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ISSN : 2287-8327

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Vol.32 No.4
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Status of the Red-Listed Plant Species, Smilax wightii A. DC. in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, India

Journal of Ecology and Environment / Journal of Ecology and Environment, (P)2287-8327; (E)2288-1220
2009, v.32 no.4, pp.249-256
S. Paulsamy (Kongunadu Arts and Science College)

K.K. Vijayakumar (Kongunadu Arts and Science College)
P. Senthilkumar (Kongunadu Arts and Science College)
S., P. , K.K., V. , & P., S. (2009). Status of the Red-Listed Plant Species, Smilax wightii A. DC. in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, India. Journal of Ecology and Environment, 32(4), 249-256.
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Abstract

The rare endemic plant, Smilax wightii, is generally distributed in shola forests at high altitudes in Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the Western Ghats, southern India. To determine the ecological status of the species, we surveyed 11 major shola forests in that region. S. wightii has a limited distribution in all sholas (frequency value of <13%). The density of the species is generally around 15/100 m² in the sholas except in Thiashola where it occurred at a density of 40 individuals/100 m². The density of S. wightii was generally greater in the margins of the shoals, while the interior forests contained fewer individuals per unit area. The basal cover occupied by this species ranged between 2246 and 3144 mm²/100 m². The importance value index for S. wightii was >2 in all shoals, which indicates that the species occupies an important position in the lower stratum of shola forests of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

keywords
India, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Red-listed species, Smilax wightii, Western Ghats, India, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Red-listed species, Smilax wightii, Western Ghats

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