Abstract :

Tree species diversity studies help to understand the species composition and determine the information for forest conservation. The current workwas conducted in Salumarada Thimmakka Park for the assessment of tree species composition. Random sampling using quadrants was employed for the study. This study assesses the park’s biodiversity index to provide a detailed assessment of its ecological health, species richness and distribution. This researchused quantitative methodologies, such as Shannon-Weiner and Simpson’s Diversity Indices, to assess species abundance and evenness across the ecosystems.The objective is to study composition and diversity of tree species. Tree species and families were identified, a total of 240 species of trees distributed into 8 families were found in all the quadrants and the dominant families were Fabaceae and Santalaceae. This work examined a number of well-known diversity indexes, i.e., Shannon index (H’), Simpson Diversity Index (D), Pielou Evenness Index (J), Margalef’s Diversity indicator (R), Berger–Parker Index (d), Menhinick index (D Menhinick), Brillouin’s Diversity Index (Hb), McIntosh Diversity Index (DM) and IVI, Santalum album has the highest IVI (54.23) and Mangifera indica has the lowest IVI (4.6),Quadrant 4 showed highest biodiversity compared to other three quadrants.Variations in species composition demonstrate the significance of conservation efforts to safeguard native species and improve ecosystem stability. This study emphasises the ecological relevance of Salumarada Thimmakka Park and provides baseline data needed for long-term monitoring and management.

---

Keywords :

Biodiversity Indices, Diversity, IVI, Quadrants, Species richness

---

References :

