Effects of Disturbance Regimes on Phytodiversity of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, India

• Published in: Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing 2023-06, Vol.51 (6), p.1213-1226
• Main Authors: Saranya, K. R. L., Mandal, Kishore Kumar, Kar, Truptirekha, Sudhakar Reddy, C., Satish, K. V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; Anthropogenic factors; Biodiversity; Biosphere; Chromolaena odorata; conservation areas; Deciduous forests; Distribution patterns; Disturbance; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Environmental restoration; Forest conservation; Forest management; forest restoration; Forests; Human influences; India; Invasive species; landscapes; phytosociology; Random sampling; Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry; Research Article; Riparian forests; Species diversity; Statistical analysis; Variance analysis; vegetation; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0255-660X; 0974-3006
• DOI: 10.1007/s12524-023-01684-2

This study evaluated the cumulative effects of multiple disturbance factors over phytodiversity in Similipal Biosphere Reserve using spatial landscape modelling. A stratified random sampling approach has been followed to collect phytosociological data over the forests of Similipal. These data are analysed to understand the species diversity patterns. The spatial disturbance map was categorised into high, medium and low to characterise the impact of disturbance on vegetation. We computed biodiversity indices to understand how current disturbances influence the composition of phytodiversity. The results disclosed that riparian and low-level sal forests had been observed under high disturbance, followed by high-level Sal and dry deciduous forests under medium disturbance. The mean patch size is 6.9 ha in high, 109 ha in medium and 172.1 ha in low disturbance levels. Shannon Wiener Diversity Index (H’) for low, medium and high disturbance levels was 5.11, 4.25 and 3.27, respectively. Simpson’s concentration dominance of herbs showed 0.04 in low, 0.03 in medium and 0.1 in high disturbance levels. Chromolaena odorata is the dominant invasive species in high and medium disturbance levels. Statistical analysis; ANOVA has been performed to identify the variation in disturbance levels on species diversity and noted that a value of   p