Journal of
Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2018 | 10(7):
11963–11968
Distribution and population status of Kingiodendronpinnatum (Angiosperms: Fabaceae) an endemic and
endangered legume tree in southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India
P.A. Jose 1, SijuTom Kuruvila 2 & N.M. Binoy3
1,2,3Sustainable Forest Management Division,
Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala 680653, India
1 pajosekfri@gmail.com (corresponding
author), 2 sijutomkumpalathu@gmail.com, 3 binoynmohanan@gmail.com
doi: http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3430.10.7.11963-11968
Editor: K. Ravikumar, FRLHT, Bengaluru,
India. Date
of publication: 26 June 2018 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms# 3430 | Received 28 March 2017 | Final received 11 June 2018 | Finally
accepted 13 June 2018
Citation: Jose, P.A., S.T. Kuruvila& N.M. Binoy (2018). Distribution and population status of Kingiodendron pinnatum(Angiosperms: Fabaceae) an endemic and endangered
legume tree in southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 10(7): 11963–11968; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3430.10.7.11963-11968
Copyright: © Jose et al. 2018. Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTTallows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and
distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of
publication.
Funding: KFRI Plan Grants [Project
No. KFRI RP. 684/2014].
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors thank Director, Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) Peechi; Dr. A.R.R. Menon, Retired Scientist, KFRI, Peechifor comments and valuable suggestions on the manuscript; Mr. Subin, K. Project Fellow, KFRI, Peechiand Mr. Thomas Xavier, Research Scholar, Centre for
Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, KFRI, Peechi.
The Kerala Forest & Wildlife Department, Thiruvananthapuram for permission
to study in the Western Ghats, Kerala. We acknowledge, KFRI Plan Grants
received through Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment,
Thiruvananthapuram for doing this work.
Abstract: An extensive survey and population
analysis of the endemic and endangered tree Kingiodendron pinnatum, was carried out in the Kerala area of the Western Ghats. The aim was to
assess the pattern of distribution, population size and natural regeneration of
the species. The fragmented and patchy populations of the species are
distributed in evergreen/semi evergreen habitats within an altitudinal range of
176-680m elevation. The tree attained a first
layer/canopy species with a height range from 24–30m. Altogether 17
populations were identified and mapped in 13 forest locations in the
region. A total of 140 adult
individuals of the species were enumerated within the 13 forest locations.
Natural regeneration of the species recorded from three zones among the 13
forest locations covering 21,000m2 area representing the Kerala
state. The flowering trees
displayed a height and dbh range of 10-30m and
85-320cm, respectively. The individuals are spatially arranged in aggregation
among patchy populations. The populations are well represented by reproductive
individuals with 77% and pre reproductive with 23%. Seedlings of 35.9% attained
a height below 1m and 64.01% of a height above 1m. Considering the extent of
distribution in the state, increase in the number of mature individuals (in
addition to the enumerated area), and fair count of seedlings suggests a
healthier conservation status of the species in the region. The economic and
medicinal values, occurrence of isolated and fragmented populations,
irregularities in the flowering and fruiting period among populations, however,
extends urgent concerns over the pollination biology, detection of diverse
genotypes subsequent multiplication and restoration of dwindling populations
for the effective conservation and management of the species in situ.
Keywords: Endangered tree, Kingiodendron,
natural regeneration, plant conservation, population, Western Ghats.
The
Western Ghats is home to both endemic and threatened plant species; the endemic
legumes are of special interest as they include a number of economically
important species that provide food, medicine and industrially important
materials. Most of the legume trees such as Ormosia travancorica, Inga cynometroides,Humboldtia bourdillonii,
and Cynometra beddomei are rediscovered after type collection and least studied on distribution
and ecology (Sanjappa 1992). Considering the
importance and paucity of studies, an extensive survey of the Kingiodendron pinnatum (Roxb. ex DC.) Harms in the Kerala area of the Western Ghats
was conducted to analyse the distribution pattern, population structure,
regeneration potential and subsequent assessment on the population growth for
developing appropriate strategies for the management of the species.
Kingiodendron pinnatum is an endemic and endangered tree of the
southern Western Ghats (CAMP Workshops 1998), belonging to the family Leguminosae and subfamily Detarioideae(LPWG 2017). The oleo-gum-resin present in the wood oil is used in treatments
for gonorrhoea and catarrhal conditions of genito-urinary
and respiratory tracts (CAMP Workshop 1998; Kumar et al. 2011). The species has been severely exploited
for its wood oil in the past (Anonymous 1959). The stem
bark is collected as a substitute of Saraca asoka, and reduction in
population size was estimated by 20% during the past 40 years (Sasidharan 2017). The degeneration of
reproductive stands is also being exacerbated by the poor seed and seedling
bank in situ. The irregularity in flowering episodes, fewer
flowering trees among populations, and low fruit set extended the poor
regeneration in their natural habitats (Jose et al. 2017)
Materials and
Methods
Field
survey
Exploratory surveys in the Kerala area of the Western Ghats were carried
out from June 2014 to June 2015 as part of the study on ecology and restoration
of legume trees in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The survey was conducted as per
the available floristic literature and information gathered from different
herbaria. (Sanjappa 1992; Sasidharan 2011).The field expertise in consultation with plant taxonomists
were also utilized for locating the populations. Herbaria of research
& development centers such as TBGT (Jawaharlal
Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode),
KFRI (Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi), CALI (Calicut University) were consulted for specimen
examination and relevant information. The identified populations were
categorized as under northern, central and southern zones representing entire
state (Fig. 1).
