Species Diversity and Tree Regeneration Patterns in Tropical Forests of the Western Ghats, India

Table 2

Vegetation parameters calculated for three tree phases in different vegetation types. See Table 1 for explanation of vegetation type abbreviations.

Vegetation types; (Altitude range)	Rainfall; (mm)	Mean temperature in the coldest month (°C)	Phases of trees	Basal area; (m^2/ha)	Shannon index
DECI (40–400 m)	1000–1500	28	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	23.32; 0.20; —	2.79; 2.48; 2.62
SEMI (400–650 m)	2500–3500	24	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	45.66; 0.89; —	3.67; 3.15; 3.11
EVER (650–1200 m)	3500–5000	22	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	48.00; 1.24; —	3.34; 3.09; 3.49
WOOD (900–1400 m)	3500–5000	25	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	0.69; 0.4; —	2.21; 2.16; 1.56
SUBM (1200–1800 m)	5000–6000	13	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	36.51; 0.69; —	3.26; 3.45; 3.51
MONT (1800–2450 m)	5000–6000	9	Mature trees; Saplings; Seedlings	30.87; 1.45; —	3.21; 3.19; 2.71

∗Mature trees (≥30 cm gbh), saplings (≥ 10 < 30 cm gbh), and seedlings (<10 cm gbh).