Abstract
Knema Phytosociological studies have been carried out in a Myristica swamp in Northern Kerala to reveal the composition and distribution pattern of different tree species. On the basis of IVI, the family Myristicaceae was dominant and the association is attenuata - Myristica malabarica -Holigarna arnottiana type. The species like Gymnacranthera canarica and Myristica fatua var. magnifica, which are believed to be the essential elements of Myristica swamps, are totally absent here. A total 403 individuals (gbh > 10.1 cm) were recorded with a basal area of 34.25 m2 ha-1 in 0.5 ha. area. Total number of species recorded was 28, which represent 21families in which Myristicaceae represents 48.18% of total IVI. Among two dominant species, Myristica malabarica prefer swampy area hence their number of individual shows decreasing trend when we move from the swamp while the second dominant species Knema attenuata showing a reverse trend and was completely absent in the first five quadrats where soil water content is too high. Species specific eco-physiological studies are required to understand the reasons for change in the distribution pattern of these dominant species.
Highlights
Being one among the global biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats harbors a diverse of habitats that support unique sets of flora and fauna
These swamps, as their name indicates are characterised by the dominance of the members of family Myristicaceae represented with species like Gymnacranthera canarica, Myristica fatua, Myristica dactyloides, Myristica malabarica and Knema attenuata
In swampy ecosystems similar to the study area, the family Myristicaceae is remarkably dominant over other families but the species like Gymnacranthera canarica and Myristica fatua var. magnifica, which are believed to be the essential elements to consider an ecosystem as Myristica swamps[24], were not recorded in the present study
Summary
Being one among the global biodiversity hotspots, the Western Ghats harbors a diverse of habitats that support unique sets of flora and fauna. Myristica swamps are such a unique wetland ecosystem found in this region. Apart from Kerala, the Myristica swamps were reported from other parts of the Western Ghats such as Karnataka[13,14,15,16,17] and Goa[18].
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