DENSITY AND DIVERSITY OF INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES IN DIFFERENT HABITATS OF SOUTH WAYANAD FOREST DIVISION
Loading...
Date
42580
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kerala Veterinary and animal science university, Pookode
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
null