Altitudinal Variation in Structural Composition of Vegetation in Satpura National Park

Abstract

Three major tree communities were identified in the Satpura National Park, Madhya Pradesh i.e. Chloroxylon-Terminalia community at elevation range <900m (Lower hills). Shorea - Terminalia community at 900-1100m elevation (Middle hills). Syzygium- Terminalia community at 1l00-1350m elevation (Upper hills). There was decrease in density with increasing altitude. On the hasis of basal area and density Shorea robusta preferred the mid hills, Chloroxylon swietenia performed better at lower bills and Syzygium cumini preferred to grow in upper hills. The distribution pattern of species is contiguous. Diversity index of tree species in three plant communities i.e. Chloroxylon-Terminalia, Shorea-Terminalia and Syzygium-Terminalia was 3.62, 2.71 and 3.02 respectively. High species diversity is an indication of maturity in the ecosystem. The tree species richness was 45, 29 and 31 at <900m, 900-1100 m and 1100-1350m elevation respectively. Forest belonging to Chloroxylon-Terminalia is biodiversity rich area because of more number of species. There are 29 shrub species under Chloroxylon-Terminalia, community followed by 27 shrub species under Shorea-Terminalia community and only 19 shrub species under Syzygium-Terminalia community. In corresponds to species diversity index of 3.85, 3.16 and 2.57 respectively. Diversity index of herbs in these communities was 3.53,3.44 and 3.26 respectively, which corresponds to herb species richness in term of individual members of 43, 40 and 37.