Tree Regeneration and Seedling survival Patterns in the Tropical Dry Mixed-Deciduous Forest of Telangana, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i7/171250Keywords:
Tropical dry deciduous forest, Regeneration, Biodiversity conservation, Survivorship, Relative growth rateAbstract
Regeneration is a critical process as it determines the sustenance of forests and the biotic community. This study investigates the regeneration pattern of tree species and their survival status for over three years, 2022-2024, and the factors affecting regeneration in a tropical dry mixed deciduous forest in the reserve forests of the Narsapur area in Telangana state of India. A total of 67 species of 29 families were observed regenerating. Fabaceae was the most specious family, and Cleistanthus collinus was ecologically dominant. The forest exhibits three-layered strata with a mature and functionally diverse ecosystem. The middle stratum was species-rich with 43 canopy-forming species providing canopy connectivity. In the upper stratum, six species contributed significantly to canopy cover and primary biomass. Overall, 49 species had 'fair' regeneration status, one had 'good' regeneration, 'new' and 'poor' regeneration were recorded for six species in each category, and five species had 'no' regeneration. Cleistanthus collinus was dominant as tree and sapling, while Holarrhena pubescens was dominant as seedling. The size-wise distribution of species with fair regeneration shows an inverse Jshaped curve, indicating satisfactory regeneration in the area. Survivorship analysis of 18 tree species highlights an overall survivorship range from zero in Madhuca longifolia (100% mortality) to one in Lannea coromandelica (100% survival). Most of the species had low survival, close to 0.33%. The analysis showed that canopy cover, tree and sapling density, and species richness were important for regeneration in the area. Although most species exhibited fair regeneration, high mortality and low species richness of seedlings indicate the need for adaptive forest management and plantation interventions for effective restoration of the area under the prevailing climatic conditions.
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