ECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DIPTEROCARPACEAE OF NORTH ANDAMAN FOREST, INDIA

Prasad Chandra, Prasad Rama Chandra
2011 J. Plant Develop   unpublished
Dipterocarpaceae is one of the important timber families of Andaman Islands whose members were largely exploited for their timber in the past. The current study discusses in detail about the family Dipterocarpaceae of North Andaman forest with reference to its species composition, population structure and other ecological entities. Data was analyzed using various ecological and statistical methods. Dipterocarps were encountered in 97 plots, occupying 80% of the sampled area with 68 stems ha-1
more » ... d basal area of 8.2 m 2 ha-1. Dipterocarpaceae ranked 3 rd with reference to stem density (11%) and 1 st with respect to basal area (18%). The family showed five species viz., Dipterocarpus alatus, D. costatus, D. gracilis, D. grandiflorus and Hopea odorata compounded from two genera-Dipterocarpus and Hopea. Keeping in view of the species demographic structure as well as regeneration status, conservative measures are suggested along with certain research questions which need immediate attention in the fragile insular ecosystems of Andaman Islands.
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