Assessment of plant biodiversity of dry deciduous forest of Sandur, Karnataka

Abstract

Plant biodiversity of dry deciduous forest of Sandur was assessed by establishing 20 transects totalling 2 ha. All plants above 15 cm girth dbh were enumerated for assessing basal area, biomass and the diversity of community and also the regeneration of the tree species. A total of 95 woody plants species from 31 families are recorded. Of which 65 (64.15%) were tree species, 24 (24.5%) were shrubs, 6 (6.4%) were scandents and 205 species of herbs. The diversity of the forest is 1.73 (Shannon), 0.697 (evenness), Simpson's index showed 0.749 (l-D), 3.984 (l/D). The floristic richness was made by using Margalef index (24.75) and Menhinicks index (3.00). The dominant communities like Chloroxylon, Anogeissus, Boswellia is followed by Albizia, Terminalia, Acacia Series. The stem density and basal areas of these dominant species are 18.43 sq.m./2 ha, and biomass 220.8 sq.m/2 ha. The girth distribution showed 'L' shaped curve indicating the good regeneration in the forest.