Thumbnail Image

Theses

Browse

2015 - 20162
Reset filters
Subject: Forest Product and Utilisation × Author: KAU × End date: 2016 × Start date: 2011 × Type: Thesis ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Functional diversity of an evergreen forest ecosystem of Vazhachal forest division, Kerala
    (Department of Forest Management and Utilisation, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2016) Deepakkumar, R; KAU; Gopakumar, S
    The present study was carried out at Sholayar forest range of Vazhachal forest division of Thrissur district, Kerala state. The main objective of the study was to enumerate the species and functional diversity of selected aboveground and belowground biological components of this forest ecosystem. The study also aimed to understand the links between diversity, soil aspects, and functioning of the tropical west coast wet evergreen forest ecosystem. Five 0.1 ha (31.62 m x 31.62 m) sample plots were randomly laid in the selected grids in the Vazhachal forests as per the guidelines of National Working Plan Code 2014. A total of 175 plant species (<10 cm GBH) were recorded from the 0.5 ha (0.1 x 5 nos.) area in which 57 recruits, 29 shrubs, 28 herbs, 19 climbers, 14 pteridophytes, 13 polypores, 7 epiphytes, 4 orchids and 4 bryophytes. Palaquium ellipticum, Cullenia exarillata and Mesua ferrea are well represented young recruits. In addition, Dendrocnide sinuata, Psychotria nudiflora and Strobilanthus species were observed as dominant in the shrubby layer. Curcuma neilgherrensis, Pellionia heyneana and Oplismenus compositus are some of the herbs found in the herbaceous layer. Coscinium fenestratum, Leea indica, and Calamus species are the some of the important climbers found in the sampled sites. A total of 84 tree species were recorded from the 0.5 ha area with 1093 individuals per hectare and basal area of 85.43m2. Aglaia barberi, Cullenia exarillata, Mesua ferrea and Palaquium ellipticum were the dominated in the top canopy. Dipterocarpus indicus, Hydnocarpus pentandra and Myristica beddomei were observed in the middle storey. Garcinia wightii, Spondias pinnata and Strychnos nux-vomica were occupied in the lower canopy. Euphorbiaceae, Clusiaceae and Meliaceae were the dominant tree families. The diameter frequency as well as height frequency distribution of the sampled sites showed the reverse J shaped curve which reflects the healthy population structure. Margalef richness index (28.31), Shannon-Wieners index (4.08), Simpson index (0.9808) and Pielou`s index (0.6587). Rényi’s diversity profile and Principal Component analysis shows that there is smaller variation across sampled sites. The dominating plant functional traits are evergreen plant type (70.2%), simple leaf type (72.6%), glabrous textured leaf type (78.57%), smooth textured bark type (47.2%), medium thick bark type (53.5%), capsule fruit type (32.1%) and zoochory type (55.95%) of fruit dispersal which are typical of a tropical evergreen forest ecosystem. A total of 870 individuals of soil invertebrates under 28 different order were obtained from the 0.5 ha area. Isoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera emerged as the dominant orders. Shannon- Wiener Index (2.40), Simpson Index of diversity (0.14) and Pielou's evenness Index (0.51) are soil invertebrates’ diversity. The population of Bacteria (44.4 x 106 cfu g-1), Fungi (26.3 x 103 cfu g-1), Fluorescent pseudomonads (18.3 x104 cfu g-1), Nitrogen fixers (14.4 x 104 cfu g-1), Actinomycetes (16.4 x 104 cfu g-1) and Phosphate solubilizers (20 x 103 cfu g-1). Soil temperature (19.82˚C), Bulk density (1.28g cm-3), Moisture content (29.06%), Sandy loam soil (Sand- 78.15%, Silt- 16.04% and Clay- 5.82%), Organic carbon (4.19%), Soil acidity (5.25) and Soil electrical conductivity (0.07mSm-1) are recorded during the study.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Diversity and distribution of polypores in the wet evergreen and shola forests of silent valley national park, Kerala
    (Department of Forest Management and Utilisation, College of Forestry, Vellanikkara, 2015) Adarsh, C K; KAU; Vidyasagaran, K
    The study was carried out with the objectives to assess the diversity and distribution of polypores in the wet evergreen and shola forests in Silent Valley National Park during three different seasons during 2014-15. An attempt has also been made to find out the effect of substrate features like diameter, type and decay class on the diversity and abundance of polypores. Three fixed size permanent sample plots of 100 m×100 m with subplots of 10 x 10 m were established in three different locations in each ecosystem and these sample plots were enumerated during three different seasons to collect information on influence of seasonal fluctuation in fruitbody production and details on substrate characteristics. Apart from the plot based sampling, opportunistic sampling method was also adopted to maximize the documentation of polypore fungal diversity and distribution. A total of fifty seven species were recorded from the National Park and among this Inonotus pachyphloeus, Phylloporia pectinata, Trametes menziesii, Trametes ochracea and Trametes pubescens were the first report from Kerala. Three species (Inonotus sp. nov., Microporus sp. nov. and Polypores sp. nov.) were found to be new to science and these species have been described based on the macro and micro-morphology. The wet evergreen forest showed relatively high polypore diversity and richness than that of shola forest with higher Simpson’s index of diversity (0.92) and Margalef richness index (3.15). Similarity between polypore communities in two ecosystems was found to be low during all the seasons. The peak fruitbody production of the polypores was observed during the monsoon. The altitudinal variation analysis of polypores revealed a monotonic decrease pattern in species richness from lower altitude wet evergreen forests to higher altitude shola forests. The density of many of the polypore species was also found decrease drastically along the altitudinal gradient. The degree of dominance and evenness also showed a trend of increase and decrease respectively, along the altitudinal gradient. Polypore-host association revealed that, of the 91 tree species under 32 families, 29 tree species (31.87 %) belonging 16 families were hosts to polypores.Among them, Mesua ferrea harboured maximum polypores belonging 13 species followed by Elaeocarpus tuberculatus with 12 species and Cullenia exarillata with 8 species. Most of the polypore were found to be host generalist and only five species showed possible preference for a particular tree species. Among the substrate types, maximum polypore occurrence was observed on logs followed by branch/twig and snag while, living trees supported only very few polypores. The maximum species richness, density and occurrence has been recorded on substrates under 31- < 40 cm diameter class followed by 21- < 30 cm and 11- < 20 cm. Decay class association of polypores showed that the intermediate decay stages harboured the maximum both in terms of number of species, density and frequency of occurrence. The conceptual framework on primary ecological strategy revealed that polypores exhibits ruderal, combative and stress tolerant behaviours. The present study concluded that the diversity and distribution of polypores are determined by seasonal fluctuations, arborescent floral diversity and substrate features.