Gap phase regeneration of tree species of differing successional status in a humid tropical forest of Kerala, India

Chandrashekara, U. M. ; Ramakrishnan, P. S. (1993) Gap phase regeneration of tree species of differing successional status in a humid tropical forest of Kerala, India Journal of Biosciences, 18 (2). pp. 279-290. ISSN 0250-5991

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Official URL: http://www.ias.ac.in/jarch/jbiosci/18/279-290.pdf

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02703125

Abstract

Germination, establishment and growth of seedlings of tree species Palaquium ellipticum (primary), Actinodaphne malabarica (late secondary) and Macaranga peltata (early secondary) were studied in a humid tropical forest at Nelliampathy, in the Western Ghats of Kerala. While the primary species completed its germination within a brief period of 1.5 months, at the other extreme, early secondary species showed slow germination extending for about 5 months, the late secondary species falling in between. Although, all the species studied showed higher establishment and growth under gaps, the early secondary species were more responsive compared to the primary species. Primary species showed better establishment in undisturbed sites and natural gaps than under selection felled gaps; the reverse was true for late and early secondary species. Survival of seedlings increased with gap size, but sharply declined with gap age. Shoot/root ratio was consistently higher in the early secondary species than in the primary species.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Indian Academy of Sciences.
Keywords:Canopy Gaps; Humid Tropical Forest; Seed Germination; Seedling Establishment and Growth; Western Ghats
ID Code:56698
Deposited On:25 Aug 2011 10:18
Last Modified:18 May 2016 08:25

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