1. Kok, A., de Olde, E. M., de Boer, I. J. M., & Ripoll-Bosch, R. (2020). European biodiversity assessments in livestock science: A review of research characteristics and indicators. Ecological Indicators, 112, 105902.
2. Roshni, N. A., Hasan, M. K., Akter, R., Prodhan, A. A. U. D., & Sagar, A. (2022). Impacts of industrialization on plant species composition, diversity, and tree population structure in tropical moist deciduous forest in Bangladesh. International Journal of Forestry Research, 2022(1), 3959617.
3. Kumar, P., Dobriyal, M., Kale, A., Pandey, A. K., Tomar, R. S., & Thounaojam, E. (2022). Calculating forest species diversity with information-theory based indices using sentinel-2A sensors of Mahavir Swami Wildlife Sanctuary. PLoS One, 17(5), e0268018.
4. Oyelowo, O. J., Oladoye, A. O., Ojo, E. O., Olubayo, O. O., Sonde, B., & Adelani, D. O. (2023). Phytosociological Assessment and Diversity of Woody Species in Omo Biosphere Reserve, Nigeria. Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, 19(2), 125-139.
5. Lakićević, M., & Srđević, B. (2018). Measuring biodiversity in forest communities–a role of biodiversity indices. Contemporary Agriculture, 67(1), 65-70.
6. Osuala, F. I., Abiodun, O. A., Oyeleke, B. G., & Humphrey, O. F. (2020). Biodiversity of fauna and heavy metal assessment in selected areas of University of Lagos Akoka Campus, Lagos, Nigeria. Ife Journal of Science, 22(2), 159-173.
7. Utsunomiya, T., Hata, M., Sugimoto, R., Honda, H., Kobayashi, S., Miyata, Y. & Taniguchi, M. (2017). Higher species richness and abundance of fish and benthic invertebrates around submarine groundwater discharge in Obama Bay, Japan. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 11, 139-146.
8. Lakićević, M., & Srđević, B. (2018). Measuring biodiversity in forest communities–a role of biodiversity indices. Contemporary Agriculture, 67(1), 65-70.
9. P. Sharma, S. P. Bhatta, and S. K. Lamsal, “Species diversity and regeneration status of community-managed hill Sal (Shorea robusta) forest in Central Nepal,” Current Science, vol. 119, no. 1, pp. 83–92, 2020.
10. Ismail, A. Y., Adhya, I., & Hendrayana, Y. (2021). Analysis of the diversity and important value index of trees in lowland forest. Prosiding Fahutan, 2(02).
11. Shahid, M., & Joshi, S. P. (2016). Phytosociological assessment & distribution patterns of tree species in the forests of Doon Valley, Shivalik hills of lower Himalaya. Tropical Plant Research, 3(2), 263-271.
12. Mustapha, Y., Adamu, S., & Inuwa, A. (2022). Importance Value Index (IVI) of Tree Species and Diversity of Baturiya Hadejia Wetland National Park, Jigawa State, Nigeria. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 6(2), 876-883.
13. Narayan, C. A., & Anshumali, J. (2015). Diversity indices and importance values of a tropical deciduous forest of Chhotanagpur plateau, India. J Biodiv Environ Sci, 7, 358-367.
14. Alroy, J. (2017). Effects of habitat disturbance on tropical forest biodiversity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(23), 6056-6061.
15. Kitikidou, K., Milios, E., Stampoulidis, A., Pipinis, E., & Radoglou, K. (2024). Using Biodiversity Indices Effectively: Considerations for Forest Management. Ecologies, 5(1), 42-51.
16. Malav, A., Dadhich, P., & Jaiswal, P. (2023). Comparative Study of Phytosociological Status of Herbs and Shrubs in Nanta Forest Region, Rajasthan, India. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International, 24(6), 83-99.
17. Mehta, P. K. (2011). Phytosociological study of poshina forest range of sabarkantha district north gujarat.
18. Ajayi, S., & Obi, R. L. (2016). Tree species composition, structure and importance value index (IVI) of Okwangwo Division, Cross River National Park, Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Research, 5(12), 85-93.
19. Matyaraju, S., Ramalakshmana, J., Rao, V. M. M., Babu, Y. R., & Padal, S. B. A Comparative Assessment of Biodiversity between Tropical Deciduous and Savannas in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India.
20. Asbeck, T., Großmann, J., Paillet, Y., Winiger, N., & Bauhus, J. (2021). The use of tree-related microhabitats as forest biodiversity indicators and to guide integrated forest management. Current Forestry Reports, 7(1), 59-68.
21. Shil, B. B., & Thakare, M. G. Comparing Commonly Used Diversity Indices To Measure Tree Diversity Of Yella Village Forest Of Mulchera Taluka Of Gadchiroli District.
22. Grima, N., Jutras-Perreault, M. C., Gobakken, T., Ørka, H. O., & Vacik, H. (2023). Systematic review for a set of indicators supporting the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services. Ecological Indicators, 147, 109978.
23. Kitikidou, K., Milios, E., Stampoulidis, A., Pipinis, E., & Radoglou, K. (2022). Within-forest stand (or formation, or plot) and between-forest stand (or formation, or plot) biodiversity indices. MethodsX, 9, 101919.
24. Singh, S., Malik, Z. A., & Sharma, C. M. (2016). Tree species richness, diversity, and regeneration status in different oak (Quercus spp.) dominated forests of Garhwal Himalaya, India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, 9(3), 293-300.
25. Roswell, M., Dushoff, J., & Winfree, R. (2021). A conceptual guide to measuring species diversity. Oikos, 130(3), 321-338.
26. Bourma, K., Milios, E., Radoglou, K., & Kitikidou, K. (2023). Development of a Graded Biodiversity Assessment (GBA) Index for the Assessment of the Biodiversity of Managed Natural Forests. Ecologies, 4(3), 614-626.
27. Daneliuc¹, g. F., szabo, m. D. R., morar, i. M., & sestras, a. F. (2023). Ecological analysis and impact of vegetation in the university campus: exploring diversity and its role in academic community welfare.
28. Bollarapu, M. J., & Ramarao, K. V. S. N. (2021). Biodiversity measures-mathematical evaluation of various indices. Oeconomia Copernican, 12(4), 46-59.
29. Tolangay, D., Pradhan, B., & Moktan, S. (2024). Estimating tree species diversity and composition in temperate forests of Darjeeling Himalaya, India. The Journal of the Indian Botanical Society, 104(01), 13-20.
30. Makvana, R., & Paliwal, H. B. (2023). Phytosociological Studies of Tree Species Biodiversity in Sabarkantha District, Gujarat. Environment and Ecology, 41(3B), 1773-1777.