T, Ganesh and M, Soubadra Devy and P, Devidar (2001) Pollination and fruit dispersal in the wet forests of the southern Western Ghats. In: Tropical Ecosystems: Structure, Diversity and Human Welfare. Proceedings of the International Conference on Tropical Ecosystems. Oxford-IBH,, New Delhi, pp. 363-365.

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Abstract

Pollination and seed dispersal can play an important role in the functioning of tropical ecosystems and the maintenance of diversity in them. Wet forests in tropics are known to have exceptionally high diversity of pollination and dispersal mechanisms that are complex and can vary across continents. Identifying modes of pollination and dispersal can, to some extent, delineate this complexity and help in better understanding of these systems (Tharra Manriquez and Oyama, 1992). Only recently a detailed analysis of the pollination and dispersal modes of the wet forests of Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot, has been carried out (Ganesh and Davidar, 2001; Devy, 1998). This study documents the pollination and seed dispersal modes of tree species in a mid-elevation wet forest at Kakachi in the southern Western Ghats. A total of 89 flowering species and 82 fruiting species were observed. Flowers were watched for visitors from the commencement of an thesis. Similarly fruiting trees were watched for visitors during ripe fruit stage and also frugivore identity was inferred from fruits and seeds in droppings and scats. Nocturnal observations were also done for visitors of several species. The data were obtained over a span of seven years and are based on direct observations of visitors to flowers and fruits. Many of these observations were recorded by ascending the canopy of trees using tree ladders.

Item Type: Book Section
Additional Information: Copyright of this book chapter belongs to Oxford-IBH
Uncontrolled Keywords: Pollination, fruit dispersal. Western Ghats, wet forest.
Subjects: A ATREE Publications > H Book Chapters
Divisions: SM Sehgal Foundation Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation > Biodiversity Monitoring and Conservation Planning
Depositing User: ATREE Bangalore
Date Deposited: 13 Jan 2025 09:09
Last Modified: 13 Jan 2025 09:09
URI: http://archives.atree.org/id/eprint/445

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