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Species diversity and community structure in sal (Shorea robusta) forests of two different rainfall regimes in West Bengal, India

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Abstract

Knowledge on the structure and composition of the plant communities has enormous significance in conservation and management of forests. The present study aimed to assess the community attributes, viz., structure, composition and diversity in the moist and dry sal (Shorea robusta) forests in the West Bengal province of India and compare them with the other sal forests of India. The phytosociological data from these forests were quantitatively analysed to work out the species richness, diversity, evenness, dominance, importance value, stand density and the basal area. The analysis showed that plant richness and diversity in moist sal forests of northern West Bengal are higher than the dry sal forests of south-west Bengal; a total of 134 tree (cbh ≥30 cm), 113 shrub and 230 herb species were recorded in the moist sal forest compared to 35 tree, 41 shrub and 96 herb species in dry sal forest. Papilionaceae was observed to be the dominant family. Dry sal forests had higher tree dominance (0.81) and stand density (1,006 stems ha−1) but lower basal area (19.62 m2ha−1) while moist sal forest had lower tree dominance (0.18) and stand density (438 stems ha−1) but higher basal area (56.52 m2ha−1). Tree species richness and stem density across girth classes in both the types decreased from the smallest to largest trees, while the occurrence rate of species increased with increase in girth class. A t-test showed significant differences in species richness, basal area and the stand density at 95% confidence level (p = <0.05) in the two forest types. The CCA indicated very low overall match (canonical correlation value = 0.40) between the two sets of variables from moist and dry sal types. The differences in these forests could be attributed to the distinct variations in climatic conditions- mainly the rainfall, disturbance regimes and the management practices.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Dr. P.S. Roy, Director, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Dehradun for encouragement and the support throughout this study. The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support for this study from Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Space, Government of India. Grateful thanks are due to Dr. P.K. Hajra, former Director, Botanical Survey of India for species identification and nomenclature as also to Central National Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for species identification. Thanks are also due to Dr. A.K. Raha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of West Bengal and the officers and staff of West Bengal Forest Department for providing field support.

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  1. Forestry and Ecology Department, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, Indian Space Research Organisation, Dehradun, 248001, India

    Satya Prakash Singh Kushwaha & Subrata Nandy

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  1. Satya Prakash Singh Kushwaha
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Correspondence to Satya Prakash Singh Kushwaha.

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Kushwaha, S.P.S., Nandy, S. Species diversity and community structure in sal (Shorea robusta) forests of two different rainfall regimes in West Bengal, India. Biodivers Conserv 21, 1215–1228 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-012-0264-8

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