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Vegetation Changes along Altitudinal Gradients in Human Disturbed Forests of Uttara Kannada, Central Western Ghats
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1Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences [CES], Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012, India.
2Department of applied Botany, Mangalore University, Mangalore
*Corresponding author:
cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out along the altitudinal gradients of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, representing different agro-climatic zones – coast, hilly and plains. 10 different sectors were selected for the study. Transect based survey resulted in documenting a total of 134 species of trees and 146 species of shrubs. It was found that the sectors 6, 7 and 8, lying in the Western Ghats section, were having semi-evergreen to evergreen forests and had the highest species diversity, percentage evergreen and percentage endemism. The sectors 9 and 10 in eastern plains harbour dry deciduous forests dominated by teak. The coastal sectors have more moist deciduous forests affected by human disturbances except for a patch of sacred grove in sector 1. However, the regeneration of evergreens, especially in the Ghat section areas, can be considered as a good sign for the return of evergreen forests and need to be austerely protected.

Keywords - Western Ghats. Uttara Kannada. Vegetation. Human Disturbances

 

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Citation : Rao G.R., Krishnakumar G., Sumesh N. Dudani, Subash Chandran M.D. and Ramachandra. T.V, 2013. Vegetation Changes along Altitudinal Gradients in Human Disturbed Forests of Uttara Kannada, Central Western Ghats., J Biodiversity, 4(2): 61-68 (2013).
* Corresponding Author :
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012, India.
Tel : +91-80-2293 3099/2293 3503 [extn - 107],      Fax : 91-80-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES-TVR]
E-mail : cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in, energy@ces.iisc.ernet.in,     Web : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/grass
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