Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)

The present study characterises the tree communities with respect to topographic and climatic variables and identifies the most important environmental correlate of species richness in the southern region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Digitally derived environmental variables in comb...

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Main Authors: Joseph, S., Anitha, K., Srivastava, V.K., Reddy, C.S, Thomas, A.P., Murthy, M.S.R.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Hindawi Limited 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94752
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author Joseph, S.
Anitha, K.
Srivastava, V.K.
Reddy, C.S
Thomas, A.P.
Murthy, M.S.R.
author_browse Anitha, K.
Joseph, S.
Murthy, M.S.R.
Reddy, C.S
Srivastava, V.K.
Thomas, A.P.
author_facet Joseph, S.
Anitha, K.
Srivastava, V.K.
Reddy, C.S
Thomas, A.P.
Murthy, M.S.R.
author_sort Joseph, S.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The present study characterises the tree communities with respect to topographic and climatic variables and identifies the most important environmental correlate of species richness in the southern region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Digitally derived environmental variables in combination with tree species richness information were analysed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to characterise the communities. Multiple regression technique based on stepwise backward elimination was used to identify the most important environment correlate of species richness. Canonical correspondence analysis results in six major tree communities along the first and second axes. Rainfall is the dominant environmental gradient influencing vegetation patterns on the first CCA axis while elevation showed the highest correlation with the second CCA axis. Backward elimination regression technique yielded rainfall as the most important environmental correlate of species richness. Results were in agreement with the observations in the Neotropics that rainier areas maintain high species diversity.
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spelling CGSpace947522025-06-17T08:23:41Z Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India) Joseph, S. Anitha, K. Srivastava, V.K. Reddy, C.S Thomas, A.P. Murthy, M.S.R. climate trees communities The present study characterises the tree communities with respect to topographic and climatic variables and identifies the most important environmental correlate of species richness in the southern region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot, India. Digitally derived environmental variables in combination with tree species richness information were analysed using Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) to characterise the communities. Multiple regression technique based on stepwise backward elimination was used to identify the most important environment correlate of species richness. Canonical correspondence analysis results in six major tree communities along the first and second axes. Rainfall is the dominant environmental gradient influencing vegetation patterns on the first CCA axis while elevation showed the highest correlation with the second CCA axis. Backward elimination regression technique yielded rainfall as the most important environmental correlate of species richness. Results were in agreement with the observations in the Neotropics that rainier areas maintain high species diversity. 2012 2018-07-03T11:01:45Z 2018-07-03T11:01:45Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94752 en Open Access Hindawi Limited Joseph, S., Anitha, K., Srivastava, V.K., Reddy, C.S., Thomas, A.P., Murthy, M.S.R. . 2012. Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India) International Journal of Forestry Research, https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/576502
spellingShingle climate
trees
communities
Joseph, S.
Anitha, K.
Srivastava, V.K.
Reddy, C.S
Thomas, A.P.
Murthy, M.S.R.
Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title_full Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title_fullStr Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title_full_unstemmed Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title_short Rainfall and Elevation Influence the Local-Scale Distribution of Tree Community in the Southern Region of Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot (India)
title_sort rainfall and elevation influence the local scale distribution of tree community in the southern region of western ghats biodiversity hotspot india
topic climate
trees
communities
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/94752
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