Assessment of Tree Diversity and Recruitment Patterns in the Kanha Tiger Reserve, Central India
Keywords:
Tree Diversity, Regeneration, Kanha Tiger Reserve, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecosystem resilience, Species richnessAbstract
Tree diversity and regeneration are vital indicators of forest health and resilience, particularly in biodiversity-rich areas like the Kanha Tiger Reserve in central India. This study assesses the diversity and recruitment patterns of tree populations across five distinct locations within the reserve: Chapari, Kisi, Manegaon, Patpara, and Soutiya. A total of 25 circular plots, each with a 10-meter radius, were systematically established to identify and measure all trees with a girth at breast height (GBH) greater than 30 cm. Additionally, a nested subplot approach was utilized to evaluate tree recruits with a GBH of 20 cm but less than 50 cm in height. Various diversity indices, including Taxa (S), Dominance (D), Simpson's Index (1-D), Shannon Index (H), and Evenness (e^H/S), were calculated to gauge species richness and distribution patterns.
The results demonstrate considerable spatial variation, with Chapari and Soutiya showing the highest species diversity and recruitment rates, while Kisi and Patpara exhibited lower diversity and higher dominance, possibly due to environmental or anthropogenic influences. A Kruskal-Wallis test identified significant differences among the locations for most of the ecological indices, and further Dunn's post-hoc tests highlighted specific pairwise differences between the locations. The findings of this study emphasize the need for targeted conservation strategies to enhance biodiversity and maintain ecological equilibrium within the Kanha Tiger Reserve.
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