Spatial pattern of tree diversity and impacts of ecological disturbances on forest structure in tropical deciduous forests of Central India

The study examined the spatial pattern of tree diversity, their population structure, regeneration status, and impacts of ecological disturbances on forest structure in 412 forested grids in tropical deciduous forests of Central India using the belt transect method. The study recorded a total of 123 tree species of which 48 (39%) were IUCN-red listed, with species diversity and evenness indices of 3.41 and 0.71, respectively. Tree species richness ranged from 01 to 31 species with a mean of 10 species +/- 0.26 SE. The total tree density was moderate (228 ind. ha(-1)), and a significant (p < .05) weak positive correlation (r(2) = .307) was observed with tree diversity. The highest density to the total tree population was contributed by seedlings (10,345 ind. ha(-1)) followed by saplings (3428 ind. ha(-1)) and adults (228 ind. ha(-1)), which indicated a good regeneration status of the tree populations in studied forested grids. On the contrary, grazing (53.2%) was the major recurrent ecological disturbance followed by fuelwood collection (23.1%), forest fire (20.6%), and NTFPs collection (19.4%). There is a significant impact of disturbance frequency (recurrent, occasional, or undisturbed) on tree species richness (F-2,F-804 = 55.83, p < .001), density (F-2,F-804 = 50.36, p < .001), and dominance (F-2,F-804 = 11.14, p < .001). The vital baseline information gathered in this study will be helpful in formulating forest management strategies to conserve the highly diverse tropical deciduous forests in Central India.