Measuring Tree Diversity of Sitaram Peth Village of Bhadravati Taluka of Chandrapur District by Applying Whittaker’s Additive Model

Year : 2025 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 02 | Page : 49 54
    By

    Bijankumar B. Shil,

  • Mahendra G. Thakare,

  1. Head & Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Gramgeeta Mahavidyalaya, Chimur, Maharashtra, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Dr. Khatri Mahavidyalaya, Tukum, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Forest plays a major role for sustaining biodiversity and various ecological services. There are 12 tribal districts in the Maharashtra state, which holds about 60 percent of total forest cover of the state. And among these tribal districts, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli together shares about 46 percent of forest cover. For the better conservation and management practices, the tree diversity of these forest should  be measured periodically. In the present study, the additive model of R. H. Whittaker (α, β, and γ diversity) is used to measure the tree diversity of Sitaram Peth Village Forest of Chandrapur district. The Sitaram Peth Village is among the few villages of the Chandrapur district which have received Community Forest Rights (CFR) title. Using continuous belt transact method, two belts were laid parallel to each other at two distinct sites within the village forest and named as Site-A and Site-B, respectively. In each belt, 20 quadrats of dimension 20 m x 25 m each, were laid and sampled. Rarefaction curve with 95% confidence was applied to ensure the sampling efficiency. Then using Whittaker’s additive model, the alpha (α)-, beta (β)-, and gamma (γ)-diversity of the trees were
calculated. The alpha diversity at Site-A and Site-B of the Sitaram Peth Village Forest was found to be 46 and 42, respectively. The beta diversity of both the sites is 16 and gamma diversity is found to be 52. These findings indicate a high level of species richness and moderate variation between the two study sites, emphasizing the ecological significance of the Sitaram Peth Village Forest. The results support the need for regular biodiversity assessments, which can guide sustainable forest management practices
under the framework of Community Forest Rights (CFR).

Keywords: Alpha, beta and gamma diversity, belt transact method, rarefaction curve, Sitaram Peth

[This article belongs to Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology ]

How to cite this article:
Bijankumar B. Shil, Mahendra G. Thakare. Measuring Tree Diversity of Sitaram Peth Village of Bhadravati Taluka of Chandrapur District by Applying Whittaker’s Additive Model. Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology. 2025; 14(02):49-54.
How to cite this URL:
Bijankumar B. Shil, Mahendra G. Thakare. Measuring Tree Diversity of Sitaram Peth Village of Bhadravati Taluka of Chandrapur District by Applying Whittaker’s Additive Model. Research & Reviews : Journal of Ecology. 2025; 14(02):49-54. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjoe/article=2025/view=217513


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Issue 02
Received 16/04/2025
Accepted 01/05/2025
Published 02/05/2025
Publication Time 16 Days
148

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