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Abstract
Saplings of forty nine species of trees from Western Ghats forests were planted on a 1.5 hectare tract of Deccan plateau (in the campus of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) and their performance was monitored for 23 years. The objective was to evaluate their adaptability to a habitat and conditions apparently alien to these species. The study was also meant to understand the linkages of these trees with the surrounding environment. Contrary to the belief that tree species are very sensitive to change of location and conditions, the introduced trees have grown as good as they would do in their native habitat and maintained their phenology. Further, they have grown in perfect harmony with trees native to the location. The results showed that the introduced species are opportunistic and readily acclimatized and grew well overcoming the need for the edaphic and other factors that are believed to be responsible for their endemicity. Besides ex situ conservation, the creation of miniforest has other accrued ecosystem benefits. For instance, the ground water level has risen and the ambient temperature has come down by two degrees.
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References
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References
Gopalakrishna, Bhat, K., 2003. Flora of Udupi, Indian Naturalist (Regd.), Inchara, Chitpady, Udupi,
Hanumaiah, L., Aiyappa, K. M., Rajanna, B., Marigowda, M. H., Devaiah, S. T. and Krishnappa, K. T., 1967. Horticulture in Mysore State, Department of Horticulture, Lal-Bagh, Bangalore,
Hayavadana, Rao, C., 1930. Mysore Gazetteer, Vol. V, Government Press, Bangalore, 5-9.
Myers, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Mittermeier, C. G., Da Fonseca, G. A. and Kent, J. 2000. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403, 853–858. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
Pascal, J.P., 1988. Wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of India: Ecology, structure, floristic composition and succession, Institute Francais de Pondichery, India,.
Pascal J.P. and Ramesh B.R. 1987. A field key to the trees and lianas of the evergreen forests of the Western Ghats (India), Institut Francais de Pondichery, India,.
Ramesh, Maheshwari, K. Sankara, Rao and Ramachandra, T. V., 2009. Structural characteristics of a giant tropical liana and its mode of canopy spread in an aerial environment, Curr. Sci. 96 (1) 58-64,
Sankara, Rao, K., 2008. IISc Campus: A Botanist Rs Delight, IISc Press, Bangalore,
Sankara, Rao, K., 2009. Flowering Plants of Indian Institute of Science: A Field Guide, Vol. I & II, IISc Press, Bangalore.