PHYTOSOCIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES – TOOLS FOR DETERMINING THE CURRENT STATUS OF PASTURE LAND IN JAKKANARI BEAT, SIRUMUGAI RANGE, WESTERN GHATS, COIMBATORE DISTRICT

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to study the species composition structure and phytosociological characters like frequency, density, dominance, abundance and their relative values and important values index (IVI) of Jakkanari beat located in Sirumugai Range, Coimbatore district. Phytosociological analyses were performed for 5 plots, each 150 m2. Subanalysis was performed for 5sq km. of the 141 species found in the study area the maximum ecological importance was attributed to the herb. The present floristic composition of the community types, which showed a high density of unpalatable species, suggests that intensive grazing has become a widespread problem across the entire study area. The result adds a new and important contest of understanding on the effect of plant diversity on  ecosystem services and functioning in terrestrial ecosystem.