Diversity, Stand Characteristics and Spatial Aggregation of Tree Species in a Bangladesh Forest Ecosystem

Abstract

Assessing biodiversity and the spatial structures of forest ecosystems are important for forestry and nature conservation. However, tropical forests of Bangladesh are only sparsely investigated. Here we determined biodiversity (alpha, beta and gamma), spatial species turnover and stand characteristics of one of the few remnant tropical forests in Bangladesh. Two differently protected areas of Satchari forest were compared. We recorded tree species composition, in a systematic plot design, measured diameter at breast height for each individual tree (to assess basal area), and calculated decay in similarity of tree species composition with geographical distance. The distance-decay was assessed separately for the whole study area and for two subsamples from Satchari National Park and Satchari Reserve Forest. Satchari National Park (strictly protected) had, despite its smaller area, a higher Alpha and Gamma diversity, but a lower Beta diversity than Satchari Reserve Forest. Variation in species composition was not significant between the two differently protected areas. Basal area increased significantly with protection status although tree individuals were of equal size in both areas. Plots in the Reserve Forest were associated with higher species turnover than in the National Park. We suggest anthropogenic disturbance, which occurs in the less strictly protected Reserve Forest, is the main driver for the detected spatial heterogeneity in species composition. OPEN ACCESSDiversity 2011, 3 454

Current measures for distance decay in similarity of species composition are influenced by study extent and grain size

“…Nekola & White, 1999). Untransformed relations are problematic, as the fitted line intersects with the x ‐axis as well as with the y ‐axis implying negative similarity values after a certain distance and negative distances for specific similarity values (Uddin et al ., 2011). However, it has the advantage of a straightforward interpretation within the range of admissible values for similarity and distance.…”

Multiple Drivers Influencing Residents’ Perception of Ecotourism in a Biodiversity Rich Forest Protected Area of Bangladesh

“…Anthropogenic interference is the primary driver leading to the geographic disparity in diversity of species in Bangladesh (Uddin, et al 2011). However, Satchari National Park (SNP) has a rich biodiversity.…”

Effects of livestock browsing and illegal harvesting on natural regeneration and ecology of balanites aegyptiaca in dinder biosphere reserve, Sudan

“…The study conducted by Ouédraogo et al (2019) in the tropical areas of Burkina Faso concluded that there is a strong positive relationship between fruit production, crown cover, and the recruitments of B. aegyptiaca seedlings and saplings. Tree species diversity, seedling and sapling density, recruitment and stand composition were strongly associated with mature tree basal area and the severity of human intervention, as well as abiotic factors in the area (Gebeyehu et al, 2019;Ghanbari et al, 2021;Hammond et al, 2021;Hasoba et al, 2020;Uddin et al, 2011). However, the currently observed lower density of Soil nitrogen, organic carbon, potassium, and phosphorus were all higher beneath trees growing in our undisturbed sites compared with the disturbed sites.…”

“…reported that 86% of Pinus sylvestris saplings in the natural forests at the Mediterranean mountains had been browsed several times by goats within the same season, and their growing shoots are continuously browsed, particularly during the dry season where herbaceous plants are scare. Besides that,Sher et al (2010) andUddin et al (2011) have mentioned that nomadic grazing in Pakistan and India had suspended the species diversity to less than 10%, and many medicinal and fodder tree species had disappeared. The lower recovery of B. aegyptiaca saplings in the DBR shows their sensitivity to livestock browsing, especially intensive ones.…”