Population
structure and natural regeneration analysis
Population structural data was collected to quantify the number of adult
individuals, stand height, dbh, first branching seen
from ground, age class, basal area and basal cover of the species. Canopy
layering/strata of species, number of individual’s falls in each dbh classes (10–49 cm; 50–100 cm etc.), major associated species were also recorded as part of
structural analysis (Parthasarathi & Sethi 1997; Pascal 1988; Sukumaret al. 1992; Ramachandran et al. 2014). The
height of stand was calculated on physical basis. The individuals with dbh ≤ 10cm were counted in all quadrats and treated as
seedlings. Natural regeneration of the species was recorded from three zones (as
Northern, Central and Southern) among the 13 forest locations identified
covering 21,000m2 area representing the state. The zones which have
shown good regeneration were treated as ‘potential’ and lesser as
‘dwindling’ populations. The seedlings were categorized into unestablished seedlings (height ≤ 1m) and established seedlings (height ≥ 1m) (Ramachandran et al. 2014).
Results
Seventeen
populations of K. pinnatum were identified in
13 forest locations of the Kerala area of Western Ghats. The populations located in a common
forest area are merged as one location. The spatial distribution of each population covering number of trees
corresponding to dbh classes is presented (Fig. 2).
The population details such as forest location and GPS reading are provided
(Table 1). The individuals of Kingiodendron pinnatum are distributed gregariously in the
evergreen forests within an altitude ranging from 170m to 700m. The tree
attained as first layer/canopy species with a height range of 24–30 m
along with a maximum dbh of 320cm (Image 1).
Across
the study area, K. pinnatum is associated with
a multitude of species that include Hopea parviflora Bedd., Dysoxylum malabaricum Bedd. ex Hiern, Dipterocarpus indicus Bedd.,
and Vateria indicaL. which are common canopy associates reaching a height range of 26–35m.
The members of the upper understorey include Myristica beddomei King, Knema attenuata (Hook. f. &Thoms.) Warb., Cinnamomum verum Presl. and Garcinia morella (Gaertn.) Desv. with height range
15–25m. The lower understorey is composed of Xanthophyllum arnottianum Wight, Schleichera oleosa (Lour.) Oken, Psydrax dicoccos Gaertn., and Baccaurea courtallensis (Wight) Muell.-Arg.
at a height range of 10–15m. The shrub layer is Atalantia wightii Tanaka, Ixora nigricans R.
Br. ex Wight & Arn., Mussaenda frondosa L., Lepianthes umbellata (L.) Rafin, and Leea indica (Burm.f.) Merr. Common
herbs include Asystasia dalzelliana Sant., Boesenbergia pulcherrima (Wall.) O. Ktze., Amorphophallus commutatus (Schott) Engl.,Curcuma amada Roxb., and Begonia malabarica Lam.
Individuals
of K. pinnatum are distributed in aggregation
on flat terrain. The mature stands exhibit an irregular shaped canopy with a
straight bole. The populations were dominated by 77% of
flowering individuals and 23% with pre reproductive individuals. Among
the populations monitored, the flowering individuals showed a height and dbh range from 10–30m and 85–320cm
respectively. Below this height and dbh range (9m anddbh of 70cm) individuals did not show flowering and
are therefore categorized as pre reproductive. The post reproductive
individuals were negligibly smaller in the identified populations. Among 140
individuals of the K.pinnatum, 57% of the
individuals attained a dbh above 100cm followed by dbh 10–40cm(20%), 40–60cm(9%),
60–80cm(8%), 80–100cm (6%). The abundance of mature trees of K. pinnatum representing all the dbhclasses indicates the stable growth of the populations in its
distribution range. The height and dbh classes of all
the individuals enumerated in the study plots are presented (Fig.2 and Table
2). Out of 3064 seedlings counted in an area of 21,000m2 across the
three sampled geographic zones; 1,103 (35.9%) seedlings had a height greater
than 1m (established seedlings) whereas, 1961 (64.01%) seedlings with height
less than 1m (un-established). It is also noted that amongst the three zones,
the populations consisting northern zone had higher number of seedlings
followed by the southern (potential populations) and central zones (dwindling
populations) (Table 3). Seedlings were gregarious in the flat terrain and
scattered in sloping terrain.
