Study of the flora of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Southern Eastern Ghats, India

Abstract

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (latitude II" 29' IS" to Il u 43' II" N and longitude 760 50' 69"to 77 0 27' 22" E) forms a major biodiversity rich area in Eastern Ghats. India with a mixture of both indigenous and exotic species. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve bas got a high diversity of flora and fauna owing to its unique location which is a confluence of two distinct geographical regions, namely the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats. The Tiger Reserve is rich in floristic diversity and 14 different types of forests from dry scrub to West-coast semi evergreen forests occur here. A threatened tree species, Sandal (Santalum album) occurs predominantly in the dry forests of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. The study area has some major perennial river systems such as Moyar and Bhavani. The major indigenous tribal communities of this region constitute Irulars, Ooralis. Kurumbas and Soligars. A total of 17 intensive field exploration trips were conducted covering different seasons between August 2014 to March 2017