.14 cm), and 7.48% variation in WD (789.24 ± 59.04 kg/m3) among the accessions. The accessions exhibited a significantly high level of genetic polymorphism (88.74%) with a moderate level of Shannon’s diversity index (0.53) and comparatively low heterozygosity (0.27). No significant correlation was found between height and GBH with the CID values. This confirms that the measurement of growth and wood quality traits in teak alone is not helpful to tree breeders for indirect selection of water-use efficient trees. Rather, assessment of more specific traits related to growth, wood quality, and WUE of teak in different locales will be required to improve the teak germplasm in India.

Species richness and aboveground carbon stocks in the homegardens of central Kerala, India

A. marina belongs to Avicenniaceae family and the specie is widely distributed in intertidal zone of coastal region of Gulf of Kachchh (GoK) region. The goal of the study was to develop the relation between Age and Growth (AG from 06 to 31 yearold mangrove plantation period i.e. year 2007-08 to 1983-84. The field data was collected during October to December, 2014. From each site 100 individuals of the species were measured with regard to parameters such as Collar Girth (CG), Girth at Breast Height (GBH) and Height of the plant. During the plantation period, average CG varied from 12.2±1.4cm to 161±17.5cm and average height ranged from55.052 ±3cm to 554.28±60cm (0.5 m to 5.5 m) was recorded in the GoK. Whereas, the GBH was recorded from plantations of year 1995 which ranged between 25.4±1.4to 86.2±12.3cm. Present study also showed yearly increment in various parameters viz. Heights (17 cm/yr), CG (2.96 cm/yr), and, GBH (3.18 cm/yr).

Teak ( Tectona grandis ) is a high-value timber species, and its genetic improvement is crucial for enhancing productivity in plantation forestry. This study evaluated 100 open-pollinated teak families in a progeny trial established in 1998 to assess genetic variation and identify superior genotypes using Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP). Significant variation was observed among families for all studied traits, including tree height, girth at breast height (GBH), clear bole length (CBL), crown traits, and wood volume. Estimates of narrow-sense heritability were higher for girth at breast height, crown height and tree height, indicating moderate additive genetic control. BLUP values revealed that 29 families had consistently positive genetic merit across traits, while 31 had uniformly negative values. Selection of the top 20–30 families based on wood volume BLUPs is projected to yield substantial genetic gains with reduced genetic erosion, supporting the establishment of a clonal seed orchard (CSO). The study demonstrates the effectiveness of BLUP in identifying elite teak families and emphasises the role of genetic evaluation in developing high-yielding, genetically diverse planting stock for long-term tree improvement programs.

A survey was conducted in 17 selectedthaluks (revenue sub-divisions) of Kerala state to elucidate the floristic structure, composition and the extent of similarities and diversities in the composition of homegardens of Kerala, with particular reference to small (below 0.4 ha), medium (0.5 to 2 ha) and large (>2.0 ha) holding size categories. Besides attempts wer also made to characterize the potential of homegardens to supply commercial timber and fuelwood. Two hundred and fifty two farmers were selected through a stratified random process. In addition to gathering general information on crop and livestock production enterprises, all scattered trees and shrubs (≥15 cm girth at breast height) on the homestead and border trees except palms and rubber were enumerated. There was tremendous variability both in the number of trees and shrubs present and species diversity of the selected homesteads in different provinces. The small, medium and large sized holdings also exhibited profound variability in the number of woody taxa and individuals present. In total, 127 woody species (Girth at Breast Height (GBH) ≥15 cm) were encountered. The mean number of woody taxa found in the homegardens ranged from 11 for Pathanapuram to 39 in Perinthalmanna. Floristic diversity was higher in the smaller homesteads. It decreased with increasing the size of holdings. Mean Simpson's diversity index for the homesteads ranged from 0.251 (Kochi) to 0.739 (Kottarakkara) suggesting that floristic diversity of homegardens was moderate to low compared to a value over 0.90 for the species-rich evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. The Sorensen's similarity indexes suggested a moderately high degree of similarity for the different tree species encountered in the homesteads of Kerala. No clear cut planting pattern was discernible in the homegardens of Kerala. The homegarden trees and shrubs were either scattered throughout the homestead or on farm boundaries. Farmers tend to prefer timber trees such as ailanthus (highest frequency) and teak besides fruit trees such as mango, jack, cashew and the like. Major homegarden species were represented in all diameter classes. The diameter structure, however, exhibited a slightly skewed (+) distribution pattern, having the highest frequency in the 20–30 cm classes ensuring adequate regeneration status and in that process making homegardens a sustainable as well as dynamic land use system. Standing stock of timber and firewood in the homestead of differentthaluks are presented. Average commercial standing stock of homesteads ranged from 6.6 to 50.8 m3 ha−1 and fuel wood volume was of the order of 23 to 86 m3 ha−1. Implicit in the high commercial timber volume and fuel wood volume is that a substantial proportion of the society's wood demands are met from the homesteads. Palms, however, constituted the dominant component of standing commercial timber and fuel wood volumes accounting as much as 63% and 72%, respectively, of the total wood in these categories.

