Strychnos 1990 - 2004 - Crops for the Future

Author
Title
Year
Source title
Reference
Reddy, M. S. and N. Parthasarathy
Liana diversity and distribution in four tropical dry evergreen forests on the Coro
2003
Biodiversity and Conservation
12(8): 1609-1627
Abstract
Liana diversity was inventoried in four tropical dry evergreen forest sites that are characterized by
numerous trees, of short stature and small diameter, and a varying degree of anthropogenic
disturbance, on the Coromandel coast of south India. A 1-ha plot was established in each of the four
sites and was subdivided into 100 quadrats of 10 m x 10 m. All lianas greater than or equal to1 cm
diameter at breast height (dbh) rooted within the plot were enumerated. The species richness and
density of lianas, with respect to site disturbance and forest stature, varied across the sites. Liana
density totaled 3307 individuals (range 497-1163 individuals ha(-1)) and species richness totaled 39
species (range 24-29 species ha(-1)) representing 34 genera and 24 families. Combretaceae,
Asclepiadaceae, Capparaceae and Vitaceae were the well-represented families. The top five species
Strychnos minor, Combretum albidum, Derris ovalifolia, Jasminum angustifolium and Reissantia
indica contributed 55% of total density. The slopes of the species-area curves were different for each
of the four sites and the curve stabilized in only one site. Of the four climbing modes recognized
among the total 39 species, 18 were twiners (56% of the total density). Eight species (24% of
density) were tendril climbers and 12 species (16% of density) were scramblers. Hugonia mystax
was the only hook climber. All the 39 species and 88% of liana density were encountered within a
category of 6 cm dbh or less, and a similar pattern prevailed in the individual sites. Of the three
diaspore dispersal modes found among the 39 liana species, animal (64%) and wind (23%) dispersal
were predominant over the autochorous mode (13%). Liana diversity and distribution in dry forest
communities appear to be influenced by forest stature and site disturbance levels. In the light of the
extent of liana diversity and sacred grove status of the study sites, the need for forest conservation,
i n v o l v i n g l o c a l p e o p l e , i s e m p h a s i z e d .