Composition and dynamics of dry tropical forest in relation to soil texture

Abstract

43 stands of a dry tropical forest vegetation occurring in the Vindhyan region of India were studied and the data were analysed using multivariate methods. The vegetation comprised five community types forming a mosaic and was distributed in non-contiguous patches. The environmental relationships of these community types were analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Discriminant Analysis, which illustrated the importance of soil texture in determining the distribution of these communities. Analysis of data for saplings indicated the dynamic nature of patches and of the community types. We conclude that dry tropical forest vegetation is a mosaic of communities which are dynamic in space and in time.