Liana diversity and distribution on host trees in four inland tropical dry evergreen forests of peninsular India

摘要

Liana diversity and their distribution on host trees were studied in four 1 ha plots, distributed one in each of the four inland tropical dry evergreen forest sites of peninsular India. A total of 2678 lianas (>= 1 cm diameter at breast height, dbh) belonging to 35 species in 32 genera and 22 families were inventoried in the four sites. Forty per cent of species were exclusive to individual sites and 25% of species were common to all the four sites. Five predominant liana species formed 56% of the total liana population. Combretum albidum, the predominant species across the four sites contributed 28% of total liana density. Majority of lianas (70%) were within 1-3 cm dbh class. Of the four climbing modes of lianas (twiners, tendril climbers, scramblers and hook climber) the twiners were the most abundant. Ordination analysis based on species abundance differentiated sites along a disturbance gradient. Sixty-three per cent of the total 2785 trees >= 10 cm girth at breast height (gbh) carried at least one liana. Albizia amara and Manilkara hexandra were the most preferred host trees, while the dominant trees Memecylon umbellatum and Glycosmis pentaphylla had lower proportion of trees carrying lianas. The frequency distribution of lianas on trees ranged from 0-10 and the frequency of trees with different number of Manas showed non-random distribution. A significant difference in liana infestation rate as well as mean liana load was observed between trees of 10-30 cm and >30 cm gbh classes. Four hostspecies of >30 cm gbh had a significantly higher proportion of trees supporting lianas than the forest mean. Further, lianas showed a preference for multi-stemmed trees and host trees of >30 cm gbh class with rough bark.