Species richness, diversity patterns and similarity of tree species along the altitudinal zones of dalma wildlife sanctuary, jharkhand

The present study is concerned with tree populations and the attempt was made to study the effect of anthropogenic according to altitudinal height in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary of Jharkhand, India. We have compared the few tree based species characteristics like density, basal area, diversity, and tree species composition along three altitude based study zones existing between 199m – 603m height creating 54 quadrates, each of size 10m × 10m. The total richness of tree species in the study area was recorded as 2471 individuals of 25 families were reported among the three zones. Shannon Weinner diversity index varied from 25 to 41 and 3.07 to 3.997 respectively along study zones of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary. Lowest number of species (SR=25) was found from lower zone due to maximum disturvance of anthropogenic cause while least disturbed zone possessed highest number of species (SR=41). Middle zone occupied an intermediate position with respect to species richness (SR=29). The Similarity value (Si) also indicates that the highest value shown by the combination of upper zone and middle zone forest (0.707) followed by upper zone and lower zone (0.609). The combination of upper zone and middle zone, upper and lower zone, middle and lower zone forest exhibits slightly lower degree of similarity with the value of 0.707, 0.609 and 0.606 respectively. In conclusion, the degree of similarity for the entire three zone forest is low. The floristic similarity analysis between the three zones of Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary of Jharkhand show the similarity value range from 0.606 – 0.707 which is floristically low in similarity indicating heterogeneity in the species composition.