Phytosociology of Sinharaja—A contribution to rain forest conservation in Sri Lanka

Gunatilleke, C.V.S.; Gunatilleke, I. A. U. N.

doi:10.1016/0006-3207(85)90032-1

Cited by 40 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Worse, of the island's richest biodiversity zone, the wet sect9r in the southwest, there remains only 670 kin" of montane forest a~d 740 km" of lowland forest, a total of 1,410 km (roughly half being primary forest), or a mere 9 percent of original forest covering almost 16,000 km. 2 (This review is based on Ashton and Gunatilleke, 1987;Balasubramaniam, I985;Collins et al, 1990;Erdelen, 1988;Geiser and Sommer, 1982;GunatiUeke and Ashton, 1987;Gunatilleke and Gunatilleke, 1985;Ishwaran and Erdelen, 1990;Kendrick, 1989;Nanayakkara, 1982;Senanayake et al, 1977;Sumithraarachchi, 1989;Wemer, 1982).…”

Section: Tropical Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

1990

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Section: Tropical Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

1990

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“…Phytosociological studies provide baseline information on structure and floristic composition, particularly important for rare species and have been strongly recommended as a prerequisite for conservation of these species [76].…”

Section: Phytosociological Studies and Apomixismentioning

confidence: 99%

<i>Commiphora wightii</i> (Arnott) Bhandari—A Natural Source of Guggulsterone: Facing a High Risk of Extinction in Its Natural Habitat

Jain¹,

Nadgauda²

2013

AJPS

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The plants are the primary producers and an indispensible source of food and nutrition, medicine and fuel/biofuel. Unsustainable overharvesting and indiscriminate felling of plants due to ever increasing needs of population pressure are causes of great concern. The IUCN includes, the species facing a high risk of extinction in the wild as threatened, and "endangered" is one of the sub-categories under "threatened" category. Commiphora wightii (Arnott) Bhandari is an arid region plant, highly valued for its medicinally important guggul gum-resin as a source of guggulsterone. It is listed in IUCN's Red Data List of threatened plants and now it is becoming endangered. Its population is fast depleting in its natural habitat, primarily due to over-exploitation, unsustainable and destructive methods of gum-extraction coupled with natural dry-arid habitat, slow growth and poor regeneration of the plant. Several other reasons have also been indicated for its declining population. Therefore, it demands severe measures for its conservation before we completely lose this important medicinal plant. A lot of research and study is underway but has vast scope for improvement, requiring efforts to supplement with such information that would aid transgenic development and breeding programmes for production and cultivation of improved varieties. The article presents the importance of this plant and its conservation in a nut-shell.

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“…The entire area receives more than 2500 mm of rainfall annually with no long dry spells. Up to 900 m from the mean sea level, the vegetation is classified as tropical wet evergreen forest and above 900 m as sub montane evergreen forest (Gunatilleke et al, 2004).…”

Section: Research Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the Plotless Sampling Method to Estimate Aboveground Biomass and Other Stand Parameters in Tropical Rain Forests

Kumarathunge¹

2011

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. Use of sampling techniques is of paramount importance since the precision of estimates greatly depend on it. Different methods of sampling have to be investigated to find out the best sampling technique for a given situation. This study was conducted to determine the best sampling technique to estimate tree diversity and aboveground biomass in Sinharaja forest. Three sampling techniques, namely; Quadrat method, Transect method, and Point centered quarter method (PCQ) were evaluated in this study. Sampling techniques were compared for tree density, basal area, aboveground biomass and diversity indices estimated by each technique. According to the results, PCQ method gave the highest precision for most of the parameters estimated. The non-linear functions fitted for the species -area (Quadrat method) and species -point (PCQ method) relationships estimated that the minimum total sampling area required to assess the number of tree species (in an area of 50 ha) of Singharaja forest as 6000 m 2 for Quadrat method and 160 sampling points for PCQ method. It was difficult to estimate the minimum sampling area required to estimate the above ground biomass in Sinharaja since there was no clear cut relationship between biomass and number of sampling units. The results of the study emphasized that the PCQ method is a precise sampling technique that can be used to estimate the tree density, tree diversity and above ground biomass in natural forests. The random distribution of individuals is not necessary for tree diversity and biomass estimation by PCQ method if site stratification and random placement of sampling points in the study area are performed. Considering the higher precision of estimates and the saving of time and cost, the PCQ method can be recommended as an effective sampling technique for tree diversity and biomass studies.

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Phytosociology of Sinharaja—A contribution to rain forest conservation in Sri Lanka

Cited by 40 publications

References 8 publications

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

<i>Commiphora wightii</i> (Arnott) Bhandari—A Natural Source of Guggulsterone: Facing a High Risk of Extinction in Its Natural Habitat

Evaluation of the Plotless Sampling Method to Estimate Aboveground Biomass and Other Stand Parameters in Tropical Rain Forests

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Phytosociology of Sinharaja—A contribution to rain forest conservation in Sri Lanka

Cited by 40 publications

References 8 publications

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

The biodiversity challenge: Expanded hot-spots analysis

&lt;i&gt;Commiphora wightii&lt;/i&gt; (Arnott) Bhandari—A Natural Source of Guggulsterone: Facing a High Risk of Extinction in Its Natural Habitat

Evaluation of the Plotless Sampling Method to Estimate Aboveground Biomass and Other Stand Parameters in Tropical Rain Forests

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<i>Commiphora wightii</i> (Arnott) Bhandari—A Natural Source of Guggulsterone: Facing a High Risk of Extinction in Its Natural Habitat