We investigate the uncertainty of Diameter at Breast Height, or DBH, of woods via a simple mathematical model. Usually, the DBH is not measured directly. The measurement is done on the Girth at Breast Height (GBH), which, by definition, is the circumference of wood at 130 cm above the ground. The DBH can then be calculated, assuming that the wood cross-section is a circle. This can introduce uncertainty to the DBH due to the irregularity of the shape of the wood cross-section. In this work, we approximate the wood cross-section by an ellipse, which can be fitted to the cross-section better than the circle. However, the eccentricity of the fitted ellipse is unknown, so we treat it as a random variable. The discrepancy between the diameter of the circle with the same area as the fitted ellipse, and the diameter of the circle with the same circumference as the GBH, is calculated. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to obtain the uncertainty of the DBH.

Non destructive methods for quantification of carbon sequestration in tropical trees are inadequately developed. We described a standardized method for estimating carbon stock in teak (Tectona grandis Linn. F.). We developed linear allometric equations using girth at breast height (GBH), height and age to quantify above ground biomass (AGB). We used AGB to estimate carbon stock for teak trees of different age groups (1.5, 3.5, 7.5, 13.5, 18.5 and 23.5 years). The regression equation with GBH, y = 3.174x − 21.27, r2=0.898 (p teak-wheat (56.92%) > teak-wild oat (54.94%) > teak-gram (37.15%) > teak-ashwagandha (11.86%). The results from GBH-based regression equations provided satisfactory estimates of carbon stock in tropical trees.

This data paper presents the vascular plant biodiversity sampled from four plots on Amami‐Oshima Island, three plots on Tokunoshima Island, and one plot on Okinawa Island within the natural World Heritage site, and an additional three plots in southern Kyushu using the standardized belt‐transect survey method during July 2012 to October 2020. The dataset includes 99 families, 215 genera, and 381 species of vascular plants, and provides species occurrence among 10 subplots for all vascular plants, girth at breast height (GBH) and height of all trees and climbers with GBH ≥ 3.2 cm or height ≥ 4 m in each 5 × 100 m plot. This dataset serves as baseline data for subsequent plant diversity monitoring of the natural World Heritage site. The Darwin Core Archive is deposited in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) through the Japan Initiative for Biodiversity Information, and are thus accessible through the GBIF portal under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. The detailed Metadata for this abstract published in the Data Article section of the journal is available in MetaCat in JaLTER at http://db.cger.nies.go.jp/JaLTER/metacat/metacat/ERDP‐2022‐03.1/jalter‐en.

Primates spend about half of their lives at sleeping sites, and their choice of sleeping sites may affect individual survival. We identified a total of 88 trees used by proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) as night sleeping sites on 16 nights from June to September 2008 in riverine, mangrove, and mixed mangrove–riverine forests along the Garama River, a tributary of the Klias River, in the west of Sabah, Malaysia. We recorded 11 variables for each tree, including the species, physical structure, distance from the riverbank, and connectivity with surrounding trees. We compared sleeping trees with 114 trees with ≥30 cm girth at breast height (GBH) located ≤50 m of the riverbank in 8 botanical plots (total 1 ha). Trees in the plots represented the general vegetation patterns of the study area. Choice of sleeping trees did not depend on the tree species. Although sleeping trees included trees ≤46 m from the river, those closer to riverbanks (5–35 m, n = 76) were more likely to be used as sleeping sites. Compared to the available trees, sleeping trees had larger trunks (mean±SD = 143.6 ± 56.9 cm GBH), and were taller (mean±SD = 34.3 ± 8.1 m), with greater number (median = 6; range = 12) and larger (mean±SD = 24.1 ± 15.2 cm circumference) main branches. They were also located near to other trees, with overlapping branches, creating good arboreal connectivity. Choice of sleeping trees by proboscis monkeys is likely to be related to risks of predation and injury from falling, as well as ease of social interaction and efficiency of locomotion.

ABSTRACTCarbon stocks of woody vegetation were assessed in a tropical dry forest of the Javadi Hills at three elevations (high-elevation forest, HEF; mid-elevation forest, MEF; and low-elevation forest, LEF) by laying 15 square plots of 0.25 ha each. All of the adult trees (≥ 30 cm girth at breast height (GBH)), juvenile trees (≥ 10 to < 30 cm GBH) and lianas (≥ 3 cm girth at 1.37 m from the rooting point) were enumerated and woody biomass was assessed by the non-harvest method. The total tree (juvenile + adult tree) aboveground biomass ranged from 99 to 216 Mg/ha. The liana aboveground biomass ranged from 3.6 to 9.3 Mg/ha. The woody vegetation in the present study sites stocked 53 to 116 Mg/ha of carbon. Adult trees accounted for a maximum share of 94% of woody carbon while lianas and juvenile trees contributed to just 6%. The carbon stock of adult trees and lianas increased with increasing altitude whereas juveniles showed a reverse trend, which could be due to anthropogenic pressures. Human disturbance and cattle grazing should be minimized in the studied tropical dry forest ecosystem to conserve its vanishing natural resources and also to enhance carbon accumulation for the future.