Ecology of the birds of the high altitude grassland-shola forests
By: Radhakrishnan P.
Contributor(s): Nameer P O (Guide).
Material type:
BookPublisher: Vellanikkara College of Forestry 2001DDC classification: 634.9 Online resources: Click here to access online Dissertation note: MSc Abstract: The shola forests are unique montane vegetation
occupying temperate habitats in tropical latitudes and
are regarded as relict communities. These forests are
high altitude gallery forests restricted to valleys,
depressions and especially along folds of hills and
watercourses. The shola-grassland ecosystem is unique
vegetation type found in Western Ghats. Unfortunately
very few studies have been conducted on the fauna and
flora of this unique ecosystem, particularly avifauna. A
study was conducted to give some insight into the birds
of the shola-grassland ecosystem and their association
with the vegetation of the high altitude area.
The study was conducted at the Mannavan Shola of the
Marayur range, Munnar division Kerala (10° 10' to 10° 12'
N latitudes and 77° 09' to 77° 12' E longitudes), which is
the largest shola forest area of the Kerala State. Two
study sites were identified in the study area, such as
"Shola upper" and "Shola lower". The distance sampling
method was used in equidistant points identified at each
study sites in a 1000 m transect and the points were
periodically
monitored.
Apart
from
the
birds
the
vegetation structure of the study location was also
studied to understand whether there is any relationship
occur between the birds and the vegetation.
Total of 41 species in 8 orders and 17 families
have been reported from the Mannavan Shola. This includes
26 species of resident birds, out of which 8 are endemic
to Western Ghats, and 7 species that are long distance
migrants. The different measures like the richness, the
and the diversity indices,
difference.
evenness
locations
shown
any
significant
the
two
study
The
similarity indices worked out were also shown that the
both sites are much similar. It was also found that the
most abundant bird species were the denser species also.
The correlation study shown that, bird species
richness, bird diversity and bird density correlated
negatively with different structural parameters of the
vegetation.
Another
notable
observation was
that
the
high
altitude grassland dependant species were totally absent
from the study sites.
This could be owing to the
conversion of the grasslands in the study site to wattle
plantation.
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Theses
|
KAU Central Library, Thrissur Theses | 634.9 RAD/EC (Browse shelf) | Available | 171853 |
MSc
The shola forests are unique montane vegetation
occupying temperate habitats in tropical latitudes and
are regarded as relict communities. These forests are
high altitude gallery forests restricted to valleys,
depressions and especially along folds of hills and
watercourses. The shola-grassland ecosystem is unique
vegetation type found in Western Ghats. Unfortunately
very few studies have been conducted on the fauna and
flora of this unique ecosystem, particularly avifauna. A
study was conducted to give some insight into the birds
of the shola-grassland ecosystem and their association
with the vegetation of the high altitude area.
The study was conducted at the Mannavan Shola of the
Marayur range, Munnar division Kerala (10° 10' to 10° 12'
N latitudes and 77° 09' to 77° 12' E longitudes), which is
the largest shola forest area of the Kerala State. Two
study sites were identified in the study area, such as
"Shola upper" and "Shola lower". The distance sampling
method was used in equidistant points identified at each
study sites in a 1000 m transect and the points were
periodically
monitored.
Apart
from
the
birds
the
vegetation structure of the study location was also
studied to understand whether there is any relationship
occur between the birds and the vegetation.
Total of 41 species in 8 orders and 17 families
have been reported from the Mannavan Shola. This includes
26 species of resident birds, out of which 8 are endemic
to Western Ghats, and 7 species that are long distance
migrants. The different measures like the richness, the
and the diversity indices,
difference.
evenness
locations
shown
any
significant
the
two
study
The
similarity indices worked out were also shown that the
both sites are much similar. It was also found that the
most abundant bird species were the denser species also.
The correlation study shown that, bird species
richness, bird diversity and bird density correlated
negatively with different structural parameters of the
vegetation.
Another
notable
observation was
that
the
high
altitude grassland dependant species were totally absent
from the study sites.
This could be owing to the
conversion of the grasslands in the study site to wattle
plantation.
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