1Department of Studies in Environmental Science, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore-570 006, India.
2College of Forestry, University of Agricultural Sciences G.K.V.K., Bangalore-560 065, India.
The present investigation involves studying the impact of human interference on species composition, forest structure and regeneration pattern in moist deciduous forest. Six study areas that are proximal and distant to the settlements (hamlets) in the buffer zone were selected. Anthropogenic pressure is a common phenomenon in the developing countries where the population growth rate is high. The results revealed that the species richness, Shannon's diversity index, basal area and density were less in the areas close to the settlements compared to the areas away from the settlements. The average value index (AVI) was adopted and the disturbance parameters were classified into major, moderate and minor categories having the AVI value ≥ 1.55, 1 to 1.54 and ≤1 respectively. Lopping, cut stumps, grazing, litter collection, soil removal, domestic animal's dung and canopy opening showed significant variation between first transect and the last transect. Cumulative disturbance index (CDI) and the regeneration density of population showed a negative correlation. Increased value of CDI has shown a decreased regeneration status of tree species (R2 = 0.775). The trend line showed higher density of regenerating individuals in low and medium level of CDI and decreased drastically with increasing in CDI. The total number of regenerated seedlings in first transects was low and increased in the last transects away from the settlements. Student t-test showed significant differences between the proximal areas (1.154 ± 0.368 seedlings per 0.04 ha) and the distant areas (1.875 ± 1.178 seedlings per 0.04 ha) of settlements at p = 0.0002.
Anthropogenic disturbance, Forest structure, Species composition, Regeneration, Western Ghats of India
