International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience (IJPAB)
Year : 2016, Volume : 4, Issue : 6
First page : (193) Last page : (203)
Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2411
Woody Species Composition and Diversity Analysis in the S.T. Hindu College Campus Located at Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India
R. Neelamegam1*, M.M. Preetha2, K. Priya3, B. Sathiya4, and L.Vanaja5
1,2,3,4,5Department of Botany & Research Centre, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil -629002,
Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: rnmegamsthcngl@gmail.com
Received: 26.11.2016 | Revised: 8.12.2016 | Accepted: 14.12.2016
Abstract
A survey was carried out to record the status, composition and diversity of woody plant species (includes trees, shrubs and lianas) growing in the S.T. Hindu College (known as South Travancore Hindu College) campus (STHC), located in Nagercoil town, headquarter of Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India. The survey results indicate that the total number of woody plants recorded in the STHC campus is 872 belongs to 29 families 50 genus and 50 species. The woody species comprises 90% trees, 8% shrubs and 2% lianas. Among the 29 families, Caesalpineaceae and Mimosaceae represented more number (4) of genus and species whereas the Verbinaceae family contains maximum (204) number of individuals of woody plants. About 62% of the woody species comes under <50cm GBH and 64% comes under <15cm DBH size categories. Of the 50 species, Tectona grandis represent maximum number of individuals (196) and higher relative density (RD=22.48) while maximum relative dominance noted in Pheltophorum pterocarpum (RDo=26.96) and total basal area (TBA=133462.20cm2), and maximum average basal area (ABA=3289.34cm2) was represented by Terminalia indica. Based on number of individuals/species, 74% of the species with 13.07% individuals comes under rare and very rare category, while 12% of the species with 76.83% individuals comes under dominant and predominant category. Based on relative density (RD), about 5 species are abundant with RD=72.59%, 7 species under rare (RD=10.67%) and 37 species under threatened/endangered category with RD=12.50%. In the study area, woody species diversity was estimated in the form of Shannon-Weaver’s Species Diversity (H’=2.556), Shimpson’s Dominance Index/Diversity (DI/D=0.124), Simpsons Concentration of Dominance (cd/λ=0.876), Margalef’s Index of Species Richness (RMargalef =7.238), Pielou’s index of Species Evenness (EPielou’s=0.655), and Species Heterogeneity (0.936). The results indicate that proper management and conservative measures need to be implemented for conservation of woody plant varieties in the S.T. Hindu College campus.
Key words: Woody species, Diversity Indices, S.T. Hindu College, Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu.
Full Text : PDF; Journal doi : http://dx.doi.org/10.18782
Cite this article: Neelamegam, R., Preetha, M.M., Priya, K., Sathiya, B. and Vanaja, L., Woody Species Composition and Diversity Analysis in the S.T. Hindu College Campus Located at Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India, Int. J. Pure App. Biosci.4(6): 193-203 (2016). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2320-7051.2411