Table 1. Kingiodendron pinnatum: populations identified at Western
Ghats, Kerala
Zones |
|
Forest locations |
Latitude, Longitude, Altitude |
No. of individuals |
District |
|
1. |
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary (WS) (Paripod) |
11.958972220N &
75.826944440E; 203m |
10 |
Kannur |
2. |
Aralam WS (Kapp) |
11.960694440N
&75.830277780E; 205m |
07 |
||
3. |
Kottiyoor WS |
11.868138890N
&75.898333330E; 242m |
13 |
||
4. |
Peruvannamoozhi |
11.583444440N
&75.868611110E; 176m |
10 |
Kozhikode |
|
5. |
Thamarasserry |
11.505527780N
&76.030277780E; 680m |
10 |
||
6. |
Nadugani |
11.433900000N
&76.386666670E; 565m |
12 |
Malappuram |
|
Central |
7. |
Vazhachal |
10.319722220N
&76.588055560E; 450m |
04 |
Thrissur |
8. |
Poringalkuth |
10.321944440N
&76.640277780E; 471m |
05 |
||
9. |
Orukomban |
10.324444440N
&76.758333330E; 351m |
03 |
Palakkad |
|
10. |
Karimbani |
10.203500000N
&76.665833330E; 180m |
05 |
Idukki |
|
Southern |
11. |
Kulathupuzha |
8.871697220N &77.083611110E;
210m |
10 |
Kollam |
12. |
Palaruvi |
9.021250000N &77.103611110E;
216m |
10 |
||
13. |
Shendurney WS (Vilakkumaram) |
8.932111110N &77.171666670E;
660m |
10 |
||
14. |
Shendurney WS (Rajathottam) |
8.949694440N &77.182500000E;
611m |
9 |
||
15. |
Shendurney WS (Pallivasal) |
8.898833330N &77.172500000E;
220m |
7 |
||
16. |
Shendurney WS (Pandimotta) |
8.918944440N &
77.121944440E; 180m |
10 |
||
17. |
Kallar |
8.740091670N &77.119722220E;
342m |
05 |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Table 2. Statistical values of diameter
class distribution
Diameter class (cm) |
Mean ±SE (cm) |
10–49 |
30.40±2.00 |
50–100 |
74.37±2.81 |
101–150 |
124.92±2.31 |
151–200 |
176.45±2.85 |
201–250 |
218.07±4.62 |
251–300 |
282.50±9.68 |
301–350 |
313.33±4.40 |
Table 3. Seedling regeneration of K. pinnatum in the geographical zones of Kerala Western
Ghats
Zones |
Sampled area (ha.) |
Total seedlings (nos.) |
Seedling height |
|
Un established (<1m) |
Established (>1m) |
|||
Northern |
0.7 |
1102 |
710 |
392 |
Central |
0.7 |
935 |
593 |
342 |
Southern |
0.7 |
1027 |
658 |
369 |
Total |
2.1 |
3064 |
1961 |
1103 |
Discussion and
Conclusion
The
populations of K. pinnatum are found
fragmented in distribution in the Kerala area of the Western Ghats. The
distribution of K. pinnatum from lower to
medium high elevations in the evergreen ecosystems suggests better survival and
adaptability towards different environmental gradients and habitat
conditions. Further, it is also
observed that seedlings were gregarious in the flat terrain and scattered in
sloping terrain. According to Zhu et al. (2004) and Bhatt et al. (2015),
fragmentation of populations and habitats often results in endangerment of
local species followed by loss of diversity in forest ecosystems. The
gregarious nature of seedling emergence in flat terrain assumes uniformity in
moisture status (Smith et al. 1997). The association of K. pinnatum with Hopea parviflora and Vateria indica in most of the sample plots is an
indicative of the Hopea- Kingiodendron- Vateria vegetation
common in the evergreen forest ecosystems of the Western Ghats (Pascal 1988).
Height and diameter measurements are roughly synonymous with tree age. In K.pinnatum, the height and dbhis found correlative among populations. It is often reported that regeneration
status of a tree species, in a given forest type was considered “good” when
seedling density > sapling density > adult tree density; “fair”
when seedling density > sapling density ≤ adult density;
“poor” when the species survived in only the sapling stage but not in the
seedling stage (Sukumar et al. 1992; Jayakumar & Nayar 2013; Dutta & Devi 2015). In the present survey, regeneration
status is “good”, with greater number of seedling density than sapling
density and sapling density greater than adult tree density in its
population. The ratio of various age groups in a population also determines the
reproductive status of an individual and indicates the future course of
population growth (Odum 1971; Mast et al.1999). As the natural regeneration performance was found better among north and
south zone (potential populations) compared to the central zone (dwindling
populations), the genetic mixing up and variability of the central zone
populations could be achieved through enrichment planting of seedlings from
north and south zones as an improved conservation practice adopted for the
species in the long run (Dias 1996).
Considering
the extended distribution pattern, number of individuals of different age
classes among the populations, fare performance in natural seedling
regeneration extends healthier population stability and growth of the species
as suggestive for reversion of conservation status from Endangered to
Vulnerable in the Kerala area of the Western Ghats. However, the irregularities
shown in flowering and fruiting; occurrence of fewer number of
flowering individuals among populations warrants conservation and management ofK. pinnatum, of the southern Western Ghats.
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