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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    DENSITY AND DIVERSITY OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN DIFFERENT HABITATS OF SOUTH WAYANAD FOREST DIVISION
    (Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Angel Joy; George Chandy
    Invasive species are considered as the greatest threat to biodiversity and wildlife conservation, after habitat destruction. The distribution of invasive plants in three different habitats (Evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest and teak plantation) was studied in South Wayanad Forest Division from February 2016 to June 2016. A total of 22 invasive plants were recorded. Diversity distribution and richness of invasive species significantly varied between different habitat types. The plant species such as Chromaleana odorata, Lantana camara and Mimosa pudica were recorded in all the three habitats. The invasive species Mikania micrantha was recorded in the evergreen forest and moist deciduous forest. The density (6.14±0.13), richness (4.11±0.06) and diversity (3.49±0.03) of native tree species were significantly higher in evergreen forests. The tree species composition varied across different habitats. The density, species richness and diversity of herb and shrub was higher in the teak plantation. Factors determining the density of invasive plant species such as canopy cover, disturbance, distance from the road and habitat were studied. The variables were investigated using multiple regressions. Diversity, density and richness of invasive plant species were greatly influenced by all these variables. Canopy cover (-0.69) had a primary influence on weed density followed by disturbance (-0.13) and distance to road (-0.10). The density and richness of invasive species were minimum where the canopy cover reached the maximum. The highest density of invasive plants was recorded in areas with higher disturbances. The invasive plant density was higher near the road and declined as distance increased. Herb and shrub species richness declined with increasing in invasive plant density. Even though evergreen forests with high tree densities and closed canopy were found to have least invasive species density, no direct relationship between the density of tree species and invasive species density could be identified. Low densities of invasive species in Evergreen Forests is attributed to the fact that evergreen forests had high canopy cover, which prevents direct succession by invasive plants.