Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad

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FLORAL DIVERSITY AND ANIMAL UTILIZATION OF FOREST MARSHY GRASSLAND IN WAYANAD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
(Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode, 42580) Aswathy Balan; Abdul Azeez, C P;
The present study was conducted in six selected marshy grasslands (Vayals) of Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala during February 2016 to June 2016 to identify the floral richness, density and diversity of different plant growth forms and to evaluate utilization of swamp areas by herbivores in marshy grasslands. The total number of different plant growth forms recorded was 142 which included 29 trees, nine weeds, 19 shrubs, 61 herbs and 24 grasses. The major invasive plants found in these marshy grasslands were Chromolaena odorata, Lantana camara and Ludwigia peruviana. The shrub species such as Persicaris sp., Urena lobata, Catunaregam spinosa and Randia tamilnadensis were constituted 69 percent of total shrub species. Totel six herbivores were recorded. The total diversity of trees were 0.8 ± 0.03. The total density density of weeds were 20.3 ± 2.08. The total mean density of shrub was 11.4 ± 2.56. Total density of grass was 32.1 ± 3.80 and diversity was 1.1 ± 0.04. Tree density was low in the Vayal area when compared to adjacent forest areas. The canopy cover and plant growth forms such as tree and shrub density influences the grass density in the Vayals.