M Sc Dissertation(WII)

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    Assessing the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on epiphytes in Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, India
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2024) Nongrang, Tiewlyngksiar Lyngdoh; Kumar, Amit
    The key findings emerged from this study include- A total of 66 epiphytes comprising 32 species of orchids, 09 species of ferns, and 25 species of hemi-epiphytes & holo-epiphytes were recorded from the study area. Orchids had the highest species richness followed by ferns and hemi-epiphytes & holoepiphytes. Among orchids, species of Bulbophyllum, Pholidota and and a were dominant. The dominant species among ferns included Lepisorus sp., Davallodes hymenophylloides and Pyrrosia flocculosa whereas, among hemi-epiphytes and holo-epiphytes, the dominant species were Piper longum, Pothos chinensis, Rhaphidophora decursiva, Scurrula parasitica and Ficus sp. The abundance of epiphytes was observed highest in the Private Forest followed by the Village Forest and Reserve Forest. Species richness, using sampled-based Rarefaction curves of epiphytes showed that the curve is not reaching an asymptote and observed species were highest in the Village Forest followed by Reserve Forest and Private Forest. The most abundant groups of epiphytes in Private Forest were hemiepiphytes mainly dominating on the lower trunk. In the village forest, orchids were found occupying the inner canopy. In Reserve Forest, ferns were in abundance and occupied the upper trunk. Species correlation shows no difference in species composition. Environmental variables are factors that can explain the difference in species richness and abundance of epiphytes.
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    Patterns in plant species richness and diversity in the forest fragments of Western Ghats, Karnataka.
    (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2007) Page, Navendu V.; Qureshi, Qamar; Rawat, G.S.
    Patterns of species richness diversity and distribution, and the factors affecting these patterns have always attracted the attention of many ecologists. Degree of fragmentation is one such factor affecting the species richness and composition also of great importance to conservation biology in light of rapid loss of biodiversity. The study examined the patterns of distribution and species richness and its correlates in a fragmented landscape in Kodagu district, Western Ghats, Karnataka. The study also examined some of the factors affecting distribution of epiphytes such as distribution along the tree height gradient and host specificity. A total of 129 species of trees, 29 species of Iians as and 68 species of vascular epiphytes were recorded in 56, 25m x 25m square plots. 60 species of shrubs were recorded in 90, 5m x 5m square plots. Patch area was found to be significantly correlated with tree species richness, but area was not correlated with shrub, liana and epiphyte species richness. However plant density used as measure of site specific productivity along with area were significantly correlated with lianas and epiphyte richness. Neither of these could explain the variation in shrub species richness. Lianas and shrubs did not show any such trend but epiphyte richness showed a negative trend in rarefied species richness with increase in area. Rank abundance curves indicated that Reserve forest had the most equitable distribution of abundance classes and also more number of rare species. Species composition was found to differ significantly across different size classes. All the plant communities showed moderate levels of nestedness. Distribution of an epiphyte along the tree was not influenced by the mode of dispersal alone. There was no strong evidence in support of host specificity however some selective host species were found to be favoured by epiphytes.